Q. We received a call from the local fire service to advise that due to a recent fire involving a lithium battery, that they had submerged the item in a bin of water and it was now safe to dispose of. How would we do this?
A. The battery would have to be carried under full ADR as there are no Limited or Excepted Quantities for lithium batteries. So, the driver would have to hold a full ADR licence.
The battery would need to be packaged and transported as below:
Transported under UN3480 – ‘LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES’. The transport document should include the following statement:
“Transport in accordance with special provision 376”.
To package the battery, it must be:
-
If the battery is likely to rapidly disassemble, produce a flame or gas, then it will need to be packaged in accordance with packing instructions P911 of 4.1.4.1 or if required LP906 of 4.1.4.3 of ADR.
Packages should be marked with “DAMAGED/DEFECTIVE LITHIUN ION BATTERIES” and you would also require Competent Authority Approval.
Q. We have several drivers that would like to personise the cab and fit pelmets, what are the rules please?
A. In short, they can if it does not encroach on the view to the front or out of the side windows. Section 23 of DVSA’s heavy goods vehicle inspection manual, glass and view of the road, details the zones in which items are not to encroach on and what is allowed in those areas. The same section in DVSA’s Categorisation of vehicle defects denotes that it could be an immediate prohibition and the DVSA enforcement sanctions policy sees the driver having a £50 fixed penalty notice if the drivers view is obscured.
