Dogs sniff out lithium batteries at LYS

Dogs were used to detect lithium batteries in cargo shipments, baggage and mail for a six-month study recently completed in France for a solution that aims to sniff out undeclared batteries and uphold airfreight safety standards. Lithium batteries are presently a threat to flight safety, with fires sparked by the mishandling of poorly manufactured batteries and short circuits on the rise. The test phase, started in March at handler Worldwide Flight Services’ (WFS) cargo terminal at Lyon Saint Exupery Airport (LYS), included two dog-detection teams that found lithium ion and lithium metal phone batteries, according to a Sept. 26 release from WFS. The dogs were able to detect a single ion metal battery within a 1-cubic-meter shipment. The trial is derived from K9 screening solutions company DiagNose, a subsidiary of security company ICTS Europe, using its free-running explosives detection method. “Over the six months, the two dogs involved in the trial were very precise in their detection of lithium batteries, with 100% accuracy,” said David Clark, global head of health, safety, security and environment (HSSE) at WFS. In addition, an “operational protocol, a standard training program, and an end-of-training and ongoing performance evaluation,” was developed, according to the release. [caption id="attachment_57132249" align="alignright" width="476"] WFS, Diagnose partner to detect undeclared lithium batteries using dog detection teams (Photo/WFS)[/caption] As more canine detection teams are being trained for lithium battery detection, additional dogs could be deployed across airports in the European Union within five to six months. In the next stage of the safety initiative, ICTS Europe intends to present the trial’s results to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and regulatory authorities. Catching rogue shippers, undeclared lithium batteries The threat of lithium batteries that short circuit into thermal runaway is being exacerbated by the increase in consumer goods as new suppliers enter the market, “many of whom are ignorant of the regulations applicable to the transport of lithium batteries by air,” according to a Sept. 25 statement from IATA. In one incident, three cargo pallets with China-manufactured Vivo smartphones and accessories caught fire in 2021 at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). This led Hong Kong Air Cargo to not only ban the transport of Vivo mobile phones, but any shipments from Cargo Link Logistics HK Co. Ltd and Sky Pacific Logistics HK Co. Ltd. See also : A chain of responsibility: Lithium batteries and upholding airfreight safety “It's a joint responsibility. The industry is raising the bar to consistently apply existing standards and share critical information on rogue shippers,” IATA Director General Willie Walsh said during IATA’s annual general meeting in June. “But there are some areas where the leadership of governments is critical. Stronger enforcement of existing regulations and the criminalization of abuses will send a strong message to rogue shippers. “The accelerated development of standards for screening, information exchange and fire containment will give the industry even more effective tools to work with,” he added. CEIV Li-Batt certification To this end, IATA and CEVA Logistics have partnered to launch the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators Lithium Batteries (CEIV Li-Batt) certification . The certification was initially geared toward freight forwarders, but carriers and ground handlers are now being encouraged to obtain it, according to IATA. “There are different responsibilities for each stakeholder,” Dave Brennan, assistant director of cargo safety and standards at IATA, said in the release. “For freight forwarders, for example, it is about the packing and labelling of lithium batteries, and we have learned a lot about this in the past year. For airlines, it is about handling, loading and reporting any problems. “The scope of CEIV Li-Batt is being broadened. Freight forwarders were the ideal start point and now the operating side is coming under scrutiny,” Brennan said.

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