Lithium Batteries create a real risk of fire
While lithium batteries have been a real game changer in battery development, they certainly have increased the risk of fire, particularly when they are being charged.
We have seen an increase in fires caused by such batteries in everything from children’s scooters, battery operated power tools, and e-bikes, to forklifts, drones, golf carts and electric vehicles.
I was at a recycling centre the other day and a discarded battery caught fire, but luckily the operator had good risk management and the battery had been isolated and was placed in an area where it could cause no harm.
For smaller batteries there are risk management measures that can be taken such as the use of a fireproof charging bag.
The point of this blog is remind readers that the risk is very real and that with most risks, good risk management is the key. Some measures are not that easy, such as having the charging station relocated well away from anything else as this may be costly and/or inconvenient, but it is prudent.
The first step in any risk management process is to identify the risk. From there we can look at how best to mitigate and manage the risk.
This advice is not just for commercial risks but for everyone, including home owners or tenants.
I find this most frustrating that a new technology can be introduced by manufacturers without sufficient safety, and that the consumer is expected to just on-board these risks – and embrace higher insurance premiums – and (worst case) suffer the loss of a house in a battery fire. Actually, I think I find it annoying, not just frustrating.
The nature of the risk differs entirely from a petrol fire, especially as lithium batteries can ignite spontaneously, on-charge, or not, and can’t effectively be extinguished, leading to greater impacts.