In 1991, Sony introduced the first commercial lithium-ion battery, packing enough rechargeable power into a small amount of space to help usher in a new era of portable electronics. Thirty-five years later, that technology is everywhere. It’s in the phone in your pocket, the laptop on your desk, the cordless drill in the maintenance closet, and perhaps the e-bike an employee rode to the office this morning. Lithium-ion batteries have become so ordinary that most of us barely notice them.
Until one catches fire.
That makes this week an especially appropriate time to take a closer look. October 4–10 is Fire Prevention Week in the United States, an annual observance built around a simple idea: Preventing a fire is far better than responding to one.
Small battery, serious fire
Lithium-ion batteries pack a significant amount of energy into a relatively small package. That high energy density, combined with flammable components, can create a serious hazard when a battery is damaged, defective, exposed to extreme temperatures, or improperly charged.
One of the biggest concerns is thermal runaway, a chain reaction in which heat from a failing battery cell damages neighboring cells, generating still more heat. Warning signs can include increasing battery temperature, gas, vapor, smoke, or fire. A thermal runaway fire can also produce hazardous gases and particulates.
Lithium-ion batteries power everyday devices including cell phones, laptops, tablets, power tools, electric vehicles, e-bikes, and e-scooters. Organizations may have dozens, hundreds, or thousands of them passing through their doors every day.
That workplace connection has attracted federal attention this year. In January, OSHA highlighted the safety risks lithium-ion batteries can create during everyday use, manufacturing, emergency response, disposal, and recycling, including fires, explosions, and exposure to harmful chemicals. The agency also clarified that injuries caused by employees’ personal rechargeable lithium-ion batteries can still qualify as work-related injuries when the resulting fire and injury occur in the workplace.
OSHA recommends measures such as following manufacturers’ charging and storage instructions; keeping batteries in cool, dry locations; providing appropriate ventilation; and using designated recycling facilities for disposal.
Powering down the risk
This year, Fire Prevention Week is putting lithium-ion batteries squarely in the spotlight. The 2026 theme, “Charge Into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower,” focuses specifically on everyday charging habits that can reduce the risk of battery fires.
That means using chargers and cords approved by the manufacturer; charging devices on hard, flat surfaces; unplugging devices when they’re fully charged; and immediately stopping use of a device that becomes unusually hot, swells, smokes, or produces a strange odor. For larger devices like e-bikes, scooters, and power tools, NFPA recommends charging them outdoors and never blocking exits while charging.
A swollen laptop battery, damaged power tool, incompatible charger, or improperly discarded rechargeable battery is worth addressing before smoke becomes the first warning that something has gone wrong.
Why you should care: Fire Prevention Week is a good reminder that fire safety isn’t only about extinguishers, alarms, and evacuation routes. It’s also about recognizing how the risks inside our workplaces are changing.
Start by looking at where rechargeable devices are brought in, charged, and stored in your facilities. Make sure employees know how to recognize signs of battery damage or failure and where to report them. Review policies for personal e-bikes, e-scooters, and other battery-powered devices. And ensure damaged or end-of-life batteries aren’t simply tossed into ordinary trash or recycling bins.
Most importantly, account for lithium-ion battery incidents in your emergency plans and communication procedures. Employees should know what to do, where to go, and how they’ll receive instructions if a battery fire threatens their workplace. |
