Page 8 - STAT June 2023 Latest Issue

coverstory

"Operators should carry out their own an article and when classified as danger-
safety risk assessment when transport- ous goods, undergoes the exact same
ing lithium batteries and other goods requirements as other substances and
depending on several variables includ- articles covered under the dangerous
ing the level of risk exposure, the safety goods regulations. The challenging area
measures that are already in place, and comes from the undeclared battery ship-
their capabilities. ments within the supply chain that are
"Regarding lithium cells and batteries, then tendered for air carriage by shippers
it is required by the United Nations that either not understanding the regulations
all cell and battery types must meet the or blatantly ignoring and circumnavigat-
requirements of each test of the U.N. ing the requirements. This is where regu-
Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, sub- Airlines need latory authorities need to take action and
section 38.3. In addition, the IATA Danger- ensure that legal actions are taken against
ous Goods Regulations also specify pack- to perform the correct shippers of misdeclared consignments.
ing requirements that must be adhered risk assessment "Civil aviation authorities must do more
to when these items are transported by in order to reduce the risk in this area. In
air. As a result of the combination of these to manage the addition, airlines need to perform the
provisions, the cells and batteries have correct risk assessment to manage the
been manufactured to the required safety consignments they consignments they carry, not just adding
level, and, when prepared for transport in carry, not just adding operator variations that provide comfort
accordance with the regulations, they can rather than actual risk mitigation."
withstand normal transport conditions. operator variations The member companies forming the
"The industry is currently exposed to Incheon Airport Community have reinforced
two primary risks: lithium batteries ship- that provide comfort their perception of the safe transportation
ments that are undeclared or misde- rather than actual risk of lithium batteries during the process of
clared, and cell and battery types that obtaining the CEIV LI-Batt certification, adds
have not passed the UN 38.3 test. To ad- mitigation. Lee. "They have significantly enhanced and
dress these risks, IATA called for govern- reinforced a series of safe handling proce-
ments to step up enforcement of safety James Wyatt dures for receiving, storing, handling, and
regulations for the transport of lithium aeroconcept inland transportation of hazardous materials.
batteries, develop safety-related screen- safety data collection and sharing infor- Incheon Airport is dedicated to implement-
ing standards and processes for lithium mation between governments." ing these procedures to ensure even safer
batteries, develop and implement a fire- Wyatt agrees and adds: "Lithium bat- transportation of hazardous materials."
testing standard that addresses lithium teries do not pose a serious hazard if The Incheon Airport Community
battery fire containment, and enhance handled correctly. A lithium battery is achieved a significant milestone recently
6 | JUNE 2023 www.stattimes.com