The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a US$1.1 million civil penalty for Florida-based Braille Battery for allegedly violating the Hazardous Materials Regulations.

This is the largest civil penalty the FAA has proposed for alleged violations of requirements for offering an air shipment of lithium batteries.

 

The FAA alleges that on 01June 2016, Braille offered four shipments, each containing a 24-volt lithium ion battery, to FedEx for transportation by air. One of the batteries apparently caught fire while it was being transported on a FedEx truck, after it had been transported on an aircraft, resulting in the destruction of the vehicle.

 

The FAA alleges the lithium batteries in these shipments did not meet testing standards contained in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria or the US Hazardous Material Regulations. Also, they were not equipped with a means of preventing dangerous reverse current flow, and were not in a proper condition for shipment. The FAA further alleges Braille failed to provide its employees with required hazardous materials training.

 

“Improperly-shipped hazardous material can pose serious threats to aircraft and the people on board,” said FAA administrator Michael Huerta. “Adhering to the Hazardous Materials Regulations is critical to ensuring safety.”