The Hidden Peril: Safeguarding Against Lithium-Ion Battery Risks

Your personal and work equipment might be newer, lighter, and sleeker — but it also might be more dangerous.

At CIS, we care about the safety of our members and their communities. Many tools of the trade, as well as tools for everyday life, contain lithium-ion batteries, which are powerful and usually safe to use. Users of laptops, cell phones, body-worn cameras, portable radios, and other devices, can take a few steps to keep themselves and their families safe.

Lithium-Ion Battery Basics

• Use only manufacturer-approved equipment.

• Charge devices safely, on top of non-flammable surfaces only, and never unsupervised.

• Don't overcharge batteries; disconnect the device once charging is complete.

• Don't use damaged batteries and discontinue use if there are signs of swelling, heat, bulging, leaking, or an unusual odor.

• Store batteries at room temperature.

• Recycle batteries properly.

• Install working fire alarms.

Please take 5 minutes and watch this informative video for lithium-ion best practices, and other important information.

What's next? Take time to wander through the halls where you live and work to find where devices with lithium-ion batteries are located. Once you know where the hazards are, you can create emergency action and escape plans.

Signs of Trouble

• Get out quickly and call 911 if you see, smell, or hear warning signs.

• Be aware that these batteries produce little smoke in early failure stages, which may not trigger a traditional smoke alarm in time to prevent a fire.

• Ventilate the area (if possible) to clear out toxic smoke.

• Understand that lithium-ion batteries can enter an uncontrollable, self-heating state, releasing gas, spreading fire rapidly, and possibly causing an explosion.

• Be aware that these battery fires can re-ignite without warning after all visible flames have been extinguished.

As you rely on these batteries for work and home, taking a few simple safety precautions — such as storing them properly and avoiding overcharging — will help ensure that you, your team, and your family stay safely powered and connected.

At CIS, we are dedicated to fostering strong safety practices and reducing risk to prevent injuries, minimize losses, and keep employees safe and healthy — protecting our members and their communities.

Share this Home Safety Tip Sheet with your family and create an escape plan. Children and pets are at risk of hazards related to “button” and “coin” lithium-ion batteries:

• If batteries are swallowed, saliva triggers a chemical reaction that can cause severe internal burns.

• Button batteries can also cause serious harm if they are placed in a child's ear or nose, where they can damage sensitive tissues.

• Even used or dead batteries have enough charge to be harmful if ingested so they must be disposed of properly.

  
  

Travel safe too! The FAA provides information about travel requirements related to lithium-ion batteries. Educating others and planning are the keys to preventing these hazards.

This OSHA Lithium-Ion Factsheet lists hazards, controls and many OSHA standards that may apply to different exposures. Oregon OSHA has a job hazard analysis course to help you create effective safe-job procedures and work plans for different positions.

To learn more about working safely with this hazard, Princeton University Environmental Health and Safety provides guidance on transporting, handling, preventing hazards, disposal, and selecting appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Depending on the exposure, PPE may include eye protection, fire-resistant clothing for body protection, and chemical- or fire-resistant gloves for hand protection. For chemical hazards, splash goggles and chemical-resistant gloves are recommended; for fire hazards, use flame-resistant suits and gloves.

Supervisors' Plan for Safety

• Start with CIS Learning Center (CLC) training on incident preparedness and response planning.

• Conduct a hazard assessment to identify employees exposed to this hazard and determine appropriate personal protective equipment.

• Provide employees with training and PPE. The Oregon State Fire Marshall has offered training for first responders and the CLC has lithium-ion related training.

• Create an emergency action plan that includes lithium-related incident response procedures.

• Know the physical and health hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries.

Consider that some positions may need specialized training. First responders, facility technicians, mechanics, transit and transportation employees will interact with lithium-ion batteries in different ways and can be exposed to different hazards.