Battery Manufacturing

What are the hazards associated with battery manufacturing?

Lead dust is a common health exposure for employees working in the battery manufacturing industry. Many operations can create dust that settles on equipment, floors and other surfaces leading to exposure in addition to the handling of materials that contain lead without the use of proper personal protective equipment. Lead can be absorbed into the body through ingestion and inhalation, with inhalation generally being the most prominent source for lead to be absorbed into the body.

How can I protect myself?

Lead exposure can be controlled using the hierarchy of controls including engineering controls, administrative procedures, and lastly, through the use of personal protective equipment.

Adequate ventilation, preferably local exhaust ventilation, should be used when heating lead or lead-containing materials or when otherwise removing lead-containing materials by mechanical means.

Proper handwashing with soap and running water should be performed after working with lead-containing materials and before consumption of food and drink.

Employers are required to provide workers engaged in the use of lead or removal of lead containing coatings or any other lead materials with the appropriate type of respirator until an exposure assessment determines that exposure levels are below the permissible exposure limit.

What resources are available to assist employers?

Safety and Health Programs

An example PPE hazard assessment, respiratory protection program and hazard communication program are available to be customized to fit workplace conditions. Employers are required to perform a workplace hazard analysis to determine what personal protective equipment is necessary to protect employees from continued exposure to identified hazards.

Other example safety and health programs are available for employers to download and adapt to their specific conditions.

Training and Outreach Services

Presentations on personal protective equipment, hazard communication, respiratory protection and health hazards special emphasis program provide general safety and health information on personal protective equipment and should be modified to address site-specific conditions and hazards. Other example presentations are available along with pre-recorded webinars which can be accessed at any time. 

In addition, the education, training and technical assistance bureau provides free online safety and health training and outreach services (i.e., speaker's bureau requests, safety booths) upon request. 

Lastly, the NCDOL Library offers free safety and health videos (including streaming video services) and related research assistance on consensus standards (i.e., ANSI, NFPA, NEC).

Safety and Health Topics

Additional resource information can be found on the safety and health topic pages for personal protective equipment, respiratory protection, hierarchy of controls, lead, health hazards special emphasis programs, lead and hazard communication.

Consultation Services

The consultative services bureau provides free and confidential onsite consultation regarding worksite safety and health hazards.

Which standards apply?

OSH has adopted the following standards for battery manufacturing in North Carolina. This is not all inclusive.

Note: Please also check the standards information and activity webpage to see if there has been any recent or upcoming regulatory activity on this topic. 

General Industry

29 CFR 1910 Subpart D - Walking-Working Surfaces

• 29 CFR 1910.22 - walking - working surfaces, general requirements

29 CFR 1910 Subpart E - Exit Routes and Emergency Planning

• 29 CFR 1910.37 - maintenance, safeguards, and operational features for exit routes

29 CFR 1910 Subpart I - Personal Protective Equipment

• 29 CFR 1910.132 - general requirements
• 29 CFR 1910.133 - eye and face protection
• 29 CFR 1910.134 - respiratory protection
• 29 CFR 1910.135 - head protection
• 29 CFR 1910.136 - foot protection
• 29 CFR 1910.138 - hand protection

29 CFR 1910 Subpart J - General Environmental Controls

• 29 CFR 1910.141 – sanitation

29 CFR 1910 Subpart Z - Toxic and Hazardous Substances

• 29 CFR 1910.1025 - lead
• 29 CFR 1910.1200 - hazard communication

Recordkeeping

• Refer to Recording and Reporting

Other Applicable Standards

The Which OSHA Standards Apply webpage can help identify other standards that may also be applicable to your worksite.

Where can I learn more?

Compliance Documents

• Operational Procedure Notice: OPN 135, Health Hazards Special Emphasis Program, establishes enforcement guidance for inspections of work places where occupational exposure to the following specific air contaminants is, or may be, present: lead, hexavalent chromium, isocyanates, beryllium and respirable crystalline silica.
• OSHA Technical Manual (TED 01-00-015) provides technical information about workplace hazards and controls to OSHA’s Compliance Safety and Health Officers.

Industry Guides

• Industry Guide 49 - OSHA General Industry Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training provides requirements for standards related to battery manufacturing in general industry.

Technical Assistance

• Inquiries about workplace safety and health requirements can be submitted to Ask OSH online or by phone at 919-707-7876.