Francesca Rusconi
Sales of electric vehicles (EVs), cars and motorcycles, are increasing at a rapid pace due to the growing interest of environmentally conscious consumers who are choosing to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Using energy storage systems, such as lithium-ion batteries, these vehicles present a number of safety risks that require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) prepared for chemical, electrical and thermal hazards.
Interventions on these types of electric vehicles are associated with risks of damage and injury that affect many professionals, such as firefighters, rescue and first responders, clean-up crews, workers in recycling and waste management centers, crane operators, automotive mechanics and other professionals in the automotive sector, such as bodyworkers or painters, or installers of automotive after-sales equipment.
Workers at electric vehicle battery production facilities are exposed to:
1. Electrical risk – EVs store electrical energy, which poses a risk of injury to operators working on the electrical system or its components. A disturbed vehicle (e.g., those involved in an accident) may have defective insulation, with additional risk of electrical shock. Some EVs also generate electricity with wheel spin, posing a risk of shock or arcing if the vehicle is pushed or displaced in the event of an accident.
2. Thermal risk – High-voltage batteries used in EVs consist of several lithium-ion (Li-ion) cells containing highly flammable electrolytes. It is therefore not uncommon for a collision with an electric vehicle to result in a fire that can be very difficult to extinguish.
3. Chemical risk – In addition to the risk of thermal injury, operators must take precautions to mitigate the risk of chemical injury from unintentional contact with battery electrolytes. Care should be taken, especially after a collision, to avoid skin and eye contact, ingestion and inhalation of vapors.
The magnitude of the risk of injury requires an adequate range of PPE, including clothing and hand protection. It is recommended to opt for PPE that offers type 3 or 4 protection against chemical hazards, flame retardant and arc flash protection. Hand protection solutions should have arc flash and shock insulating properties and ensure adequate chemical protection to prevent contact with chemical spills from vehicle batteries involved in an accident.
