The direct impacts of fire and / or explosion are clear from a health and safety perspective, including the potential for serious injury and / or loss of life.

There are also less obvious implications to consider. For example, a battery fire (particularly one resulting in thermal runaway) will also result in the venting of a range of gases from the batteries casings, including:

• Hydrogen - extremely flammable.
• Carbon monoxide - toxic and an asphyxiate, with potential to cause oxygen deprivation resulting in fatigue, breathlessness, disorientation / confusion, increased heart rate, and with continued exposure, a potential for death. Carbon monoxide is also flammable.
• Hydrogen fluoride gas - a highly toxic and corrosive colourless gas that can enter the body through inhalation. If dissolved in water it becomes hydrofluoric acid, which is also highly toxic and can enter the body through direct contact. Significant burns (that may not manifest for many hours), continued damage to skin and organs, permanent eye damage or blindness and death (toxic by inhalation) amongst the associated health effects.
• Other health effects - either through direct contact or through exposures created as a result of fire will in part be dependent on the type of battery involved, but it is worth noting that materials such as cobalt, nickel and aluminium, all have the potential to cause health issues ranging from nausea and abdominal pain to skin irritation and respiratory problems. 
• Acknowledging that battery and task dependent, where batteries are handled, the potential for musculoskeletal disorders may also be a health-related consideration.

It’s important to be aware of the other safety hazards either directly linked to or potentially associated with the use, storage and / or handling of lithium-ion batteries:

• Electrical hazards / safety - high voltage cabling and components capable of delivering a potentially fatal electric shock.
• Exposure to hazardous substances - organ damage, skin irritation and burns for example.
• Manual handling - even where appropriate mechanical handling aids provided, tasks involving the handling of larger battery units and / or cells will involve an element of manual handling, with potential for back injuries and musculoskeletal problems.
• Lone and isolated working - an associated rather than a direct hazard, but noting the potential for individuals to become over-come by toxic fumes / vapour and or exposed to significant electrical hazards, the dangers associated with lone or isolated working require specific consideration.
• Workplace transport safety including loading and unloading - changes in site layout to facilitate storage and / or an increase in the use of silent plant and vehicles, with the associated implications for pedestrians for example.
  

Specific risk control measures should be determined through site, task and activity risk assessments, with the handling of and work on batteries clearly changing the risk profile.

Considerations include:

• Segregation of charging and any areas where work on or handling of lithium-ion batteries is undertaken. Access to be limited to authorised personnel only.
• Adequate ventilation where battery charging is undertaken inside a building / structure. This may need to include provision of local exhaust ventilation that is subject to statutory inspection.
• Impact protection to charging points to reduce the potential for physical or mechanical damage.
• Using suitably insulated tools and equipment and using temporary plastic covers over battery terminals in circumstances where there is a need for handling or contact.
• Avoiding working on ‘live’ high voltage systems and equipment. Whilst only an example, instructions / controls may include:
  All work on any high-voltage equipment / systems to be carried out dead.
  No person is to commence work on systems or equipment until they have:
  - isolated according to the correct method identified for the system / equipment
  - applied suitable lockout to the isolation point to prevent inadvertent re-energisation
  - used the correct signage to indicate the status of the system / equipment
  - taken all practical steps to prevent their re-energisation
  - proved that the circuit is dead prior to starting work.
• Requirements for the provision and use of appropriate and suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Where provided, instruction in use is of course also essential. Gloves, eye protection, protective footwear etc. likely to be appropriate for any activities involving the movement of equipment, vehicles or plant containing lithium-ion batteries.
• Documented, clear and appropriately communicated safe systems of work where work with, on and / or handling and storage of lithium-ion batteries is required. Permits to work, arrangements for isolation and lockout, access control arrangements, PPE requirements and supervision should all be covered as part of documented safe systems of work.
• The need for review of other relevant existing risk assessments, including those specific to manual handling, lone and isolated working and workplace transport safety for example.
• Emergency procedures, this already highlighted in related to fire and explosion related risks, but it is of course important that emergency procedures reflect other hazards and risks present and the arrangements in place.
• Information, instruction and training, communicating the results of risk assessments, control measures implemented / to be implemented, safe systems of work arrangements and ensuring adequate in-house competence is critical, not only for fire and explosion related risks, but other hazards and risks potentially arising from the use, storage, handling, charging etc. of lithium-ion batteries.
  
  Sector and / or activity specific training and qualifications may be necessary in some circumstances. Separate guidance has been produced for businesses working on electric vehicles.
  
  This is not just a topic for employers, employees and commercial premises, with leaseholders, residents, visitors, and contractors amongst some of the parties potentially affected by accidents, incidents and legislation.

The cordless revolution has seen a move away from traditional power tools, with the first lithium-ion battery-operated power tool introduced to the market by Bosch some 20 years ago, in the autumn of 2003.

From a safety perspective the move to cordless has bought positives, including a reduction in incidents of electrocution / electric shock in the sector over the last 7 – 10 years. Obvious benefits associated with a reduction in trailing cables should also not be overlooked.

That isn’t of course to say that we should be more relaxed about the fire and explosion potential in construction, with the need for specific consideration to be given to the risks posed, both through development of appropriate site fire safety plans and risk assessments.

Many of the risks and associated controls identified previously will be relevant in a construction environment:

• Product development continues at pace, this resulting in more powerful equipment coming on to the market.
• The portable nature of the equipment and harsh environments in which it might be used render the potential for damage increased. Consequently, the requirement for inspection, testing and maintenance is likely to be enhanced.
• Charging of equipment on-site (buildings under construction, site welfare and storage buildings for example) is to be avoided out of hours and / or at any time the site is left unattended. 
• Intelligent hybrid battery storage units are also becoming increasingly common in a construction environment, being available from all of the major hire companies. 

One of the most significant challenges is ensuring that customers understand the technology they are using and the hazards and risks involved. Again, this should be reflected in site fire safety plans and fire risk assessments for example. Competence and awareness is again key:

• Site fire safety plans and associated risk assessments to be completed by competent persons and subject to regular (particularly important in an ever-changing construction setting) review. Plans and risk assessments must give specific consideration to the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries and the control measures implemented / to be implemented.
• Competent (appropriate knowledge, experience and training) Site fire safety coordinators to be appointed to all projects.
• Think about the competence of subcontractors including the self-employed and agency personnel. What equipment are they bringing on to site? 
• All site operatives and visitors to be made aware of the risks and the associated control measures implemented / to be implemented through formal site induction training, this being revisited regularly (formal toolbox talks for example).

• Lithium Batteries | London Fire Brigade (london-fire.gov.uk)
• E-bikes and e-scooter fire safety guidance - NFCC
• Hertfordshire Fire Rescue Service Lithium Battery Safety in the Workplace (youtube.com)
• Battery breakdown | Electrical Safety First
• Professional Resources | Electrical Safety First
• Product Recalls and Alerts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Fire Risk Assessment - Fire Sector Federation - FSF Guide V2.pdf (firesectorfederation.co.uk)
• Recovery operators: working with electric vehicles - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Lithium-ion battery use and storage need to know guide (FPA RE2)
• Recommendations for the storage, handling and use of batteries (FPA RC61)