ACAPMA joins with the CAP to actively advise members that any DG vehicle with the Baxters Viatemis ADR Battery Switch DPS Series will be determined to be an “unsuitable vehicle[s] for transporting dangerous goods and must not be used to transport dangerous goods as it may impact people’s health and safety and protection of property and the environment”.
In addition to DG transport operators consigners are reminded that as part of the chain of responsibility they MUST NOT consign dangerous goods in a non compliant vehicle and should take such steps as required to satisfy themselves that the vehicles used to transport their product are compliant.
Background
A product recall for the Baxters Viatemis ADR Battery Switch DPS Series.
The product was sold between 1 October 2023 to 6 March 2025.
The battery switch is installed on prime movers, especially on vehicles moving Dangerous Goods, and its function is to isolate the battery of the vehicle or engine plant to render it safe and/or inoperable.
Testing has indicated that the product is susceptible to water ingress, which may cause the product to fail.
Businesses with vehicles installed with the product should stop using the vehicles immediately.
If the recalled product fails while the vehicle is in motion it may pose an accident risk to the vehicle, occupants and other road users.
Operators are encouraged to review the details of the recall, identify if its vehicles that are impacted and follow the recall instructions.
Further information is available on the Baxter website.
Message from the CAP
The Competent Authorities Panel (CAP) is composed of dangerous goods transport regulators along with other government stakeholders with an interest in dangerous goods transport regulation.
CAP has recently become aware of a product recall for some units of the Baxters Viatemis ADR Battery Switch DPS Series that may be fitted to dangerous goods transport vehicles. The issue is that water may ingress the switch and may cause the unit to fail thus isolating power to the vehicle.
A battery isolation switch is installed on prime movers and rigid trucks transporting dangerous goods in tanks, and its function is to isolate the battery of the vehicle or engine plant to render it safe and/or inoperable. If the recalled product fails while the vehicle is in motion it may pose an accident risk to the vehicle, occupants and other road users.
Baxters has issued a product safety recall on the affected switches that can be found at https://www.baxters.com.au/product-recalls.html
As this is of national concern CAP has met to discuss possible resolutions to this issue and has also sought advice from subject matter experts.
CAP members have noted:
- The Baxters recall states “operators of vehicles should immediately stop using the affected product or vehicle that has been fitted with an affected product”.
- Regulators have been informed that the affected product does not meet the minimum IP65 rating for water ingress protection as required by AS 2809.1 and that the product is unsuitable.
- Dangerous goods road tank vehicles fitted with non-compliant products that are not fit for purpose are unsuitable vehicles for transporting dangerous goods and must not be used to transport dangerous goods as it may impact people’s health and safety and protection of property and the environment.
- Consignors are also reminded that they must not consign dangerous goods in non-compliant vehicles.
Operators of affected vehicles must immediately remove them from service until they can be made compliant.
Here to Help
ACAPMA members are encouraged to reach out to communications@acapma.com.au if they have any questions.
ACAPMA
