California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 7 - General Industry Safety Orders › Group 16 - Control of Hazardous Substances › Article 109 - Hazardous Substances and Processes › Section 5185 - Changing and Charging Storage Batteries

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) In addition to the requirements below,
						the changing and charging of batteries shall comply with applicable
						requirements of Section
						5184.
(b) Battery charging installations shall be
						located in areas designated for that purpose. Employees assigned to work with
						storage batteries shall be qualified employees and shall be instructed in
						emergency procedures.
(c) Where
						storage batteries capable of venting flammable gas or corrosive mist are
						installed or charged, the space shall be ventilated by natural or mechanical
						means to prevent concentrations of flammable gases from exceeding 20% of the
						lower explosive limit of the gas, and harmful levels of mist from the
						electrolyte.
(d) Where corrosive
						liquids are handled or can potentially be released, means shall be provided to
						neutralize or dispose of spills and overflows.
(e) When dispensing or sampling electrolyte,
						only devices specifically designed for such activities shall be used.
(f) Electrolyte (acid or base, and distilled
						water) for battery cells shall be mixed in a well-ventilated room. Acid or base
						shall be poured gradually into the water while stirring. Water shall never be
						poured into concentrated (greater than 75 percent) acid solutions.
(g) When taking specific gravity readings,
						the open end of the hydrometer shall be covered with an acid resistant material
						while moving it from battery to battery to avoid splashing or throwing the
						electrolyte.
(h) Electrolyte shall
						only be placed in suitable containers and shall not be stirred with metal
						objects.
(i) Facilities shall be
						provided for protecting charging apparatus from damage by mobile equipment.
						Mobile equipment shall be properly positioned and brake applied before
						attempting to change or charge batteries.
(j) Mechanical lifting and material handling
						devices or equipment shall be provided for handling batteries.
(k) Smoking shall be prohibited in the
						charging area.
(l) Precautions
						shall be taken to prevent static discharge, open flames, sparks, short
						circuits, or electric arcs in areas where batteries are charged. When racks are
						used for support of batteries, they shall be made of materials nonconductive to
						spark generation or coated or covered to achieve this objective. Tools and
						other metallic objects shall be kept away from the top of uncovered batteries.
						Chargers shall be turned off when leads are being connected or
						disconnected.
(m) When charging
						batteries with vent caps, the vent caps shall be kept firmly in place to avoid
						electrolyte spray. The battery compartment cover(s) shall be open to dissipate
						heat.
(n) Facilities for quick
						drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided in accordance with
						Section 5162 unless the storage batteries
						are:
(1) equipped with explosion resistant or
						flame arrestor type vents; or
(2)
						located in a compartment or other location such as to preclude employee
						exposure.
EXCEPTIONS: to Subsection (n): Automotive servicing
						  facilities and parts stores where:
1. A
						suitable neutralizing agent is available, and
2. An adequate supply of clean water is
						readily available, and
3. The
						transfer system is essentially a closed system and does not involve handling
						acid in open containers.