MD80S ACFT PREDEP. RPTR CAPT FOUND A HANDICAP SCOOTER IMPROPERLY SECURED IN BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. RPTR COUNSELED LOADING CREW SUPVR CONCERNING PROPER HANDLING AND SECURING BATTERIES OF HANDICAP CHAIRS.

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ON FLT APR/MON/97 AT TUS-DFW; OK333 WAS DELIVERED TO FLT IN A TIMELY FASHION 20 MINS PRIOR TO SCHEDULED DEP. THIS WAS FORTUNATE. I HAD JUST EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR INCIDENT ON APR/XX/97; SO I PROCEEDED TO AFT BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT AND TALKED TO LOADING CREW AND GOT SUPVR INVOLVED. AFTER AREA SUPVR RESEARCHED PROB; SHE AGREED THAT THIS HANDICAP SCOOTER WAS IMPROPERLY LOADED. WE COOPERATED; TOOK CORRECTIVE ACTION; SOLVED THE PROB; AND DID NOT HAVE A DELAY. THIS SCOOTER AND BATTERY SETUP WAS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE ON APR/XX/97; FLT DFW-DEN. I FEEL THAT 2 INCIDENTS OF THIS TYPE IN A 3-DAY SEQUENCE ARE SOMEWHAT INDICATIVE OF A TRAINING PROB WITH THE HANDLING OF THIS TYPE OF HAZMAT. THE AGENTS CHKING THE SCOOTERS MUST CHK COMPLIANCE WITH HAZMAT RULES AND ENSURE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY SECURED; BECAUSE THERE IS EVIDENCE CARGO LOADING CREWS ARE NOT TRAINED OR CHKING THE PROPER LOADING; OR BOTH. I HOPE THESE ARE ISOLATED INCIDENTS; BUT NON COMPLIANCE WITH SECURING BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A DEAD SHORT OF TERMINALS OR BARE WIRE ENDS AND RESULT IN SMOKE/FIRE AND ACFT DAMAGE.