Service Information: Wet battery handling

P54.10-0270-08

Warning instructions for lead-acid batteries

1 No fire, sparks, naked flames or smoking

2 Risk of explosion

6 Keep away from children

7 First-aid

3 Pay attention to operating instructions

4 Risk of caustic burns

5 Wear eye protection

 Working with wet batteries when performing service work inside and outside of the vehicle:

 Possible dangers:

Risk of explosion

Conventional lead-acid batteries always contain highly explosive oxyhydrogen gas. This gas is produced in increasing amounts especially when the battery is overcharged.

No fire, sparks, open flames or smoking.

Risk of injury

Battery electrolyte contains sulfuric acid which can cause severe caustic burns to skin and eyes. Strict caution is required when handling damaged lead-acid batteries (removing from vehicle damaged in accident) because of the sharp edges on the fractured housing and direct contact with the lead plates.

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Risk of poisoning

If battery electrolyte is swallowed, this can result in manifestations of poisoning such as headaches, dizziness, stomach pain, respiratory paralysis, unconsciousness, vomiting, cauterization and cramps. Battery electrolyte mist causes caustic burns to the eyes.

If swallowed, this can result in caustic burns to the mucous membranes and respiratory passages.

The absorption of lead in the body can cause damage to blood, nerves and kidneys; in addition, lead compounds are considered to represent a reproductive hazard.

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First aid measures

- Should your eyes come into contact, immediately flush with plenty of water.

- Should your skin come into contact, remove the affected clothing, immediately neutralize acid splashes on the skin and clothing with an acid converter or a soap base and rinse out with plenty of water.

- Should battery electrolyte vapor be inhaled, expose the affected individual to fresh air.

- Should battery electrolyte be swallowed, have the affected individual drink plenty of water with activated charcoal ingredient added.

As a general rule, the affected person should consult a medical service or doctor after first aid has been rendered.

Fire protection measures

Suitable extinguishing agents

- CO2 and dry extinguishing agent

Protective measures/rules of behavior:

1. General

- Wear suitable acid protection clothing, including work gloves and shoes as well as safety glasses with lateral protective paneling (bare minimum) - even better is a protective face mask.

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- Before contacting the battery housing, always divert any potential electrostatic charge by touching the negative terminal (use acid protection gloves here, too).

- Spray battery with a water spray bottle

 After the work has been concluded, wipe up any excess water with a paper towel.

Never use an electrostatically charged textile cloth (such as cotton)!

- The aforementioned safety precautions are also to be
observed within 10 m of the removed battery. This also applies when transporting the battery.

- Avoid abruptly setting down or jolting the battery.

- When transporting the battery in a workshop vehicle, ensure that the vehicle cannot build up an electrostatic charge.

 Ground e.g. by using rubber or a strip of copper.

- Keep tools and other conductive objects away from the battery (risk of short circuit).

- Before removing and installing lead-acid batteries all switchable current consumers such as the engine must be switched off so as to prevent unintentional arcing.

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Always disconnect the negative terminal first; always connect the positive terminal first.

Avoid polarity reversal and short circuits.

- Keep lead-acid batteries and battery electrolyte away from unauthorized persons.

- Pour battery electrolyte only into suitable and appropriately marked containers.

- Pay attention to instructions for use of the particular lead-acid battery and the operating instructions of the vehicle.

2. Charge lead-acid batteries

- Charge lead-acid batteries only in well ventilated areas.

- Disconnect and remove lead-acid batteries for charging.

- Switch on the charger only after connecting to the terminals; switch off the charger before disconnecting from the terminals.

- Only charge lead-acid batteries with direct current (DC). The recommended charging current for normal charging is 10 % capacity and 50 % capacity for fast charging.

- When fast charging, ensure that the housing of the lead-acid battery does not heat up too much (< 55 °C).

- Ensure that the gassing line and plug (opposite) are properly connected.

- Ensure the gassing line does not have any kinks and is not blocked at any point.

3. Storage of lead-acid batteries

- Do not store lead-acid batteries for long periods in locations with direct solar radiation.

- Always store lead lead-acid batteries horizontally to prevent acid leaking out and do not tilt during transportation.

- Flat or defective lead-acid batteries may freeze, therefore store away from frost.

- Whenever possible, lead-acid batteries should be stored in a clean and dry place.

- Lead-acid batteries should not be stored for longer periods of time without recharging.

- The negative terminal should be disconnected if the lead-acid battery remains in a parked or unused vehicle for a longer period of time.

 The safety documents will be revised in the WIS.