Batteries pose danger for scrappers

May 10, 2013
By Kerri Jansen

ORLANDO, FLA. – It's often been said that a company's most important resource is its people. And it's important to protect that resource.

Commodor Hall, transportation safety manager at the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc., says a crucial element of protecting the people who work in the scrap industry is ensuring they know how to properly handle the hazardous materials that come their way.

In a presentation at ISRI's Conference & Exposition in Orlando, Fla., Hall focused on the batteries aspect of hazardous material management.

Handling batteries is unavoidable for many scrap processors, whether dedicated electronics recyclers or other recyclers that only see the occasional battery, he said. Improperly handled batteries — even undamaged ones — can result in fires and personal injury.

Hall was joined by Craig Boswell, president of electronics recycling solutions company HOBI International Inc., who shared tips and information for the safe handling of several types of batteries.

First, it's important that employees know how to identify different types of batteries for handling, the speakers said. A lead acid battery would demand different precautions than a nickel-cadmium AAA battery, for example. And of course, a damaged battery can't be treated the same as an undamaged one.

The most deceptive type of battery may be lithium-ion batteries, the kind found in cell phones, laptops and other consumer electronics. Because people are frequently in close proximity to these types of batteries, they may not realize the potential danger in mishandling, Boswell said. But even that threat may not lie where people think.

"The concern here is that lithium is a very volatile metal," he said. "A lot of people say, 'Well, lithium-ion batteries, they're a hazardous material.' They're hazardous not because of their chemical hazard hurting you, but they're very flammable.

"I have a hard time getting people to appreciate, because they handle them every day, that these batteries represent a hazard, but I can tell you they cause fires," Boswell said, citing a slew of Boeing 787 jets recently grounded after problems were discovered with batteries overheating.

Lithium button batteries, if damaged, can burn so hot that water will evaporate before it even reaches the flame, Boswell said. Class D fire extinguishers are made specifically for metal fires, although Boswell suggested buying less expensive Class C fire extinguishers might actually be more effective, because the tiny amount of lithium in the battery would be exhausted very quickly, leaving only whatever other items caught on fire.

Mineral oil can be used to isolate lithium batteries from oxygen and prevent a fire, he added.

Managing batteries responsibly comes with an extra cost, but is essential, Boswell and Hall said repeatedly.

"I can't emphasize that enough, how important it is to make sure your employees are properly trained," Hall said.

Hall also mentioned a little-known exemption available for shipping lead acid batteries by ground: Lead acid batteries that are packaged in accordance with a certain federal code and meet certain requirements are exempt from other Department of Transportation requirements.

Among other things, the code says if the batteries are packaged with no other hazardous materials; are loaded or braced to prevent damage and short circuits; and the vehicle carries material offered only by the battery shipper, then the driver would not be required to have a hazardous materials endorsement, which can save companies both time and money, Hall said.

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