Exposure Assessment Study on Lithium-Ion Battery Fire in Explosion Test Room in Battery Testing Facility.

Area of Science:

• Battery safety and hazard assessment
• Occupational health and environmental monitoring

Background:

• Lithium-ion batteries are prevalent in electronics, necessitating safety protocols.
• Fires involving lithium-ion batteries can release hazardous substances.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess potential hazardous material exposure after a battery fire.
• To determine if the work environment was safe for personnel re-entry.

Main Methods:

• Conducted exposure assessment five days post-fire.
• Monitored total suspended particles, hydrogen fluoride, and lithium.
• Utilized real-time particulate matter (PM) monitoring for PM1, PM2.5, and PM10.

Main Results:

• Hazardous material levels (dust, hydrogen fluoride, lithium) were below recommended safety limits.
• Korean Ministry of Labor and ACGIH TLVs were used as benchmarks.
• All assessed materials were within acceptable occupational exposure limits.

Conclusions:

• The battery-testing facility environment was deemed safe for workers post-fire.
• The assessment supported the decision for workers to return to work.
• Effective safety measures and monitoring protocols are crucial for lithium-ion battery facilities.