Uploaded December 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Lithium batteries can be found in everything from mobile phones and e-cigarettes to cordless tools, laptop computers, electric cars, and industrial battery backup and energy storage systems to name just a few of their many applications. These power-packed energy storage devices allow for exceptional mobility with their small footprint. Lithium batteries are also long lasting, fast charging and generally stable. However, there can be a dark side to lithium batteries. They can burn, go into thermal runaway, and can be extremely difficult to extinguish.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports: “Lithium batteries are generally safe and unlikely to fail, but only so long as there are no defects and the batteries are not damaged.” Damage to lithium batteries can occur instantaneously or over time from physical damage, from thermal variations (high or low), from erroneous charging or from control system failures.
When lithium batteries fail to operate safely or become damaged, they can present a fire hazard, an internal pressure explosion hazard, a toxic gas emission hazard and/or a flammable gas emission hazard. In addition to the heat and explosion dangers, there are also environmental and exposure issues to consider. These include, but are not limited to, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen gas and metal particulates (like nickel, cobalt, manganese, lithium, iron, etc.).
With dramatic differences in structures, usage, quantities and other variables, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to lithium battery safety. Because of these variations, it is important to carefully plan for safe daily operations and for emergent events like an explosion or fire.
Fortunately, there are mitigation strategies to help prevent injury and thermal events involving the use of lithium batteries. For businesses and institutions, partnering with experienced environmental, health and safety professionals, and local fire departments, can help to mitigate threats to employees, the public, physical assets, and the environment.
These are just a few of the many things to know about lithium battery fires and potential exposure risks. To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown on below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
CTSI ctsiweb.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
Lithium batteries can be found in everything from mobile phones and e-cigarettes to cordless tools, laptop computers, electric cars, and industrial battery backup and energy storage systems to name just a few of their many applications. These power-packed energy storage devices allow for exceptional mobility with their small footprint. Lithium batteries are also long lasting, fast charging and generally stable. However, there can be a dark side to lithium batteries. They can burn, go into thermal runaway, and can be extremely difficult to extinguish.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports: “Lithium batteries are generally safe and unlikely to fail, but only so long as there are no defects and the batteries are not damaged.” Damage to lithium batteries can occur instantaneously or over time from physical damage, from thermal variations (high or low), from erroneous charging or from control system failures.
When lithium batteries fail to operate safely or become damaged, they can present a fire hazard, an internal pressure explosion hazard, a toxic gas emission hazard and/or a flammable gas emission hazard. In addition to the heat and explosion dangers, there are also environmental and exposure issues to consider. These include, but are not limited to, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen gas and metal particulates (like nickel, cobalt, manganese, lithium, iron, etc.).
With dramatic differences in structures, usage, quantities and other variables, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to lithium battery safety. Because of these variations, it is important to carefully plan for safe daily operations and for emergent events like an explosion or fire.
Fortunately, there are mitigation strategies to help prevent injury and thermal events involving the use of lithium batteries. For businesses and institutions, partnering with experienced environmental, health and safety professionals, and local fire departments, can help to mitigate threats to employees, the public, physical assets, and the environment.
These are just a few of the many things to know about lithium battery fires and potential exposure risks. To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown on below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
CTSI ctsiweb.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
