FMCSA Warns About Battery Electronic Smoking Devices

Turns out that smoking can be bad for you health in more ways than we thought.

The FMCSA has Issued a “Safety Advisory Related to the Possession and Use of Battery-Powered Portable Electronic Smoking Devices” in or around commercial motor vehicles.

What seems the be of concern are incidents that have occurred relating to the possession and use of battery-powered portable electronic smoking devices [e.g., e-cigarettes, e-cigs, e-cigars, e-pipes, e-hookahs, personal vaporizers, electronic nicotine delivery systems] and the transportation safety risks associated with the use of these devices.

In short, the use of battery-powered portable electronic smoking devices has resulted in incidents including explosions, serious personal injuries, and fires. The explosions regularly involved the ejection of a burning battery case or other components from the device which subsequently ignited nearby flammable or combustible materials.

The Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations do not specifically address the potential safety risks posed by battery-powered portable electronic smoking devices. However, the FMCSA advised motor carriers and drivers to be “cognizant of the risks associated with these devices and exercise good judgment and appropriate discretion in their possession…”

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