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Date: September 30, 2016
Contact: Paul Takemoto or Tammy Jones
Phone:�202-267-3883
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FAA Issues Emergency Order to Braille Battery
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WASHINGTON � The U.S. Department of Transportation�s Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) on September 16 issued an emergency order to
restrict and prohibit Braille Battery, Inc. of Sarasota, Fla., from offering to
transport by air any lithium ion battery not in compliance with the DOT's Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR) or the International Civil Aviation Organization�s (ICAO)
technical instructions.� Despite FAA warnings,
Braille Battery failed to ship
lithium ion batteries in accordance with appropriate regulations and continued
to offer for air transport lithium ion batteries that were not properly tested,
violating the HMR. Further, the FAA determined that Braille Battery�s overall
conditions and practices constitute an imminent hazard.
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As a lithium ion battery manufacturer, Braille Battery is responsible for ensuring that any
lithium ion battery it offers for transportation is properly tested for
classification, packaged, marked and labeled prior to offering for
transportation. In addition, Braille Battery, as a hazmat employer, must ensure
that employees who perform functions regulated under the HMR are trained adequately.
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The agency also issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) to warn the
airlines about the risk that some Braille Battery lithium ion batteries could
present when accepted and transported as air cargo. The SAFO recommends that
operators implement their control measures to prevent Braille batteries from
introducing this known risk into their systems. The SAFO includes a list of
Braille battery models known to have been UN tested.
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If Braille Battery does not comply with this Order, the
company is subject to criminal prosecution as well as civil penalties of up to
$179,933 for each violation, for each day they are found to be in violation.
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