Battery Risk Assessment: Case Studies on Systems of Different Sizes and Chemistries

Recent advances in battery risk assessment methodology can be difficult to understand and apply. This article presents a series of example risk assessments on real battery systems of different sizes and chemistries. We walk through work planning and the control process for energized work on batteries, from the initial work order to project completion. We elaborate on how different engineering controls, such as a ground fault detector and indicator, impact battery risk assessment and what to do when you do not know whether they are functioning correctly. We present case studies in several types of battery systems, including lead–acid, lithium-ion, and vanadium redox. The article concludes with an assessment of training, policy, and code shortfalls that may have contributed to past accidents.