Battery – Safety and Handling

1
Battery Safety and Handling
2
Hazards associated with industrial batteries

• Hydrogen gas
• Acid hazards
• Electrical hazards

3
Hydrogen gas

• A by-product of the batterys charging process
• Highly flammable and explosive.
• Highly combustible that poses extreme hazard to
  anything that comes in contact with it.
• Oxygen and hydrogen are released after a cell
  attains 95 of its full charge, when charging.

4
Acid hazards

• Highly corrosive to anything organic, including
  skin.
• Reacts violently with lesser volume of water.
• Phlt2 (typically Sulfuric Acid)
• Causes burns on skin and its fumes are injurious
  to eyes.

5
Electrical hazards

• Accidental shorting of terminals can result in
  several electrical arcing.
• Exposed terminals, even on disconnected
  batteries, present an electric shock hazard.
• Large short circuit currents might lead to fires.

6
Handling battery acid

• Always wear proper eye, face and hand protection.
• Use non-metallic containers to handle
  concentrated liquids.
• Use extreme caution while handling electrolyte
  and keep an acid neutralizing solution readily
  available as a precautionary measure.
• If electrolyte is consumed internally drink large
  quantities of water or milk and do not induce
  vomiting.

7
User safety precautions

• When the battery is not in use, make sure you
  disconnect the battery from the battery
  connector.
• Never disassemble a battery as the materials
  inside are mostly toxic and might damage skin and
  clothes.
• Dont leave the battery in the charger after it
  is fully charged.
• Never place batteries in water as it may cause
  the battery to rupture and release toxic gases.

8
Other safety precautions

• Never solder anything directly to a battery as it
  may destroy the safety features of a battery.
• Never attempt to charge a battery that has been
  physically damaged.

9

• Prevention is always better than cure, so take
  the necessary precautions and stay safe, work
  safe.