Hazmat Response to Battery Incidents

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of this Standard Operating Guideline (SOG)?

To provide a framework for Hazmat personnel responding to incidents involving batteries, electric vehicles and/or electrical storage systems (correct)

To provide guidelines for rescue operations in incidents involving fires

To outline procedures for firefighting operations in industrial settings

To establish protocols for medical response to hazardous materials incidents

What is the minimum PPE required for rescue operations in Hazmat incidents?

Chemical resistant suit and a gas mask

Structure fire PPE and SCBA (correct)

Firefighter PPE and a respirator

Hazardous materials suit and an oxygen tank

What is the recommended course of action when responding to a coin cell ingestion incident?

Contact the National Battery Ingestion Hotline (1-800-498-8666) and try to obtain battery type and size (correct)

Administer first aid to the victim and call EMS

Evacuate the area and call a Hazmat team

Contact the local fire department for assistance

What is an indication of high hazard operations in Hazmat incidents?

A fire involvement of any battery, battery pack or ESS Signup and view all the answers

What is a critical safety consideration when responding to incidents involving batteries, electric vehicles and/or electrical storage systems?

The risk of fire impingement to exposure battery or in same compartment as fire Signup and view all the answers

What type of reading is an indication of a hazardous situation in Hazmat incidents?

LEL readings that cannot be otherwise explained Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step when responding to a battery emergency?

Establish isolation and control zones based on hazards Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concern when dealing with Lithium-Ion battery fires?

Allowing the battery to burn out in a safe area Signup and view all the answers

What is the main hazard associated with pre-1990 batteries?

Mercury (Hg) hazard Signup and view all the answers

Why is ventilation important when responding to a battery emergency?

To prevent the buildup of explosive and toxic gases Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a risk assessment in a battery emergency?

To consider the potential hazards and likelihood of harm Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended approach for dealing with secondary battery considerations?

Considering metering for LEL and CO Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to cool adjacent battery cells with water?

To prevent overheating and thermal runaway Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using a thermal imager in a battery emergency response?

To observe battery cells for thermal anomalies Signup and view all the answers

What should be done with batteries that were exposed to thermal, physical, or electrical abuse?

Unplug them and assess the situation Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to work with outside agencies when responding to a battery emergency?

To ensure a plan for disposing of damaged batteries Signup and view all the answers

What should be considered when evaluating an incident involving an Electric Vehicle?

The type of vehicle involved and consulting the manufacturer guide Signup and view all the answers

What action should be taken if unable to overpack a battery safely inside a structure or confined area?

Establish a path of travel to remove batteries and have suppression capability in place Signup and view all the answers

What should be done with damaged battery cells?

Place them in a battery containment device/overpack when possible Signup and view all the answers

What should be used to suppress flames and reduce smoke production in case of a fire?

EV fire blanket Signup and view all the answers

How long should a vehicle be monitored for signs of fire or thermal runaway before releasing it for towing or investigation?

45 minutes Signup and view all the answers

What should be performed in enclosed or partially enclosed areas?

Air monitoring for flammable vapors Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum distance to place a vehicle from exposures on all sides in the event of re-ignition?

50’ Signup and view all the answers

Who should you work with to ensure appropriate fire suppression tactics for a building involved?

Incident Commander Signup and view all the answers

What should be established around the ESS to account for explosion or additional fire hazards?

Deny Entry and Establish Control Zones Signup and view all the answers

What should be monitored for build-up within the area of involvement and structure?

Flammable and toxic gas Signup and view all the answers

What should be contacted immediately in the event of an ESS incident?

RP or emergency numbers listed for the ESS facility Signup and view all the answers

What should be considered for protection of exposures in an Exterior Energy Storage System incident?

Setting up to provide exposure protection Signup and view all the answers

What should a patient exposed to smoke from a battery fire be evaluated by?

Emergency Medical Personnel Signup and view all the answers

What should be consulted when available for health information on a battery?

SDS Signup and view all the answers

What should be followed for decontamination in a battery fire event?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What should be considered for incidents involving corrosive contamination?

Technical decontamination Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Initial Operations

Confer with Incident Commander immediately
Determine if any individuals/occupants must be rescued or evacuated
Minimum PPE for rescue is structure fire PPE and SCBA
Any immediate rescue will require water decontamination

Assess, Control, Rescue, Evacuate (ACRE)

Assess:
- Coin Cell Ingestion: contact National Battery Ingestion Hotline (1-800-498-8666)
- Note hazards identified by first responders
- Identify components with elevated temperatures, LEL readings, Carbon Monoxide (CO) readings, Oxygen (O2) readings below 20.8%, fumes, odors, leaking fluids, and types of batteries involved
- Identify technical specialists that are responding or have been requested
Control Hazards:
- Isolate and deny entry
- Establish isolation and control zones based on hazards
- Ensure use of PPE and Respiratory Protection
- Ventilate to reduce build-up of explosive and toxic gases
- Reduce heat stress to additional batteries/cells
Rescue:
- Use appropriate methods and equipment to separate unprotected personnel and civilians from hazards
Evacuate:
- Remove any victim(s) to an area of safe refuge
- Provide appropriate decontamination to victims

Risk Assessment

Consider the following:
- Hazard(s) victims and personnel are exposed to
- Ability of the Hazardous Materials Team and Fire/Rescue personnel to control the hazard(s)
- Likelihood that hazard(s) will cause harm or death
- Expected benefit of intervention

Risk Mitigation

Refer to Specific Battery Considerations and consult current technical guides and other appropriate reference material
Consult technical specialist where available
Develop and communicate Incident Objectives
Receive approval from Incident Commander to implement incident objectives
Consult and request outside agencies to assist (i.e. MDE, County Agencies, etc.)
Work with RP and MDE to establish and ensure a plan for disposing of damaged batteries

Battery Considerations

Primary Battery Considerations

Disposable Alkaline:
- Consider standard extinguishment techniques (water, dry chem, CO2)
- Consider Alkaline (base) hazard from large quantities of these batteries
- Consider small Mercury (Hg) hazard in pre-1990 batteries
Disposable Lithium Metal:
- Water may suppress small Lithium fires and lithium metal consumed in first few minutes
- Consider Class D Agent if available – Copper Preferred, Graphite is effective
- SODIUM CHLORIDE IS NOT EFFECTIVE

Secondary Battery Considerations

Lead Acid Battery:
- Meter for LEL and CO
- Consider dry chemical for fire suppression
- Consult SDS when possible
- Consider neutralization for spills
Lithium-Ion Batteries:
- Consider allowing batteries involved in fire to burn out in a safe area
- Extinguish visible fire with water or other appropriate extinguishing agent
- Always ensure a charged handline or appropriate extinguishing mechanism in place when near a battery that was exposed to thermal, physical, or electrical abuse
- Ventilate area
- Cool adjacent battery cells with water
- Use a thermal imager to observe battery cells
- Consider unplugging batteries that are connected to a charger
- Removal from inside an area to an outside space should be done with a full risk assessment

Electric Vehicle (EV) Considerations

Evaluate the involvement of the battery pack that powers the vehicle
Consult the manufacturer guide for the type of vehicle involved when available
Consider non-intervention for fire involvement after appropriate risk assessment
In the event of fire, thermal runaway, or battery pack involvement where non-intervention is not feasible:
- Protect exposures and control any visible EV fire with water
- Consider deploying EV fire blanket to suppress flames and reduce smoke production
- Continuously cool battery cells involved in fire and prepare for extended water supply operation
- Use Thermal Imager to check additional battery cells for propagation
- Consider lifting/titling vehicle if safe to do so for direct access to battery modules for cooling
- Consider water supply requirements
- Perform air monitoring for flammable vapors in enclosed or partially enclosed areas

Interior Energy Storage Systems (ESS)

Work with Incident Commander to ensure:
- Appropriate fire suppression tactics for building involved
- Size, number, and locations of interior ESS’s involved
- Deny Entry and Establish Control Zones that account for the ESS
- Accounting for explosion or additional fire hazards
Establish air monitoring for flammable and toxic gas build-up within the area of involvement and structure
Pay special attention to LEL and CO
Ventilate area of involvement
Restrict operations in an ESS hot zone to immediate life safety needs with full structural PPE and SCBA with handline protection
Immediately contact the RP or any emergency numbers listed for the ESS facility and ensure ESS technical specialists are enroute to the scene
Consider setting-up to provide exposure protection
Work with Incident Commander, RP, and Technical Specialists for a mitigation plan

Exterior Energy Storage Systems (ESS)

Isolate, Deny Entry and Establish Control Zones that account for the size of the ESS and any explosion or fire hazards
Restrict operations in an ESS hot zone to immediate life safety needs and completed in full structural PPE and SCBA with handline protection
Immediately contact the RP or any emergency numbers listed for the ESS facility and ensure ESS technical specialists are enroute to the scene
Protect exposures and control any visible fire with water if appropriate
Work with the Incident Commander, RP and Technical Specialists for a mitigation plan
Consider contacting DPS/DGS for electrical engineer or other technical specialist assistance

Exposure Medical Care

Patient exposed to the inhalation of smoke from a battery fire should be evaluated by the appropriate emergency medical personnel and transported to the appropriate facility
Consult SDS when available for health information and provided to medical and hospital personnel
In the absence of specific information for the battery involved, consult current reference material and air monitoring tables to help identify specific inhalation hazards

Decontamination

When available, consult the SDS or a technical expert provided for each battery hazard
Follow MCFRS Hazmat SOG – Decontamination as necessary
At a minimum for a battery fire event, standard structural fire decontamination procedures should occur for any personnel that engage in firefighting or entry operations into a designated hot zone
Consider technical decontamination for incidents involving corrosive contamination

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Description

Guideline for Hazmat personnel responding to incidents involving batteries, electric vehicles, and electrical storage systems. Covers initial operations, rescue, and evacuation procedures.