◇ Program Summary
1. Battery-powered devices on airplanes are overheating more often and setting off alarms
Lithium-ion battery-powered devices overheat more often during flights, and passengers often put them in checked luggage and then in the cargo hold, where fires may not be discovered quickly. UL Standards & Engagement said in a report released Monday that overheating incidents rose 28% from 2019 to 2023, although such incidents are still relatively rare. E-cigarettes overheat more often than any other device, the report said. In July, a smoking laptop in a passenger’s bag caused a plane waiting to take off at San Francisco International Airport to be evacuated. Last year, a flight from Dallas to Orlando, Florida, made an emergency landing in Jacksonville, Florida, after a battery caught fire in an overhead bin. More than a quarter of passengers surveyed said they put e-cigarettes and portable chargers in checked luggage. This is a violation of federal regulations.
The Transportation Security Administration prohibits e-cigarettes, chargers and lithium-ion battery power banks in checked baggage, but allows them in carry-on luggage. This rule exists precisely because fires in cargo holds can be more difficult to detect and extinguish. UL Standards & Engagement said its findings were based on data from 35 passenger and cargo airlines, including nine of the 10 leading U.S. passenger airlines. As of August 15, the Federal Aviation Administration reported 37 aircraft thermal runaway incidents this year. Last year, 77 were reported, a 71% increase from 2019, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The most common lithium-ion powered devices on airplanes are mobile phones, laptops, wireless headphones and tablets. About 35% of reported overheating incidents involved e-cigarettes and 16% involved power banks.
2. Some garbage in Prince George’s County has not been dealt with for months
Dozens of residents in Prince George’s County, Maryland, who have seen and smelled undisturbed trash for much of the summer, expressed their frustration at a public meeting Monday night. Angel Nelson, who lives in the Fairwood section of Prince George’s County, said she’s been experiencing this problem for months: “Our trash day was moved to Thursday, but our trash wasn’t picked up once on Thursday.” Nelson said when the trash is picked up, the garbage hauler often doesn’t completely empty her trash cans, leaving trash — including bags of dog poop — on the street. She said discarded animal feces gets run over by cars, creating an even bigger mess. Resident Lyons said one garbage collector even tried to make her pay more to pick up her trash — a service she already paid for. Without payment, he left all of her trash on the curb.
Monday’s meeting was held at Lake Arbor Elementary School in Mitchellville. It was called by Blegay, a Prince George’s County Council member who said her trash has also not been picked up at times since the county changed its trash contract on July 1. Holt, the county’s deputy chief administrative officer, addressed the issue at a county council meeting earlier in the day. Crooms, director of the county’s environmental office, said her office is trying to address the issues through better strategic planning and other tools: “We can write tickets, and if they’re not doing what they’re supposed to be doing, we’re going to write tickets,” she said. Crooms said that throughout the summer, especially in July, haulers have dealt with staffing issues because of the hot weather. Meanwhile, other haulers have had supply chain issues in ensuring they have enough trucks. Gingold, a resident who later attended the school meeting, said she’s had a lot of issues this summer, but she said she might need more patience: “I’m really grateful to those people, I mean they have a very hard job, but all they get is complaints, complaints, complaints.”
3. Decades after 9/11, Reagan Airport still takes security seriously
On a display stand at Ronald Reagan National Airport, items like sandals, baseball caps and stuffed pandas may look ordinary, but their models represent potentially deadly explosives and reflect threats the Transportation Security Administration has seen over the years.
“There have been cases of people hiding bombs in shoes, so you have to take your shoes off to go through security,” explains TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein. “There’s also the threat of liquid bombs, which is why there are limits on the amount of liquids, gels and aerosols you can bring on board.” She adds that any liquid that can be sprinkled, sprayed or smeared must be limited to 3.4 ounces or otherwise must be checked.
As the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, the TSA’s presentation emphasizes the importance of airport security, and Reagan Airport is just a few miles from the site of the Pentagon attack. Farbstein noted that some of the current TSA agents were even born after the 9/11 attacks. “For those places that were directly affected, such as New York City, Arlington, Virginia, and western Pennsylvania, security measures tend to be seen as more personal,” she said.
4. Washington, D.C. uses robots to check street signs
Recently, on the streets of Washington, D.C., you may have seen the Kiwibot robot wandering around with its heart-shaped and star-shaped “eyes” blinking. The robots are not intended to write parking tickets, but are being used as part of a pilot program to help the D.C. Department of Transportation (DDOT) track street signs and sidewalk infrastructure.
Kiwibot was originally used for food delivery services on the Howard University campus. Stephanie Dock, manager of innovation at the DC Department of Transportation, said this inspired them to consider whether these robots could be used to collect data on city signs. As part of a pilot project, Kiwibot robots collected information on city signs along a one-mile stretch of Georgia Avenue and near the Southeast Navy Yard last fall.
The Department of Transportation’s sign list includes the location and content of all signs in the city, such as stop signs must point in the right direction, one-way streets must be clearly marked, etc. The robot looks like a cooler on wheels and is equipped with multiple sensors and radars to detect objects in front and avoid collisions.
The robot will “baseline sense” the location of the signs based on the Department of Transportation’s existing sign data, taking photos of the signs as they drive along the sidewalk and sending them back to the team. The team will then check this information to see if it matches the signs in the database, if there have been changes, or if any action needs to be taken. If a new sign is found, the robot will add it to the database; if a sign is missing, it will be marked and the Department of Transportation will further check to see if the sign has been removed or collapsed and repair it.
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Table of Contents
Safety and Security in the Air and on the Ground
As we mark the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, safety and security remain top priorities in various aspects of our lives, from air travel to waste management and infrastructure maintenance. In this article, we will delve into recent developments and concerns related to battery-powered devices on airplanes, waste management in Prince George’s County, security measures at Ronald Reagan National Airport, and the use of robots to check street signs in Washington, D.C.
Battery-Powered Devices on Airplanes: A Growing Concern
Lithium-ion battery-powered devices, such as e-cigarettes and portable chargers, are increasing in popularity, but they also pose a significant threat to air travel safety. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) prohibits these devices in checked baggage, but they are allowed in carry-on luggage. According to a report by UL Standards & Engagement, overheating incidents involving these devices have risen 28% from 2019 to 2023, although they are still rare. In July, a smoking laptop in a passenger’s bag caused a plane to be evacuated at San Francisco International Airport, highlighting the importance of adhering to TSA regulations.
Waste Management Woes in Prince George’s County
Residents of Prince George’s County, Maryland, have been experiencing frustration and inconvenience due to uncollected trash that has been piling up for months. The issue was raised at a public meeting, where residents shared their experiences of trash not being picked up, and garbage haulers not fully emptying trash cans, leaving trash on the streets. The county’s environmental office is working to address the issue through better strategic planning and enforcement of regulations.
Security Measures at Ronald Reagan National Airport
As the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, Ronald Reagan National Airport remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of its passengers. The TSA’s presentation at the airport highlights the importance of security measures, such as removing shoes and limiting liquids, gels, and aerosols in carry-on luggage. The airport is just a few miles from the site of the Pentagon attack, and the TSA’s emphasis on security is particularly relevant in this context.
Robots to the Rescue: Checking Street Signs in Washington, D.C.
In Washington, D.C., the Department of Transportation (DDOT) has been using Kiwibot robots to track street signs and sidewalk infrastructure as part of a pilot program. The robots, which were originally used for food delivery services on the Howard University campus, are equipped with sensors and radars to detect objects and avoid collisions. They take photos of street signs and send them back to the team, which checks the information against the Department of Transportation’s existing sign data.
safety and security are essential aspects of our lives, and it is crucial to
Can lithium batteries catch fire when not in use
Battery Safety and Recycling: A Growing Concern
As the world becomes increasingly reliant on lithium-ion batteries to power our devices, the risks associated with these batteries have come to the forefront. In recent reports, overheating incidents involving lithium-ion batteries have risen by 28% from 2019 to 2023, with e-cigarettes being the most common culprit [[1]]. This is a cause for concern, especially when it comes to air travel, as fires in cargo holds can be more difficult to detect and extinguish.
In response to these concerns, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) prohibits e-cigarettes, chargers, and lithium-ion battery power banks in checked baggage, but allows them in carry-on luggage [[1]]. The Federal Aviation Administration reported 37 aircraft thermal runaway incidents this year, highlighting the need for passengers to be aware of the risks associated with these batteries.
But battery safety is not the only issue at hand. Proper recycling of lithium-ion batteries is also crucial in minimizing the risks associated with these batteries. In Prince George’s County, Maryland, a battery recycling program is in place, with residents encouraged to recycle their small batteries at designated facilities [[2]]. The Maryland Recycling Network promotes sustainable reduction, reuse, and recycling, ensuring that the use of virgin materials is minimized [[3]].
In addition, the Office of People’s Counsel (OPC) in Maryland has expressed support for the establishment of a Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety, which would work to address the safety concerns associated with these batteries [[1]].
The Importance of Proper Waste Management
Proper waste management is also crucial in minimizing the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries. In Prince George’s County, residents have expressed frustration at the lack of trash pickup, with some residents experiencing issues for months [[1]]. The county’s environmental office is working to address these issues through better strategic planning and other tools, including writing tickets to haulers who do not comply with regulations.
Airport Security: A Continued Priority
As the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, airport security remains a top priority. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) continues to take security seriously, with display stands at Ronald Reagan National Airport showing examples of potentially deadly explosives and reflecting threats seen over the years [[1]].
battery safety and recycling are growing concerns that require attention and action. By promoting sustainable reduction, reuse, and recycling, and by addressing the safety concerns associated with lithium-ion batteries, we can work towards a safer and more environmentally friendly future.
References:
<a href="https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/cmtetestimony/2024/eee/2062302282024_115832-75.pdf”>[3]
