Search

Caught on Tape: Lithium Battery Fire Destroys 23 E-Bikes in Spain

Posted on 3/22/2019 by Roger Marks

Lithium battery fires are fast becoming a defining feature of modern life around the world.

A vast majority of lithium batteries are never involved in emergency incidents like the ones that seem to make headlines every week. In fact, these batteries can save lives when they power medical devices, and they make life a little bit easier for billions of us every day.

Still, the risks these batteries pose cannot and should not be ignored. As energy storage technology improves, so will the ferocity with which these batteries ignite or “explode.” For safety professionals, this means that training on safe lithium battery handling procedures may be a smart addition to any workplace safety program—and may even be required under OSHA’s General Duty Clause.

Lithium battery incidents on the nightly news may follow the old programming mantra of “if it bleeds, it leads,” but they also provide valuable insight into battery safety in general.

23 Motorbikes Burn in Spain

A lithium battery fire is thought to the be the cause of a massive fire in Spain that destroyed 23 electronic bikes before a big race. Fortunately, no one was injured by the fire, which was caused by a prototype charging station used to charge the batteries powering the bikes. 


HP Expands Notebook Computer Recall

On March 12, electronics manufacturer HP expanded its voluntary safety recall of lithium-ion batteries that power its commercial notebook computers and mobile workstations. In January 2018, HP recalled about 50,000 of these batteries. After receiving eight new reports of lithium batteries overheating, melting, or charring this year, the recall has been expanded to cover 78,500 more.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission maintains a list of affected HP products on its recall page.


Vape Shop Sued After Man Badly Burned by Battery

A man in Kansas is suing a local “vape shop” after the spare battery he purchased there allegedly exploded in his pocket on the trip home. According to AP News, the man put the battery in his pocket with his car keys and coins. When a loose lithium battery touches metal objects, it can cause a short circuit, which in turn can overheat the battery.

“It was like a flame thrower. It just ignited and was a big ball of fire,” the man’s attorney said, AP reports.  Preventing contact with metal objects is one of the tips we offer in our Lithium Battery Safety Tips video below. 

 
 

Shipping Lithium Batteries—Online or Live in North Jersey!

Full hazmat training to ship lithium batteries by ground, air, or vessel is now available as both an online course and an exclusive classroom workshop at Lion’s New Jersey Training Center. Meet US DOT, IATA DGR, and IMDG Code DG training rClass-9-Label-white-background-LITHIUM-BATTERIES.pngequirements and build the knowledge and skills to keep your shipments in compliance.

Shipping Lithium Batteries Online Course

Train online anytime and benefit from exercises and interactive learning tools that help you retain what you learn. Build in-depth expertise on how to class, package, mark, label, loading, unload, and document lithium battery ground, air, and vessel shipments. Plus, get free lithium battery safety training at Lion.com when you enroll now!

Tags: battery safety, hazardous materials, hazmat shipping, lithium batteries, lithium battery training

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Very well structured, comprehensive, and comparable to live training seminars I've participated in previously. I will recommend the online course to other colleagues with training requirement needs.

Neil Luciano

EHS Manager

I really enjoyed this training. Even after years on both sides of the comprehension coin, I find myself still learning! The quality of the delivery exceeded much of the training I have received in the past.

Neil Ozonur

Safety Officer

The instructor was energetic and made learning fun compared to dry instructors from other training providers.

Andy D’Amato

International Trade Compliance Manager

This was the 1st instructor that has made the topic actually enjoyable and easy to follow and understand. Far better than the "other" training providers our company has attended!

Lori Hardy

Process & Resource Administrator

Our instructor was very dynamic and kept everyone's interest. Hazmat shipping can be a dry, complicated topic but I was engaged the entire time.

Kimberly Arnao

Senior Director of EH&S

The exercises in the DOT hazardous materials management course are especially helpful in evaluating your understanding of course information.

Morgan Bliss

Principal Industrial Hygienist

Lion is easily and consistently the best option for compliance training. I've learned new information from every instructor I've had.

Rachel Mathis

EHS Specialist

Lion Technology workshops are amazing!! You always learn so much, and the instructors are fantastic.

Dorothy Rurak

Environmental Specialist

This course went above my expectations from the moment I walked in the door. The instructor led us through two days packed with useful compliance information.

Rachel Stewart

Environmental Manager

The instructor was very engaging and helped less experienced people understand the concepts.

Steve Gall

Safety Leader

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Explore ten hazardous waste management errors that caused generators in California the most trouble last year.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.