6 Safety Tips to Know When Working with Industrial Batteries

Working with industrial batteries is a conspicuously dangerous job. Risks include burns from battery acid, electrocution, and bodily injury from impacts or explosions.

Here are 6 tips for staying safe around industrial batteries in the workplace.

1. Do Not Allow Metal to Contact Batteries

Metal conducts electricity. Thus, you must be vigilant about not allowing any metal objects to touch the batteries. This includes:

• Jewelry
• Belts
• Tools
• Watches
• Hoist chains

2. Always Wear Your Protective Equipment Handling Batteries

Protective gear is critical when working with industrial batteries. Use industry-appropriate gloves and eyewear to prevent burning and blindness from battery acid. Hard hats are necessary when moving batteries, as they can save your life should these heavy objects shift or fall.

3. Do Not Guide Batteries by Hand While Moving

An industrial battery can cause serious bodily harm if it hits you or falls on you while being lifted or moved. Thus, people should stay clear of batteries during any transport.

4. Do Not Allow Your Body or an Object to Make Contact with Both Terminals Simultaneously

If both terminals are touching something, an electrical current will pass through. If that something is you, the battery will electrocute you. If both terminals touch an object, the electricity could start a fire, create an explosion, or arc to a person.

5. Make Sure the Battery Top is Always Clean and Dry

A wet or dirty battery is another electrocution hazard. Improper connections can also lead to the loss of charge, which will prevent the battery from functioning properly or as long as it needs to. Keep the top of the battery clean and dry, and keep the connections secure for safe, optimal functionality.

6. Follow All Charging Safety Precautions

Some of the most dangerous situations involving industrial batteries occur when they are charging or being moved to and from the chargers. Protocols must be followed to charge batteries safely, which may include but are not limited to the following.

• Keep battery cover open while charging: This allows ventilation as toxic gases escape during charging.
• Keep vent caps on while charging: Vent caps are capable of allowing gas to escape while on. Taking them off could allow liquid to pool and crust on the battery, which can become a safety or operational problem.
• Always unplug by holding the plug and not the leads/cords: This rule goes for unplugging any plug, but it is even more important to observe with industrial batteries.
• Allow charge cycle to complete before unplugging: Unplugging the battery from the charger before the cycle is complete can damage it and reduce battery life.
• Always turn the charger off before disconnecting it from the battery: Not doing so can cause a spark, which can ignite the battery.
• No flames, sparks, smoking, or welding near charging area: Any kind of spark is a huge risk for ignition and explosion.