Risk Of Fire/Risk Of Explosion Due To Short Circuit And Escaping Oxyhydrogen Gas. Risk Of (Burn) Injury Caused By Caustic Burns To Eyes, Skin And Mucous Membranes From Battery Electrolyte/Mist, Short Circuit And Arcing. Risk Of Poisoning - AS54.10-Z-0001-01A

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No fires, sparks, open flames, or smoking. Wear acid-resistant gloves, clothing, and glasses. Pour battery acid only into suitable and appropriately marked containers.

Potential risks 

The flow of electric current through the body  can lead to involuntary muscle contractions, heart rhythm disturbances, fibrillation of the heart, cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, burns, or other cellular damage.

The severity of the injury depends on the current strength, current type, the frequency of the current, the exposure time, and the route through the human body. Risk of fire/explosion 

When charging a lead-acid battery, a highly explosive oxyhydrogen gas mixture is created. This gas mixture ignites by means of fire, sparks, open flames, and smoking.

In the event of a short circuit from the positive battery terminal to the negative battery terminal, the battery terminals and conductive objects causing a short circuit, such as tools or jewelry (watch strap or ring), as well as the battery, become hot in seconds. There is a risk of fire/explosion.

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

In the event of improperly sealed degassing/electrolyte leakage openings, there is a risk of fire/explosion as a result of overpressure in the battery housing.

Do not expose batteries to mechanical pressure. There is a risk of fire/explosion.

Risk of injury/burn injuries 

Contact with the battery electrolyte/mist results in severe chemical burns to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. This results in deep tissue damage.

In the event of a short circuit from the positive battery terminal to the negative battery terminal, the battery terminals and conductive objects causing a short circuit, such as tools or jewelry (watch strap or ring) become hot in seconds, and red hot/liquid metal sprays are released. Do not expose batteries to mechanical pressure. There is a risk of short circuits and leakage of battery electrolyte/mist. Detaching battery clamps or connector couplings under load or a short circuit can cause electric arcs. Exposure to arcs can result in first- to fourth - degree burns, "flash burns" of the eyes due to intense UV light (similar to when welding), blast trauma and injuries due to moving parts.

Risk of poisoning 

Swallowing battery electrolyte  can result in symptoms of poisoning such as headache, dizziness, stomach ache, respiratory paralysis, unconsciousness, vomiting, caustic burns, and cramps. Absorption of lead from acid batteries into the body through contact with component parts containing lead (battery terminals, lead plates in damaged batteries) damages the blood, nerves, and kidneys; lead compounds are also toxic for reproduction. The risks of poisoning listed above also apply to lead-antimony batteries.

Risk of death 

Risk of death due to an alternating voltage (AC) of U >= 30 V and/or a direct voltage (DC) of U >= 60 V.

Secondary accidents 

Secondary accidents occur as a result of startle responses that are caused by contact with voltages from high-voltage batteries and electric arcs. Secondary accidents include, for example, falling from a raised workstation or a person's head making contact with an engine hood.

Safety precautions/instructions 

• If there is an acute risk to a lithium-ion battery as a result of smoke, fire, heat development, electrolyte leakage (visible/smellable), immediately make an emergency call to the respective location specific and country-specific emergency number. Do not touch the lithium-ion batteries, and vacate the danger zone.
• Training is required in order to handle lithium-ion batteries. You can obtain the required training from various places, including Mercedes-Benz Global Training. You can find out from your respective MPC as to whether additional country-specific directives and legislation require additional special training/briefings. The corresponding training/safety precautions/briefings must be carried out in accordance with the documentation concerning the topic in WIS, TIPS, EVA, and if applicable, country-specific sources before starting work and during work.
• Keep batteries and battery electrolyte out of reach of unauthorized persons.
• No fires, sparks, open flames, or smoking.
• Do not expose batteries to mechanical pressure.
• Do not charge or reinstall batteries with a damaged housing.
• Charge 12 V batteries only in well ventilated rooms with the correct voltage and correct current with approved chargers, taking into account the instructions of the battery and charger manufacturers.
• Do not switch on the charger for 12 V batteries until after connecting to the terminals; switch off before disconnecting.
• It must be ensured that the degassing/electrolyte leakage openings are not improperly sealed and that the corresponding devices for dissipating the gases/electrolyte are connected correctly.
• Ensure the degassing line does not have any kinks and is not blocked at any point.
• Always disconnect the negative terminal first; always connect the positive terminal first. Otherwise, there is possibly a risk of a short circuit between the positive battery terminal and the body ground caused by the tool.
• Pour leaked battery electrolyte only into suitable and appropriately marked containers.
• Always store, transport, and install batteries with liquid battery electrolyte horizontally; otherwise, battery electrolyte may leak out of the degassing holes.
• For vehicles with a 48 V on-board electrical system, wait for at least 10 s before releasing the 12 V positive line to ensure that the recharging function is deactivated.
• Do not charge the 48 V battery directly; instead, charge it via the 12 V on-board electrical system with the existing/approved 12 V chargers.
• Do not place any tools or other conductive objects on top of the battery. This creates the risk of a short circuit!
• In the event of opened and damaged batteries. Wear acid-resistant clothing and safety glasses with side guards.
• Observe the instructions for use that are delivered together with the batteries.