I have inherited a COSHH register rom the previous H&S advisor, she has listed Lion power tool batteries in her COSHH register. Is this correct? Surely these batteries (if used as directed) are not hazardous to health. I can understand they are if thet get damaged but does that count? What do you do please?

PS. I am not talking about lead acid batteries.

Unless you are a manufacturer / distributor of Li-On batteries in large quantities their inclusion on a COSHH register is in the same realms as the disinfectant wipes used by the cleaners, tippex in the office or the dish washer tablets used in the canteen - generating paperwork for the sake of paperwork.

If you were discussing non-sealed lead acid batteries (as in motor vehicles not disability scooters) we are in a different place.

Ok

I assume that by; “ would battery packs come under COSHH?” you mean “do I need to complete a form with the words COSHH in title?”: probably not.

Let’s say this again- risk assessment  is not a piece of paperwork  . It is instead a process that you carry out to establish whether any work related process or procedure, is a safe as you can make it.

The piece of paper that emerges is a record of the findings of that  risk assessment process.

The legal requirement to carry out this process and record its findings is described in the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations but other regulations also include a requirement for risk assessment including COSHH. What people need to understand is there is no requirement to create a separate piece of paperwork for each regulation. If the issue is minor, there is no need to produce a separate document. So for using a cleaning product it is quite acceptable to include the COSHH element is a general risk assessment. By contrast if you are looking at a chemical reaction in a lab, I’d expect a more in depth, COSHH focused risk assessment.

When it comes to power tool batteries, the general risk assessment should include a COSHH element, but it should consist simply of identifying the risk posed by damaging or otherwise  opening up battery packs and what to do if they are damaged and leaking.

If as Roundtuit has indicated your workplace opens up batteries on purpose(to recycle them for example) then you need a COSHH focused  risk assessment.  

Thanks everyone, I just wanted a sanity check. It seems we are all in agreement.

Reported - not clicked on link as i expect its dodgy.

Link to a peddler of regurgitated SDS

Originally Posted by: RVThompson

When I scroll over a link, a little grey box pops up in the bottom left of my screen with the www address.

Helps to identify dodgy link.

Never noticed that - thanks

I think the electrical or fire arrangements would be more fitting for lipo batteries control etc...