Responding to Battery Events
Scenario: Swelling Batteries
Damage or overheating of a soft cell battery may also cause it to swell with gases. If released from the cell, these gases may have an organic-like odor (similar to antifreeze), and may be irritating to the respiratory system. If the cell is suddenly and noticeably swelling in real time, you should treat the cell as a “swelling battery” as described in this section. In general, the main safety concern is that swelling battery pouches are more likely to rupture and release gases. Swelling could be indirectly caused by damage to the cell stack, which could be more difficult to detect in a swollen cell.
If you are unsure of the condition of the battery and the cause of the swelling, you should assume it is caused by damage, and follow these precautions.
Important!
Warning
Do not puncture, crush, or attempt to flatten a swollen battery.
Response
Immediately upon noticing that a soft cell battery has suddenly started to swell, be aware this might indicate that a more serious situation may be developing. Pour all the sand, all at once, over the battery to cover it completely, smothering any potential reaction. Timing is critical; the faster you pour all the sand, the faster the reaction will be contained.
Leave the room for 30 minutes, if necessary for comfort. Meanwhile, let the cell rest during that time.
Put on heat-resistant gloves and safety glasses.
Remove the product and any debris (if present) from the sand. Place the item(s) into the yellow fire-proof safety cabinet for a minimum of 2 hours.
If employees are injured or were exposed as a result of the swelling battery event, raise an In-Store Safety Incident Report. Notify management and complete an Injury Report as well. Contact EHS if you have specific questions.
Sweep up sand. Pour it back into dispenser for reuse. Add more sand to refill the dispenser, if necessary.
Wipe down the affected area with water. Use an ESD mat cleaning solution on the affected area.
Dispose of the damaged product/battery (including any debris removed from sand) according to Apple Recycles and scrap procedures. See “Return/Recycle Procedures” in this training course.
Order more sand from your regional supply vendor.
Key Points
If the device’s enclosure has already been expanded for a while, or if the cell pouch is static and is not noticeably swelling in real time, this is likely an existing “expanded” cell. Refer to the “Expanded Enclosure” chapter of this training.