Overview
During our audit, we found that the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) does not identify battery and/or electrical fire hazards in its Agency Safety Plan. Battery and/or electrical fires are different from gasoline or diesel fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association and the Federal Transit Administration, battery and/or electrical fires last longer and can potentially reignite up to 22 hours after the initial incident. Moreover, the six BEBs and six charging stations were installed in GATRA’s maintenance garage, where GATRA’s entire fleet of vehicles is parked overnight. A fuel tank is also attached to the building. Given these risks, GATRA should implement safety measures.
The Federal Transit Administration’s Guidebook for Deploying Battery Electric Buses, dated August 2023, states,
Instituting fleet storage guidelines with extreme storage distances between BEBs or groups of BEBs minimizes the spread of fire. Physical separation is a simple and effective way to mitigate the potential spread of fire. . . .
Fleet storage . . . of the BEB fleet [should be separate] from conventionally fueled buses.
In addition, we reviewed the GILLIG Service Manual and the GILLIG Driver’s Handbook and identified specific safety procedures outlined in these guides. GATRA’s Emergency Action Plan did not address any of the safety procedures outlined in the GILLIG Driver’s Handbook. Without an adequate Emergency Action Plan in place to address the occurrence of battery and/or electrical fires, GATRA could potentially put its equipment, employees, and riders at serious risk.
We recommended that GATRA consider all safety hazards, including fire hazard analysis specific to BEBs, to mitigate hazards related to battery and/or electrical fires, and establish an Emergency Action Plan to address all safety procedures recommended by GILLIG.
Auditee’s Response
GATRA is committed to providing a safe work environment for all employees, contractors, and vendors. As part of this commitment, the Authority is updating its Emergency Action Plan to include the battery electric buses. The plan’s goal is to control and reduce fires that may cause personal injury, property damage or loss. It will also specify the type of equipment used in case of fire, to fully comply with all applicable [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] regulations regarding fire prevention plans as found in [Section 1910.38(b) of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations].
The plan is currently being developed. Some of the items that GATRA will be implementing or investigating are as follows:
- Segregate vehicles by type: Gasoline, Diesel, Battery Electric (BEB) buses
- Internal combustion engines (ICE) vehicles have a higher instance of fire than battery electric. ICE vehicle fires are easily contained and extinguished.
- This item is currently being implemented.
- Researching a deployable fire curtain to fully segregate ICE vehicles from BEB vehicles in the event of an incident. This curtain would be deployed by activation of the fire alarm system.
- Continued training with local fire departments on BEB safety. GATRA is, also, looking into installing QR codes on the vehicles that would link to manufacturer safety cards for first responders.
- The underground fuel tanks are at the opposite end of the building and pose little threat to the vehicle storage area. The closest charger/BEB is approximately 360 feet from fuel tanks and separated by 5 separate firewalls. As part of the action plan, GATRA will ensure that electric power is cut off from the fuel pumps. GATRA will investigate the possibility of an automatic disconnect connected to the fire alarm system.
- GATRA will implement all manufacturer safety recommendations as part of the plan.
Auditor’s Reply
Based on its response, GATRA is taking measures to address our concerns regarding this matter.
| Date published: | December 24, 2024 |
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