Construction sites face particularly high risk, with some estimates indicating a typical crew handles 40–60 lithium-ion batteries per shift, increasing the chances of damage, overheating, and failure-related incidents.
CONN-OSHA consultation services recognizes the need to better educate construction companies – and all industrial sectors for that matter – on the safe use, charging, and storage of lithium-ion batteries, as well as proper emergency response procedures for fires and incidents involving damaged or overheating batteries.
One contractor, Professional Drywall Construction, Inc., used this material to begin implementing on-site lithium-ion battery safety training. This is where the company:
- Trained over 200 employees
- Distributed approximately 75 LiPo storage packs (two bags each)
- 40 fire blankets across 20 active jobsites in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York.
Battery Hazard Awareness
“Collaboration with CONN-OSHA has significantly increased awareness of lithium-ion battery hazards among the general contractors and subcontractors our employees work with,” said Mark Chevalier, Professional Drywall Construction’s safety officer.
The OSHA On-Site Consultation Program offers no-cost and confidential occupational safety and health services to small and medium-sized businesses in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories, with priority given to high-hazard worksites.
Consultants from state agencies or universities work with employers to identify workplace hazards and how to fix them, provide advice for compliance with OSHA standards, train and educate workers, and assist in establishing and improving safety and health programs.
On-Site Consultation services are separate from OSHA enforcement efforts. Click here for the CONN-OSHA consultation services.