Tool Box Talk- Lithium Battery Safety

“Lithium Battery Safety”

Batteries are an ever increasing important part of everyday life. They can be found in our key chains, iPods,

television remotes, laptops and of course, in our cell phones. We don’t tend to give them much thought until they

stop working.

Batteries have the potential to be dangerous if they are not carefully designed or if they are abused. Cell

manufacturers are conscious of these dangers and design safety measures into the cells. Likewise, pack

manufacturers incorporate safety devices into the pack designs to protect the battery from out of tolerance operating

conditions and where possible from abuse. While they try to make the battery foolproof, it has often been explained

how difficult this is because fools can be so ingenious. Once the battery has left the factory its fate is in the hands of

the user. It is usual to provide “Instructions for Use” with battery products which alert the end user to potential

dangers from abuse of the battery.

“Warning”

Subjecting a battery to abuse or conditions for which it was never designed can result in uncontrolled and

dangerous failure of the battery. This may include explosion, fire and the emission of toxic fumes.

Battery Basics (Cell Phones)

The most common type of battery found in today’s cell phones are Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries. These batteries

have a lot of energy in a small package – enabling longer battery life and more robust devices. Li-Ion batteries are

different then typical alkaline batteries, which are found throughout your home in things such as toys, flashlights

and TV remotes. While it is highly unusual, there have been reports of overheating, fire, and ruptures in connection

with the use of Li-Ion batteries. Therefore, consumers should be aware that Li-Ion batteries can react differently to

a variety of pressures and impacts and need to be treated with care.

Safety tips

• Consumers should buy manufacturer or carrier recommended products and accessories designed for their

wireless devices. Do not use incompatible cell phone batteries and chargers. Be wary of buying

cheap batteries with what appears to be a name brand, as they might be counterfeit products that are not

properly manufactured and could pose safety hazards. If you have any questions about the compatibility of

a battery or a charger, contact the manufacturer.

• Do not permit your battery’s terminals to come in contact with metal objects such as coins, keys or

jewelry. This could happen if you put the battery in your pocket, purse, or coin tray.

• Do not crush, puncture, or place a high degree of pressure on the battery, such as sitting on the phone or

battery.

• Do not drop your cell phone. If you do drop your cell phone, especially on a hard surface, it could overheat

and potentially cause damage to the phone and the battery. If you suspect damage to your cell phone

or battery, take it to a service center for inspection.

• Do not place the phone in or near areas that might get very hot, such as on a cooking surface, near a

cooking appliance, an iron, glove compartment or radiator.

• Do not get your phone or battery wet. Even though they will dry and appear to be operating normally, the

internal circuitry could slowly corrode and pose a safety hazard.

• Follow battery usage, storage, and charging guidelines found in the user’s guide.

“A successful man is one who lays a firm foundation with the bricks others throw at him.” David Brinkley

Thanks for the talk – TO