# Presentation: 111078

## ENTERPRISE BATTERY MEETINGApril 11, 2008

- Bob Richard
- Deputy Associate Administrator
-   for Hazardous Materials Safety
- Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
- Safety Administration (PHMSA)
- US Department of Transportation

## Key Strategies 

- Build Public Confidence in the Safety of Hazardous Materials Transportation
- Use Every Tool Available to Enhance Safety
- Rulemaking, Enforcement, Public Education, Partnerships, Enterprise Approaches to Problem Solving, the Internet, Technology
- Be Transparent in All Dealings; Encourage Broad Public Debate and Participation; Communicate Our Activities
- Build Trust and Promote Cooperation
- Leverage resources through partnerships

## Why are we concerned?

- DOT is aware of more than 90 reports of transport incidents involving batteries and battery-powered devices.
- Battery incidents outside of transport and recalls, have raised concerns about the potential for battery-related fires aboard aircraft.
- This is not just speculation...we have had fires on aircraft involving both cargo and passenger carry-on items.

## Battery Safety

- We continue to experience incidents –all modes.
- Incidents particularly on aircraft are not acceptable.
- What more can be done?
- What are the implications?
- Possible solutions.

## Associated PressWednesday, March 12, 2008

**Japan Investigating Apple's iPod After Device Reportedly Throws Sparks**
**TOKYO —  Japan is investigating a possible defect in Apple Inc.'s iPod after one of the popular digital music players reportedly shot out sparks while recharging, a government official said Wednesday.**
- An official at the trade and economy ministry, which oversees product problems, said a defect is suspected in the lithium-ion battery in the iPod Nano, model number MA099J/A. He spoke on customary condition of anonymity, saying he is reiterating a ministry position.
- The problem surfaced in January in Kanagawa prefecture, southwest of Tokyo, and Apple reported the problem to the ministry in March. No one was injured, the official said. Other details weren't available.
- Apple Japan did not contest the ministry statement but declined further comment. Nano players are sold all over the world, and it was still unclear where else besides Japan the suspected model was sold, said Masayoshi Suzuki, an Apple spokesman in Tokyo.
- The ministry has instructed Apple Japan to find out the cause of what it is categorizing as a fire and report back to the government.
- The iPod was assembled in China, but it was unclear who made the lithium-ion battery, the ministry official said.
- Lithium-ion batteries have been blamed for a series of blazes in laptops recently that have resulted in massive global recalls.
- The ministry said Apple has shipped about 425,000 iPods of the same suspected model were shipped into Japan. It was unknown how many have been sold and how many might still be in stores.
- Shipments of the model began in September 2005 and were discontinued after September 2006, the ministry said.
- The iPod has been the symbol in recent years of the successful fashionable image of Apple. But its sales momentum may be gradually running out of steam.
- Apple sold 22.1 million iPods during the holiday quarter ended Dec. 31, fewer than the 25 million iPods analysts had expected it to sell. That's raising fears that the company, based in Cupertino, Calif., may suffer as it tries to convince consumers to buy higher-end iPods -- a key part of its strategy.
- The batteries in Apple products have had some problems in the past, largely about wearing out, not about being prone to fires.
- In 2006, Japanese electronics and entertainment maker Sony Corp. apologized for the troubles it had caused consumers through defective lithium-ion batteries that had equipped Sony laptops and products by Dell Inc., Apple, Lenovo and other major manufacturers.
- The Tokyo-based company recalled about 10 million batteries following reports of some computers using Sony power packs overheating and bursting into flames.
- The lithium-ion battery is considered a good technology because of its ability to furnish power in relatively small sizes, although its suspected tendency to catch fire is a major reason Toyota Motor Corp. and other automakers are being cautious about using it in ecological cars.
- Toyota's Prius gas-electric hybrid uses a different kind of battery, but when automakers are able to make the switch to lithium-ion batters, it will be seen as a significant breakthrough.

## Miami Herald

- Posted on Sat, Jan. 26, 2008
**Warehouse fire brings out hazmat teams**
- Firefighters battled a stubborn, hazardous blaze at a Pompano Beach warehouse Friday night.
- Hazardous material teams were dispatched to the fire at the warehouse, which also stored lithium batteries. There were unconfirmed reports of explosions inside the building, 2855 W. McNabb Rd.
- Water hoses were shut down and dry chemicals were used to fight the fire. A large dry chemical truck from Port Everglades was also dispatched.
- There were no immediate reports of injuries.
**Broward County and Fort Lauderdale units responded to the blaze**.

## Washington Post

**Child, 12, injured by spontaneous PSP combustion**
- _[ ](http://www.pspsps.tv/psp_burnt.html)__A child from Farmington Hills, Michigan received second degree burns to his leg when the __[PlayStation](http://www.pspsps.tv/2008/02/child_injured_by_spontaneous_p.html)_ Portable he was carrying in his trouser pocket suddenly caught fire. Harold Clay, 12, was at a band class at the time.
- Mother Sheila Clay said “"He said it wasn't a gradual heat. It really started heating up.” Police said the fire burned its way through his clothing.
- Fortunately, serious injury was prevented by Clay’s quick reactions – dropping to the deck and rolling about. He was treated at a local hospital for his burns and was back at school later that day.
- Clay’s father has said that the console was not switched on at the time – although we can’t be certain of that. What we do know is that it was loaded up with a copy of Burnout. Thank god it wasn’t Breath of Fire.

## Managing the Risks

- While progress has been made we still are experiencing incidents and the risk is unacceptable
- Industry must be an equal partner and allocate resources and commitment to enhancing safety including raising public awareness!

## RECENT INCIDENTS

**April 4, 2008: Copenhagen, Denmark, one package of Non-spillable sealed lead acid batteries erupted into flame while being loaded on a truck.**** **

**March 08**
**Incident aboard a United Airlines flight (Chicago to NRT) on March 4****th****..  The device caught fire while being used by a passenger and was extinguished by the pilot.  Further information is being gathered.**

- Northwest Flight Number: 1, Norita, Japan destined for Hong Kong.
**February 14, 2008**, Location of fire: Passenger row 35. Crew onboard: 2 pilots, 13 flight attendants Passengers: 389
- Preliminary description of Incident: During boarding, a passenger's carry on baggage caught fire in the overheard bin. Flight attendants used two halon fire extinguishers to put out the fire. At the time the fire began, approximately 2/3's of the passengers were onboard the aircraft. One passenger received a minor injury (burn) when he tried to extinguish the fire by hand. Early indications revealed that a battery inside a flashlight had caught fire. The passenger
- whose luggage caught fire, and her bags, were removed
- from the aircraft and re-screened.
- The burned flashlight and bag were secured by
- Northwest Airline's personnel and are being held for NTSB.

- The flashlight was intended to hold two (2) AA batteries Duracell DL123 batteries.  Only one burnt and charred battery found.  The flashlight was in a backpack carried by a Chinese national.  The battery had "Lithium" marking.
- We are attempting to determine whether the batteries were genuine or counterfeits.  The charred battery appeared to be a bit larger than an AA battery but smaller than a C battery.

## Fire occurred in a UPS sorting facility – Jan 2008

- Shipments of prototype primary lithium batteries offered undeclared by air and ground.  These shipments were in unauthorized packaging.  Also no employee training.  They offered prototype medium size primary lithium batteries installed in equipment that were not UN tested.

## Lithium Ion Battery for Remote Control Model Car

- Shipment being returned to manufacturer in Korea caught fire in air cargo warehouse.

## Laptop with Lithium-ion battery in carry-on baggage

- Started burning in the overhead bin in the passenger cabin. Fire extinguished on the ramp.

## Primary batteries shipped by eBay vender from California to Australia. Not protected from short circuit.

## Prototype Lithium Battery shipped by a PHMSA Approval Holder

- Fire discovered as ULD was being loaded for trans-Atlantic cargo flight in Memphis.

## Jet Blue Flight 721

**One passenger complained of chest pains and needed assistance in exiting the aircraft.       **
**Both lithium metal and ion batteries were loosely packed with the equipment.**

**During takeoff from JFK, smoke began pouring from an overhead bin in the passenger cabin. Passengers alerted flight attendants. The plane returned to JFK for an emergency landing, flight attendants were able to put out the fire, discharging both Halon fire extinguishers. Water was also applied after the Halon was used.  **

**Most recent photos from NTSB fire lab**

## 9-volt lithium battery

**9-volt lithium battery**

- Lithium battery exploded as cameraman switched batteries aboard Sen. Edwards campaign plane.  Small fire in aircraft seat extinguished by Secret Service.

## What can happen?

## This is not a safe package

## Implications

**We can not rely on luck**... a serious incident in air transport will be tragic and may result in numerous fatalities (e.g. ValueJet – 1996, 110 lives lost)
- Loss of public confidence will most likely result in congressionally mandated impediments to transportation.
- Prohibitions to transport will be inevitable if the industry and government are not effective in resolving the problems.
- Consumer backlash/boycott of products....corporate reputation seriously compromised.
- There’s been a lot of discussion about cost...CEO’s need to ask **“What is the cost of not implementing safety improvements”**

## An opportunity for collaboration ...

-   What do we need to *know*?
-   What do we need to *do* to minimize risk?
-   How are *you* approaching the problem?
- How can we work together?

## We want to prevent this from happening!

## Keep It SafeTo carry batteries and portable electronic devices on passenger aircraft and when shipped as cargo in commerce.
Partner with Us!
	“Regulation alone is not enough to fulfill our safety mission.  We rely on our partners in safety, such as you – the battery and equipment manufacturers – to help us effectively carry out our mission to protect the public and to maintain an excellent safety record.” 

**Partner with Us!**
*	**“**Regulation alone is not enough to fulfill our safety mission.  We rely on our partners in safety, such as you – the battery and equipment manufacturers – to help us effectively carry out our mission to protect the public and to maintain an excellent safety record.” *

## Questions?

- Bob Richard
- Deputy Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety (PHH-2)
- Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
-   Safety Administration
- US Department of Transportation
- 400 7th Street SW Room 8421 Washington, DC 20590
- Phone: (202) 366-0656
- Fax:   (202) 366-5713
- E-mail: bob.richard@dot.gov