LITHIUM BATTERY FIRE HAZARD

Steven Cesare, Ph.D.

A distraught business owner from Tennessee called me the other day to inform me that his equipment area which houses lawn care equipment, hand tools, and other field resources had just been destroyed by an internal fire. All his company stuff is gone.

Gone.

Upon review by his insurance company, it was determined that the lithium batteries found in almost all his company lawn equipment ignited, caused the fire, and set the business owner back across multiple venues (e.g., operational, administrative, financial). Like many landscapers across the country, the proud Volunteer had recently made the complete transition from gas-powered equipment to battery-sourced equipment due to environmental concern, social propaganda, and customer requirements.

Based upon this catastrophe, I did some basic research in this area and discovered that OSHA has not yet established a specific safety standard for lithium batteries. In place of a formal Fact Sheet, OSHA simply refers lithium battery users to its General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)) and OSHA regulations from 1970 (e.g., Fire Protection, Process Safety Management of Hazardous Chemicals, Control of Hazardous Energy, Hazard Communication).

On a practical note, owners are advised to adopt the following guidelines to prevent lithium battery fires.

Charging Safety

Use Certified Equipment: Only use the charger that came with the device or a certified replacement from the manufacturer. Avoid cheap, off-brand “knock-off” chargers.
Do Not Overcharge: Unplug devices immediately once they reach a full charge. Never leave batteries charging overnight.
Charge on Hard Surfaces: Charge devices on a hard, flat, non-combustible surface. Never charge items on a bed, couch, or under a pillow, as these trap heat and pose a severe fire hazard.
Avoid Extension Cords: Plug chargers directly into a wall outlet rather than daisy-chaining power strips or using extension cords.

Proper Storage & Handling

Temperature Control: Store batteries at room temperature. Do not store them in direct sunlight, in hot cars, or in freezing temperatures.
Keep Them Separated: When storing spare batteries, keep them at least two feet apart and away from each other and other flammable materials.
Isolate E-Mobility Devices: E-bikes, e-scooters, and hoverboards should ideally be charged in open, well-ventilated spaces, and not near primary exit routes, hallways, or bedrooms.
Inspect Regularly: Routinely check lithium batteries for signs of physical damage, such as swelling, dents, cracking, or leaking.

Disposal

Never Trash Batteries: Lithium-ion batteries should never be thrown in household or commercial trash cans, dumpsters, or standard recycling bins, as crushing them can cause fires.
Recycle Responsibly: Take old, damaged, or end-of-life batteries to designated hazardous waste collection points or local electronics recycling facilities.

Training

Employers must ensure that exposed workers (e.g., mechanics, field workers, safety coordinators) receive appropriate information about the hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries and that workers receive training on the physical and health hazards associated with them.

As if you already didn’t know, landscape technology is changing. Be smart, safe, and aware.

If not, your company stuff can be Gone very quickly.

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