With incidents of battery fires and explosions regularly making the headlines, now is a good time to get on the front foot with lithium-ion battery safety training for your team. But what do you need to know about lithium-ion battery fires — and where do you find suitable battery training courses?
This blog highlights key points that you need to consider when implementing lithium-ion safety training into your organisation. This includes understanding who may require training, what topics need to be covered and what prevention measures for battery fires need to be implemented in the work environment.
Why is Lithium Battery Fire Training Important?
As lithium-ion batteries (otherwise known as Li-ion batteries or LIBs) are recognised as Class 9 miscellaneous dangerous goods, they come with a range of hazards that can potentially lead to incidents, such as fire or explosion, in the workplace.
Due to the nature of lithium-ion batteries, fires are difficult to put out and can also spark thermal runaway in other batteries within the work space. This may lead to a larger fire danger, with the additional issues of toxic smoke and runoff from fire fighting efforts causing harm to people and the environment.
Lithium-ion battery fires require concentrated efforts to extinguish due to the risk of reignition of the battery. This means that cells can appear as if they are extinguished, when they will in fact re-ignite later – continuing the fire risk.
This is why standard fire training or procedures may not be effective in dealing with a lithium-ion battery fire. Therefore, the awareness about LIB fires – and in particular, how to prevent them – becomes an important consideration for businesses working with these Class 9 dangerous goods.
IMPORTANT: Read our popular blog to learn more about lithium-ion batteries, thermal runaway and the dangers that they present to the workplace, community, emergency services and surrounding environment.
What Workplaces May Require Lithium-ion Battery Training?
Lithium-ion battery safety training is relevant for a broad range of businesses. Basically, any workplace carrying these goods must understand how to handle, store and transport them to reduce the likelihood and severity of battery fires.
Almost every workplaces has some quantity of lithium-ion batteries at their site.
However, there are some industries where battery fire training is crucial due to the scope of works and the hazards involved with their work. This may include battery manufacturers, research and development, renewable and sustainable technologies, recycling operations, automotive, mobile and aviation industries.
Other workplaces who simply work with lithium-ion batteries, such in the form of devices, EVs, industrial robots or other technology may not be aware that their staff require a detailed understanding of battery hazards.
Industries that rely on lithium-ion battery powered technology and equipment may include:
- Manufacturing
- Warehousing and Logistics
- Automotive and Mobility Industries
- Consumer Electronics Retailers
- Healthcare
- Construction
- Industrial Sectors
These are just some of the common industries that may require lithium-ion battery awareness training to help prevent incidents of battery fires. However, if your workplace is managing Class 9 risks, staff need to be trained to understand proper handling and storage procedures – as well as charging and usage practices.
This training is necessary as mishandling or unsafe storage or transport can result in staff unintentionally creating a volatile situation with li-ion batteries.
REMEMBER: Lithium-ion batteries pose risks such as fire, thermal runaway, and chemical leaks when improperly handled. Proper safety training reduces accidents, ensures compliance with regulations, and protects personnel and assets.
What Topics Should Be Covered in Lithium-ion Battery Training?
When working with dangerous goods, there are a range of topics that need to be covered to make sure that staff are handling and storing goods in a way that adequately reduces risk.
In a situation where staff are working with lithium-ion batteries, it’s essential for staff to have a general understanding of the hazards, prevention measures and emergency procedures so they can work safely with these cells.
To reduce battery hazards, make sure that your staff follow the manufacturer’s instructions for handling, charging and storage.
Topics for Li-ion Safety Training may include:
- Battery chemistry: understanding how lithium-ion batteries work
- Lithium-ion hazards: what hazards are unique to LIBs
- Handling best practices: how should batteries be handled to minimise damage and fire risk
- Storage best practices: what kind of environment is required for a lithium-ion battery
- Safety controls: what types of risk controls can be put in place to support good handling and storage practices
- Transport regulations: applicable if your business is transporting batteries
- Reference documents: understanding what requirements and recommendations must be considered when creating lithium-ion battery management procedures and protocols
- Emergency and evacuation: how to manage the risk of a battery fire or hazard, such as a swollen, off-gassing or overheated battery
- Risk management: guidance of providing a complete risk management approach for all dangerous goods, including Class 9 lithium-ion batteries
What are Some Basic Lithium-ion Battery Safety Precautions?
There's many things you can do to improve battery safety in your organisation. While we recommend a full onsite risk assessment to look at all the dangerous goods, hazardous chemicals and risks in your operations, here are some general tips for lithium battery safety.
Improve safety by:
- Inspecting batteries: inspect batteries for swelling, leaks, cracks, or other signs of damage, particularly before charging
- Protecting batteries against impact damage: physical damage can lead to internal short circuits or fires
- Only using the appropriate chargers: use quality chargers suitable for the equipment
- Disposing of batteries in line with local regulations: dispose of damaged batteries following local hazardous waste guidelines
- Storing batteries in cool, dry and protected environments: batteries must not be exposed to extreme conditions or humidity. Ideally, batteries should be stored in dedicated, purpose-built battery cabinets or outdoor battery stores that can keep them in an optimum storage environment
- Recognise batteries as an ignition source: as batteries can cause fires, do not locate them near flammable dangerous goods or other combustible materials
- Avoid overcharging or deep discharging: follow the battery manufacturer’s guidelines for charging limits
Battery cabinets offer optimum conditions for lithium-ion battery storage in the workplace. Staff must be trained on the appropriate storage and charging procedures.
Improving Battery Safety
Like to learn more about controlling LIB risk? First, you've got to understand the risks that you're facing. Why not enrol in the Storemasta Academy to learn more about dangerous goods - including how to control the risks of lithium-ion battery fires? Our Academy offers easy-to-understand short video courses that can help your team increase their knowledge, safety and compliance.
We also have a range of eBooks to help you reduce your risk. In The Risk Assessment Process for Workplace Batteries, we highlight the Storemasta 4-step risk management methodology that can be applied to any workplace that carries Class 9 lithium-ion batteries - and other types of cells, such as lead acid. Whether you’re operating drones, mobile phones or forklifts, make sure your team understand the dangers that they're dealing with, by accessing this helpful information in our battery eBook.
