Narrative:

A ramp agent expressed concern that hazmat was loaded on the aircraft. I went and looked at the 1;000 pound shipment (approximately 10 boxes) and they each had a red hatched caution sticker with the flammability symbol stating 'lithium ion battery; do not load or transport package if damaged.' based on fom (flight operations manual) guidance regarding transportation of lithium batteries I refused to transport the shipment and instructed it be removed from the aircraft. Fom guidance is specific regarding lithium batteries and provides no means to accept them as a commercial freight shipment. No notice to crew was provided and no manifest indicating number or weight of the batteries. The sticker was not a department of transportation hazmat sticker but was of european origin; based on the sticker manufacturer information. The cargo supervisor and another individual stated several times this is not hazmat and they ship boxes with this sticker routinely. Additionally they stated that they had opened two of the boxes and they contained computer parts and small lithium batteries. Again; based on fom guidance regarding transportation of lithium batteries; I refused to carry the shipment. Unknown quantity; size; weight of batteries coupled with no authority to carry a commercial freight shipment labeled in this fashion and guidance from the fom that does not provide relief for this. I believe this shipment was at best mislabeled or misrepresented and at worst was actually hazardous material and not in line with company hazmat policy.my greatest concern was the statement by the station cargo supervisor that in spite of the sticker on each box; 'this is not hazmat; and we carry this stuff all the time.' company hazmat policy and training have gone to great lengths to stress the dangers of lithium ion batteries and their fire potential. A sobering read of an NTSB investigation informs us with tragically earned knowledge that the survivability of a cargo bay fire is limited to 'minutes'. It was not a department of transportation sticker; but raised sufficient concern that I was unwilling to transport the freight. If this is in fact a regular practice at ZZZ; these non-standard stickers need to be addressed by company and fom guidance updated. The importance of addressing this issue at the level of company cargo personnel is highlighted by the fact that if one keen eyed ramp agent had not been on his game; no one (including myself) would have known.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier Captain reported refusing a HAZMAT shipment marked with red caution stickers stating 'Lithium ion battery; do not load or transport package if damaged.' The Captain was later informed the shipment was acceptable per Department of Transportation standards because its contents met the acceptable package type; number of batteries; and labeling requirements.

Narrative: A Ramp Agent expressed concern that HAZMAT was loaded on the aircraft. I went and looked at the 1;000 pound shipment (approximately 10 boxes) and they each had a red hatched caution sticker with the flammability symbol stating 'lithium ion battery; do not load or transport package if damaged.' Based on FOM (Flight Operations Manual) guidance regarding transportation of lithium batteries I refused to transport the shipment and instructed it be removed from the aircraft. FOM guidance is specific regarding lithium batteries and provides no means to accept them as a commercial freight shipment. No Notice to Crew was provided and no manifest indicating number or weight of the batteries. The sticker was not a Department of Transportation HAZMAT sticker but was of European origin; based on the sticker manufacturer information. The Cargo Supervisor and another individual stated several times this is not HAZMAT and they ship boxes with this sticker routinely. Additionally they stated that they had opened two of the boxes and they contained computer parts and small lithium batteries. Again; based on FOM guidance regarding transportation of lithium batteries; I refused to carry the shipment. Unknown quantity; size; weight of batteries coupled with no authority to carry a commercial freight shipment labeled in this fashion and guidance from the FOM that does not provide relief for this. I believe this shipment was at best mislabeled or misrepresented and at worst was actually hazardous material and not in line with Company HAZMAT policy.My greatest concern was the statement by the station Cargo Supervisor that in spite of the sticker on each box; 'this is not hazmat; and we carry this stuff all the time.' Company HAZMAT policy and training have gone to great lengths to stress the dangers of lithium ion batteries and their fire potential. A sobering read of an NTSB investigation informs us with tragically earned knowledge that the survivability of a cargo bay fire is limited to 'minutes'. It was not a Department of Transportation sticker; but raised sufficient concern that I was unwilling to transport the freight. If this is in fact a regular practice at ZZZ; these non-standard stickers need to be addressed by Company and FOM guidance updated. The importance of addressing this issue at the level of Company Cargo personnel is highlighted by the fact that if one keen eyed Ramp Agent had not been on his game; no one (including myself) would have known.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.