General Industrial Battery Safety

Changing and Charging Storage Batteries -

Battery charging installations shall be located in areas designated for that purpose.
Facilities shall be provided for flushing and neutralizing spilled electrolyte, for fire
protection, for protecting charging apparatus from damage by trucks, and for
adequate ventilation for dispersal of air contaminants from gassing batteries.
A conveyor, overhead hoist, or equivalent material handling equipment shall be
provided for handling batteries.
Smoking shall be prohibited in the charging area.
Precautions shall be taken to prevent open flames, sparks, or electric arcs in battery
charging areas.
Hazards Associated With Industrial Batteries
ydrogen !as
Sulfuric Acid
Shock
"eight of the Battery
Hydrogen Gas
A by#product of the battery$s charging process.
%ighter than air.
Flammable in nature.
&'plosive mi'ture at ( ) *(+ by volume of air.
,an not taste or see the gas vapors. -ou can smell the acid in the battery if it heats
up.
Fire Precautions When Working With Batteries
.o not smoke in battery charging areas.
Prevent open flames, sparks or electric arcs in battery charging areas.
,harge batteries in a /ell ventilated area.
.o not strike the sides of the battery /ith any spark producing item.
0eep tools and other metallic ob1ects a/ay from uncovered batteries.
ave an AB, dry chemical fire e'tinguisher in charging areas.
Sulfuric Acid Safety
PP& 2equirements
Safety !lasses
2ubber !loves
Face Shield
2ubber Apron
3Provide an eye/ash /ithin 45 second of battery charging6cleaning areas7
89
azards
Ph :*
,orrosive material
Burns to skin
Burns to eyes
;ever open the battery caps /ith your face directly over the battery.
Safe Handling of Batteries
Protect eyes from acid splash /hen removing cell caps.
0eep tools and other metallic ob1ects a/ay from uncovered batteries.
&nsure the battery$s /ater cell levels are maintained.
<nly add /ater to charged batteries.
=se Baking Soda to neutralize spilled acid. Baking Soda is available through
maintenance.
Shock Safety
;ever touch both battery terminals /ith your bare hands at the same time>
2emove rings, /atches and dangling 1e/elry /hen /orking /ith batteries. ?he
metal in the 1e/elry can cause a shock if they contacted the battery terminals.
<nly use insulated6non#conducting tools to remove cell caps. ;ever lay tools or
other metal parts on top of a battery.
Changing Batteries
@ndustrial batteries used to po/er mobile equipment can /eight up/ards of 4,A55
lbs.
=se appropriate equipment to load6unload batteries from mobile equipment.
&nsure you are trained in using the loading equipment.
&nsure the battery is securely locked in place prior to pulling a/ay from the battery
changing area.
.o not attempt to stop a battery if it slides out of the equipment.
Cleaning/Charging Batteries
"ear safety glasses, face shield, rubber gloves B apron.
&nsure an eye/ash station is readily available
.ampen the top of the battery /ith /ater first.
Place dry Baking Soda on battery.
%et sit for a fe/ minutes for acid to be neutralized.
2inse off /ith cold /ater.
"hen adding /ater, use /atering cans to avoid contact /ith acid and battery
terminals.
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