Risk Of Injury Caused By Caustic Burns To Eyes, Skin And Mucous Membranes From Battery Electrolyte Or Due To Short Circuit. Risk Of Burn Injuries Due To Thermal Changes. Risk Of Poisoning From Swallowing Battery Electrolyte - AS54.10-Z-0001-04A

MODEL ALL (4xWD, BUS, CAR, Heavy transporter, Light transporter, TRUCK, UNIMOG, smart) 

Wear protective gloves, protective clothing and safety glasses. In the event of escaping battery electrolyte, battery vapors, battery mist, smoke or heat development, secure the area, leave it and alert the fire department.

with lithium-ion battery 

Potential risks 

Risk of injury 

Contact with the battery electrolyte results in severe chemical burns to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes.

This results in deep tissue damage.

Battery electrolyte mist causes chemical burns to the eyes. If inhaled, this can result in chemical burns to the mucous membranes and respiratory paths.

In the event of a short circuit from the battery positive to vehicle ground, battery terminals and conductive objects that cause a short circuit, e.g. tool or jewelry (watch band or ring), become hot in seconds and red hot/liquid metal splatters are released.

Risk of burn injuries 

In the event of an internal short of the battery cells, there is a risk of fire.

In the event of fire, high thermal changes may result in burns.

Risk of poisoning 

If battery electrolyte is swallowed  , this can result in symptoms of poisoning such as headache, dizziness, stomach ache, respiratory paralysis, unconsciousness, vomiting, chemical burns and cramps.

Safety precautions/instructions 

• Wear protective gloves, protective clothing and safety glasses with side protection.
• Only charge batteries in well ventilated rooms with appropriate voltage and appropriate current with approved chargers, taking into account the instructions of the battery and charger manufacturers.
• Switch on the charger only after connecting to the terminals; switch off the charger before disconnecting from the terminals.
• Do not directly charge the 48 V battery, rather charge it via the 12 V on-board electrical system with the available/approved 12 V chargers.
• Do not place any electrically conductive objects on the battery and do not wear any electrically conductive jewelry (risk of short circuit).
• Always disconnect the negative pole first  ; always connect the positive pole first  (risk of short circuit caused by tool).
• In vehicles with 48 V on-board electrical system, wait for 10 s before disconnecting the 12 V positive line  to ensure that the recharging function is deactivated.
• Do not charge or reinstall batteries with damaged housing.
• In the event of escaping battery electrolyte, vapors, mist, smoke or heat development, secure the area, leave it and alert the fire department.
• Keep batteries and battery electrolyte out of reach of unauthorized persons.
• Observe the instructions for use for the respective batteries and the operator's manual of the vehicle.
• After an irreversible crash switch-off situation, the restart procedure may only be conducted after thoroughly checking the entire on-board electrical system.

First aid measures 

Contact with eyes 

• Rinse out eyes immediately with plenty of  warm water for at least 30 min.

Contact with skin 

• Remove moistened clothing.
• Rinse battery electrolyte from skin or clothes immediately with plenty of  warm water for at least 30 min.

Inhalation of battery electrolyte mist 

• Take the affected person out into the fresh air.

Swallowing battery electrolyte 

• Rinse out mouth with plenty of clear water. Do not deliberately induce vomiting.

As a general rule, a medical service or physician should be consulted immediately. 

Fire protection measures 

Suitable extinguishing agents:

• Dry extinguishing agent, fire-extinguishing foam, CO₂