EnvironmentalHealthandSafetyPage1of6EnvironmentalHealthandSafetyGuidelineonLithiumionbatteriesDateofIssuance:August2018RevisionDate:RevisionNumber:InitialPreparedby:EH&S1.PurposeCarnegieMellonUniversityhaspreparedthisguidelinetoprovidesafetyrequirementsforpurchasing,workingwith,charging,transporting,handlingemergencies,anddisposingofLithiumIonBatteries(LIB).Withoutpropercontrols,thepotentiallife/healthsafetyrisksassociatedwithlithiumbatteriesarehighinbothimpactandlikelihood.Asaresult,theseguidelinesshouldbethoroughlyreviewedandunderstood.Li-ionisagenericterm,coveringseveraltypesofbatterychemistriesandseveralformatsforvariousapplications.ThisguidelineisintendedtoeducateuserstowardimportantsafetyconsiderationsasitrelatedtoLIB’s.However,itisnottobeconsideredasthesolesourceofinformation.Concernsand/orclarifyingquestions,shouldbee-mailedtosafety@andrew.cmu.edu.2.ScopeThescopeofthisguidelineincludes;Purchasing,GeneralSafetyConsiderations,Charging,Transporting&Shipping,HandlingEmergenciesandDisposal.ThisguidelinespecificallycoversLithiumionbatteriesasSecondaryBatteries.Secondarybatteriesaresuchthattheirchemistryallowsforthemtoberecharged.Primarybatteries,suchasLithiummetalandAlkaline,arenotcoveredinthisguideline.Primarybatteriesaredefinedasbeingportableandnotrechargeable.Additionally,althoughtherearemanytypesofsecondarybatteries,suchasNickelMetalHalide/NickelCadmium/LeadAcid,thisguidelineaddressesthemorecommonversion(i.e.Lithiumion).Further,thisguidelinecanbeusedasastartingpointwhendesigningandbuildingbatterysystems,butitisnottheonlysafetyconsiderationsforjoiningcellstogethertomakeyourownbatterysystem.Consultsafety@andrew.cmu.eduwhenbuildingbatterysystems.3.Definitionsa.Purchasing–referstotheprocurementofLIB’sinaccordancewithFinance-ManagementPurchasingPolicy.b.Charging–specificallyreferringthesafetyaspectsofcharging,thisguidelinedoesnotcovertypesorwaysofcharging.c.Transporting–referstocarrying,moving,ortakingbatterieswithyouwhetheroncampus,overtheroad,orasanaircraftcarryon.EnvironmentalHealthandSafetyPage2of6d.Shipping–referstotherequirementsforsendingeitherlithiumionbatteries,orlithiumionbatteriescontainedinequipment.e.Emergencies–referstoanyeventinvolvingalithiumionbatterywherebythereisasuddenreleaseofenergy,batteryswell,explosionorfire,andstepstotaketomitigatehazards.f.Disposal–referstotheprocessforsubmittinglithiumionbatteriesforrecycle,inaccordancewithregulatoryrequirements.g.ParallelCharging–whenmultipleLIBbatteriesarepluggedintoeachotherviaaspecialboardorharnesssothatalloftheirnegativeleadsareconnectedtoeachother,andalloftheirpositiveleadsareconnectedtoeachother.4.RolesandResponsibilitiesa.CarnegieMellonUniversityEnvironmentalHealthandSafetyisresponsiblefor:i.DevelopingandupdatingthewrittenguidelineforLIB’s.ii.Developingatrainingprogramfortheguideline.iii.Inspectingworkareasapplicabletothisguideline.iv.AssistingwiththeshippingofLIB’s.v.Managingthedisposal/recycleofLIB’s.b.Departmentsareresponsiblefor:i.Complyingwiththerequirementsofthisguideline.ii.Supportingandenforcingtherequirementsofthisguideline.iii.ContactingCMUEHSforassistanceasneeded.c.Lithiumionbatteryusersareresponsiblefor:i.Completingtrainingasnecessary.ii.Complyingwiththeproceduresoutlinedinthisguideline.iii.ContactingEH&Sforassistanceasrelatingtothisguideline.iv.ReportingincidentsinvolvingLIB’...
