Batteries under charge may be boiling, cause sparks, splash acid, discharge hydrogen gas,
and give off a sulphuric odor. These things aren't necessarily fatal, but personnel should
take precautions so they can exist in this environment without harm. Always use skin and
eye protection such as an apron, exam gloves, a face mask or eye shield, and heavy duty
footwear while handling batteries. WHY? Here are some of the personal risks involved:
A. Cotton is eaten by the sulphuric acid in a battery very efficiently, so jeans and heavy
shirts offer little to no protection from battery acid. Inevitably, clothing worn in a battery
charging environment will have holes. For protection a protective apron works far better.
B. Charging Batteries can get hot, hot acid hurts more than cold acid. So thick, protective
clothing is a better idea than the thin stuff. When hot acid is boiling, it splashes
everywhere.
C. Flooded Batteries make a mess as they bubble and percolate under charge. This mixes
up the acids sure, but it also makes a very good mess. Without protection for your hands,
how are you going to clean it up without burns? This can be avoided by buying different
batteries, see flooded vs AGM battery charging.
D. Batteries are heavy, and this adds another danger to the table. When a battery "jumps"
off a table, it has enough weight to take off a toe. DO WEAR HEAVY FOOTWEAR
WHEN WORKING WITH BATTERIES.
What is impervious to acid?
Nylon and Glass are two of the best materials that stand up to acid. When making
purchasing decisions regarding protective materials, do keep this in mind.
Battery Charger Warnings:
Always read and follow the manufacturer's battery charging instructions prior to
connecting your battery, or trying to charge a battery bank. Do not attempt to charge batteries
in a confined environment. Explosive and hazardous gases are an inherent byproduct of
battery charging, do think ahead. Batteries contain sulphuric acid, and lead, both of which are hazardous material if removed from the battery, or disposed of improperly, do take care to be
environmentally responsible. Batteries are useful, just be safe.
Batteries under charge may be boiling, cause sparks, splash acid, discharge hydrogen gas,
and give off a sulphuric odor. These things aren't necessarily fatal, but personnel should
take precautions so they can exist in this environment without harm. Always use skin and
eye protection such as an apron, exam gloves, a face mask or eye shield, and heavy duty
footwear while handling batteries. WHY? Here are some of the personal risks involved:
