Lithium-Ion Battery Safety: What The Code Does...And Doesn’t...Say

Equipment powered by lithium-ion batteries are becoming more and more prevalent within the plant setting. The advantages are clear: These batteries tend to be smaller, can be fast-charging, and hold up well to repeated charging and discharging cycles.

Of course, they are not without disadvantages. Chief among them are the fires and explosions they can cause. In addition to such physical hazards, the lithium cobalt and graphite present in these batteries can be hazardous to employee health, leading to burns, skin and eye irritation, and lung damage should the batteries be damaged.

So how, as an employer, do you protect your facility and your employees when using equipment powered by lithium-ion batteries? From a code perspective, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) Powered Industrial Truck Standard has a section related to “Changing and Charging Storage Batteries” (29 CFR 1910.178(g)), but it is related to sulfuric acid batteries...not lithium ion.

Without specific code guidance, in situations like these, consider following standard best practices such as:

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for storage, use, charging, and maintenance.
• Include an automated on and off feature at charging stations to avoid overcharging.
• Install some type of fire protection (e.g., sprinkler or appropriate fire extinguisher). While not required by some building codes, this is often required by an insurer carrier.

Need more information about managing lithium-ion batteries in your plant? Contact Hixson today!