NEWS
Safety campaign around lithium-ion batteries gains further support
More organisations have added their voice to a campaign calling for new laws to help prevent fires in the batteries used in some electric cars, e-scooters and e-bikes.
E-bikes and e-scooters in York. Credit: martin berry/Alamy Stock Photo
Now more than 85 organisations across the country have joined in with Electrical Safety First’s ‘Battery Breakdown’ campaign around the use of lithium-ion batteries.
The latest organisation to add its voice to the cause is the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) which said there has been an ‘alarming rise’ of fires with ‘devastating consequences’.
Fran McCloskey, Chief Executive Officer of the CIEH, said: “We are delighted to join key partners in supporting Electrical Safety First’s Battery Breakdown Campaign and look forward to working alongside them to minimise the devastating consequences of lithium-ion battery fires.
“We are ready to support the Government with the development of changes to safety regulations. Given Environmental Health Practitioner’s knowledge of public health and safety, housing and air quality, our members bring a holistic expertise to this conversation.
“CIEH will continue to support and advocate for improvements to legislation that will ensure safer, cleaner, healthier environments for all.”
Calling it a ‘coalition of concerned organisations’, the CIEH is calling on the government to urgently address the lack of third-party regulation to control the ‘unintended’ health and safety related risks to the public.
It identified the issues associated with lithium-ion battery fires as increased risk of injury and fatalities to gig economy workers, threats to air quality through improper waste disposal, and an increased risk to public health and safety.
Campaign calls for safe disposal
Electrical Safety First has created a draft Bill which would classify lithium-ion batteries used to power e-bikes and e-scooters as high-risk, requiring third-party certification for safety compliance.
It also calls for government regulation for the safe disposal of used lithium batteries to minimise the risk of landfill fires and reduce air pollution and well as introducing a standardised approach to conversion kits and chargers, ensuring safe use and preventing overcharging, overheating, and electrical failures.
Lesley Rudd, Chief Executive of Electrical Safety First said: “The increasing number of fires caused by e-bike and e-scooter batteries shows how urgently we need news laws to tackle this issue. We’re thrilled to have the support from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and over 85 national organisations across the country.
“Their involvement is pivotal in tackling this deadly issue and bringing about improved safety measures.”
More still needs to be done
Firechief Global’s Matt Humby
A European Union study recently predicted we would be throwing away 78 million battery powered devices globally daily – and a study by UK fire safety company Firechief Global revealed 22% of their respondents were not very confident in their knowledge of how to dispose of batteries safely.
Firechief Global has been pushing for education and legislation on the issue for six years and Senior Technical Consultant Matt Humby described some thermal runaway events – where a battery is punctured, impacted or crushed and can then overheat, release toxic gases and explode – as a ‘mini hand grenade’.
He said it was great to see the Battery Breakdown Campaign gaining momentum – but more needs to be done.
“It is brilliant that 85 companies are supporting the campaign, but we should have all the insurance companies and major retailers backing it, everyone should in my opinion,” Matt said. There are three main problems with lithium-ion batteries – which in general are safe and we can’t stop using them – but potentially fatal risks are there.
“The problems arise when there are defective batteries, ones with defects from the manufacturer or poor quality components. It is rare, but we have seen it and there needs to be a recall in a timely manner. Another problem is misuse and abuse of batteries, people treat them in an unsafe way when actually they are like a mini hand grenade holding a huge amount of power and there needs to be education around this.
“And that’s education from a school level, more awareness of the dangers of throwing batteries away and education on the importance of using regulated chargers instead of cheaper unregulated ones you can buy, as the consequences can be devastating. And the final problem is unsafe and unregulated batteries. We shouldn’t be allowing modification of battery packs – like the supercharge e-scooters – to happen.
“Education on these points is the first step so the batteries can be charged in the correct manner and disposed of safely, then there is the fact this should be part of a fire safety risk assessment – which currently is not – and legislation is an important step.”
Matt added that the risk of fire from lithium-ion batteries has been upgraded from an emerging risk to a real fire risk in the last year.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Click here to listen to the first of three-part podcast with Firechief Global’s Matt Humby on the risks around lithium-ion batteries. who talks to SHP Editor Mark Glover.
Click here to download an e-book, in association with Firechief Global, on the risks around lithium-ion batteries.
Safety campaign around lithium-ion batteries gains further support
More organisations have added their voice to a campaign calling for new laws to help prevent fires in the batteries used in some electric cars, e-scooters and e-bikes.
Dani Wozencroft
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