New Resources on Lithium-Ion Batteries Include EPA Webinar, OSHA Fact Sheet
An EPA webinar to be held on March 12 will focus on best practices for and challenges when responding to lithium-ion battery fires. According to the agency, the two-hour session will cover the hazards of lithium-ion batteries, the types of incidents that may occur, and transportation and disposal challenges that can be expected during the remediation of lithium-ion battery incidents. The webinar is part of a series hosted by EPA on oil spill prevention and chemical emergency preparedness regulations, primarily for tribal audiences. The series is intended to help tribal communities understand their role in preparing for and preventing environmental emergencies from incidents like oil discharges or chemical accidents. Details on how to join the free webinar are available on EPA’s website.
A fact sheet published by OSHA in January explains that the lithium cells in these batteries “[convert] chemical potential energy into electrical energy using lithium ions or lithium metal.” The fact sheet also outlines potential hazards presented by lithium-ion batteries, including hazards created during thermal runaway, a reaction that can be caused by battery manufacturing defects, mechanical damage to a battery, exposing a battery to excessive heat or cold, or improperly charging a battery. OSHA describes thermal runaway as “a chain reaction where the heat released from the failure of one cell damages nearby cells,” and says that this type of reaction is possible because lithium-ion batteries contain a flammable electrolyte and store a “significant amount” of energy. Fires caused by thermal runaway can produce hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide, and other hazardous chemicals and particulates, the agency notes.
Learn more about EPA’s upcoming webinar on its website. OSHA’s fact sheet on lithium-ion battery safety is available as a PDF.
Related: The Synergist article “Accelerating Toward New Hazards,” published in January 2022, addresses lithium-ion batteries and thermal runaway as part of a discussion about protecting workers during the transition to electric vehicles.
