-
·
Working Within the UN IWG Committee to Ensure Safe Lithium Shipping for All
Article Summary Lithium-ion batteries are inherently safe when properly designed, tested, and handled. In rare cases, however, misuse, improper shipping, damage in transit, or manufacturing defects can make them a significant risk. Lithium batteries have existed for decades, but they became commonplace only in the last 10 to 20 years, and that is when the…
-
·
Getting Involved in the SAE G-27 Lithium Battery Packaging Performance Committee
Article Summary Lithium batteries are inherently safe when properly designed and tested, but the rapid growth of lithium-powered devices demands standards that keep pace with the technology, particularly for air cargo, where a thermal runaway event is far more dangerous than in other modes of transport. This article explains the role of the SAE G-27…
-
·
Americase and Shmuel De-Leon Energy Host Battery Safety Seminar Focusing on Lithium-Ion Battery Transportation, Storage and Regulations
Hands-on seminar will present the latest in battery knowledge, trends, and best practices and feature live demonstrations of battery fire suppression and containment. Waxahachie, TX – August 31, 2023 – Americase is excited to announce its first-ever Battery Safety, Storage, and Transportation Seminar in partnership with Shmuel De-Leon Energy, Ltd. Held at the Americase facility…
-
·
Does Your Company Ship Lithium Batteries?
Does your company ship lithium batteries? How about lithium battery-powered devices like laptops or cell phones? If yes, you probably know the complexities that come with making shipments in compliance with both US DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations as well as international dangerous goods regulations. Well, you should also know that the regulations have changed recently,…
-
·
Investigators Are People Too! and Other Things I Learned Working with PHMSA Field Ops
Article Summary Written by Ryan Paquet, who oversaw the Field Operations Team for USDOT/PHMSA’s Office of Hazardous Materials Safety for nine months and managed roughly 80 employees and contractors responsible for enforcing Hazardous Materials Regulations compliance, this article shares five practical, insider lessons for surviving a PHMSA hazmat inspection. First, humanize the inspectors: despite their…
-
·
Insights from Behind the Scenes
As we live through this unprecedented and challenging time in human history, I thought that I would share with you a quick story of how a small government agency (PHMSA) worked with industry and other government agencies to keep Americans safe. In 2014, the US was faced with an issue that it hadn’t dealt with…
-
·
Here We Go!
As I enter a new phase of my career, I want to share a few perspectives that I learned from my time working with PHMSA’s Approvals and Permits Division. Firstly, the people of the Approvals and Permits Division and across PHMSA are smart, hard-working, mission-driven people that are truly dedicated to safety. As a Federal…
-
·
FAA Proposed Fines for Hazardous Material Violations
Article Summary The FAA has proposed civil penalties exceeding $50,000 against individuals and companies for offering lithium batteries in checked baggage for air transport, and this article uses a real case to illustrate just how costly that mistake can be — a company attempting to move 142 lithium metal batteries via checked baggage on a…
-
·
Company Decision Makers Often Underestimate the Value of Investing in Safety and Compliance
Hazmat Safety Consulting Can Assist to Enhance Safety, Ease Compliance Challenges and Reduce Supply Chain Disruption Article Summary Written by Bob Richard, President of Hazmat Safety Consulting, as the first post launching the HazMat Safety Consulting blog series, this article takes on a common misconception among corporate leaders: that safety and compliance investments are pure…
-
·
Aerosols: Why Further Regulatory Harmonization Is Needed
Article Summary Written by Bob Richard, this article examines a persistent mismatch between how the U.S. and international regulators define and regulate aerosols — and the compliance burden that mismatch creates for shippers. The U.S. Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) define an aerosol as a “non-refillable receptacle containing a gas compressed, liquefied or dissolved under pressure”…
-
·
30% State of Charge
Limits the volume of flammable gases emitted by lithium ion cells propagated in a thermal runaway. • Results in a less energetic thermal runaway event if one should occur. • Reduces the likelihood of thermal propagation from cell to cell. • Harmonization facilitates international trade by minimizing the burden of complying with multiple or inconsistent…
