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Lithium Battery Fire Hazards in Puerto Rico and EHS Resources to Mitigate Risks

Zimmetry Environmental provides environmental, health and safety (EHS) testing, training and consulting services to protect workers and building occupants from the dangers and exposure risks associated with lithium battery fires.


Bayamon, Puerto Rico – WEBWIRE

It’s not just fire, heat and smoke that are the dangers associated with a lithium ion battery fire.

After Hurricane Maria caused widespread destruction to Puerto Rico’s electrical grid back in 2017, solar panels and lithium ion battery energy storage systems were installed at many businesses, institutions and residential properties. These solar systems and energy storage batteries not only cut down on monthly electrical bills, they also gave residents and business owners some peace of mind.

Lithium ion batteries used in energy storage systems can also be found in numerous other applications throughout the islands. They are used to power mobile phones, e-cigarettes, cordless tools, laptop computers and tablets, e-bikes and scooters, and electric cars to name just a few of the many other applications.

While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that lithium batteries are generally safe and unlikely to fail, the agency does share that is only so long as there are no defects and the batteries are not damaged. When these batteries do burn, they can go into thermal runaway and be extremely difficult to extinguish.

“It’s not just fire, heat and smoke that are the dangers associated with a lithium ion battery fire,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “There can also be an internal pressure explosion hazard, a toxic gas emission hazard and a flammable gas emission hazard. These gases may include hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen gas to name some. Metal particulates, including nickel, cobalt, manganese, lithium and iron, could also be an exposure risk even after the fire.”

Providing mitigation strategies to help prevent damage, and assessing environmental conditions following a lithium battery fire, are the industrial hygiene and environmental, health and safety professionals at Zimmetry Environmental. They offer building and worksite assessments, testing, consulting and training services to identify risks and provide solutions to clients in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean. Zimmetry also recently sponsored an educational video about lithium batteries and EHS concerns that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/YAALnww_JVU

To learn more about this or other EHS, industrial hygiene, compliance and consulting services provided by Zimmetry, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .

About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.


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 Puerto Rico
 Industrial Hygiene
 Ehs
 Lithium Battery Fire
 Occupational Safety


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