PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-614
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 614
JANUARY 2004
PS 614
Reporting the Incident
Battery incidents causing equipment dam-
age or injury must be reported to CECOM.
CECOM will need the usual stuff: like your
name; phone number; organization; location
of the incident; battery type and NSN; bat-
tery contract number and date code; and the
battery manufacturer.
They’ll also need the conditions of the
incident—was the battery in storage, being
shipped or handled, in use in equipment,
being tested, charged or disposed of. How
serious was the incident? Was the incident
violent? (Did the battery explode?) Were
there any injuries? How severe? Was there
any equipment damage?
You may have to submit a PQDR, SF 368,
to CECOM. CECOM will let you know. You
can submit a PQDR online at:
A user name and password are required. If
you need help with this, talk to your CECOM
Logistics Assistance Representative (LAR).
CECOM may ask you to send
the battery or equipment to them
for further evaluation.
Points of contact at CECOM
for battery incidents are:
Philip D. Klimek or David
Kiernan, DSN 992-0084 x6437,
(732) 532-0084 x6437, Fax
DSN 992-6403, (732) 532-6403,
email addresses:
Philip.D.Klimek@us.army.mil
David.Kiernan@us.army.mil
First, get away from the battery! Your natural tendency will
be to get closer and see what is happening. You’ll want to inves-
tigate.
Don’t!
Get away from the area until the noise stops and
the odor dissipates. Alert others in the area to get away, too.
While you’re doing this, report the incident.
Second, if you have been exposed to any expelled materials—
solids, liquids or mists—wash the areas of exposure immediate-
ly. Don’t wait around to see what happens. The stuff coming
from the battery can be as harmful as sulfuric acid and it will
burn you if left on your skin.
If you can smell a sulfurous odor, chances are your eyes have
been exposed and could be damaged by acid burns. Flush your
eyes immediately with water. If you’re wearing contact lenses,
get them out and then flush out your eyes again. Don’t put your
contacts back in until they are thoroughly cleaned and you have
contacted your doctor.
Finally, if you experience a battery venting and detect any
strong odors, seek medical attention, even if you don’t notice
any symptoms. This is a better-safe-than-sorry situation.
What
do
you do?
What
do
you do?
we can’t
take him
anywhere!
Normal, mild ventings
in which the battery
bulges or warps during
the complete discharge
process, need
not
be
reported.
if you explode,
I have to report
you to cecom!
I’ll be
good.
it’s
cool!
I’m
ok!
JAN 04
43
Wash areas
of exposure
immediately!
There you are,
minding your
own business,
when a lithium-
sulfur dioxide
battery starts
hissing and
popping and
filling the air
with an odor of
rotten eggs.
614. 42-43 (C)
11/29/03
4:16 PM
Page 1
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