Lithium Battery Parcel Fires and Explosions – Romford Mail Centre Wednesday 27.4.16 & London, Piccadilly W1 Delivery 6.5.16

Lithium Battery Parcel Fires and Explosions – Romford Mail Centre Wednesday 27.4.16 & London, Piccadilly W1 Delivery 6.5.16:
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
This is an update report to Branches further to LTB 278/16.
As reported in LTB 278/16 a package containing a Lithium Battery caught fire and exploded in Romford Mail Centre on 27 April causing minor damage. The Fire alarm was activated and the Mail Centre was evacuated. There were no injuries of any kind. The minor explosion and fire was quickly controlled and the packaging and surrounding materials were put out by use of fire extinguishers.
Subsequently a further incident occurred when a Mail Bag containing a similar item burst into flames, whilst being carried by a Postmen/OPG to a customer’s address whilst making deliveries in the Piccadilly W1 area. The bag of Mail items and Parcels were destroyed in the Fire. The member dropped the bag and retreated to a safe distance when the fire occurred and was unharmed. The Mail bag and contents were severely damaged and destroyed.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) attended both scenes and dealt with the fires before giving the all clear.
The two incidents have been taken extremely seriously by Royal Mail, the Police, the Civil Aviation Authority and Fire Service and extensive investigations have been undertaken and they continue.
Royal Mail’s Security and Dangerous Goods Teams have been keeping the Health, Safety & Environment Department fully updated on progress of the investigations and discussions have taken place regarding the necessary course of action.
The two items have now been identified as similar items, sold by the same seller on eBay, the world famous on-line auction and marketplace website. The two items are poor quality, Lap Top Computer, Lithium Batteries, manufactured, distributed and posted from China via an International Import company with links to Switzerland.
The Fire Service and Police have completed their examination of the items and the Police were satisfied through their investigations that these were not terrorist related incidents but instead were shoddily made Lithium-ion batteries with faulty circuitry, which are known to have been the cause of a series of unrelated incidents involving fires and minor explosions. These batteries have been fitted in cheap versions of the new type self-balancing “hoverboard” scooters as well as being sold as replacement or counterfeit laptop batteries where the batteries overheat, explode and cause fires.
The Civil Aviation Authority investigation aims to determine whether the items were posted by Airmail which is strictly prohibited. Under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations and International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations, Lose Lithium-ion/polymer batteries without equipment are prohibited as cargo on passenger aircraft. This could lead to a CAA prosecution of the seller and distributor if evidence is forthcoming.
If the items were sent within the UK then that breaches Royal Mail’s Restricted and Prohibited Goods Rules and in that case Royal Mail Group’s Security and Dangerous Goods teams will investigate prosecution of the seller and distributor for reckless endangerment or Health and Safety Offences with enforcing authorities.
Royal Mail Group’s Security and Dangerous Goods teams have been constantly in contact with EBay, as have the above mentioned authorities. Royal Mail has requested the removal of Royal Mail as a preferred carrier for this type of item from any sellers operating on eBay and monitoring of sellers to prevent new ones using Royal Mail. EBay have been co-operating with Royal Mail in that respect.
Royal Mail has also raised the matter with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) which sets the rules for international mail exchanges and monitors the standards and activities of international Postal Services and sets procedures for accepting and controlling dangerous goods.
Such packages incorrectly posted, containing prohibited goods are not always easily identified. Such incidents are rare but Members should be vigilant and report any suspect packages if they come to their attention and management should follow the “Stay Calm/Be Aware” guidance and call CPC or the Security Help Desk for further advice and call the Emergency Services as required.
Water Fire Extinguishers have little effect on Lithium Battery Fires but wetting the surrounding area can prevent fire spread as a precaution pending attendance by the Fire Service.
Further updates will be published in due course.
Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
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Attachment 1 – 16LTB353 Lithium Battery Parcel Fires and Explosions.docx