Warehouse fires are nothing new. In 48 BC, during a siege, Julius Caeser’s troops set fire to ships docked in Alexandria’s port. Warehouses storing scrolls, part of the famous Library of Alexandria, were destroyed in the blaze. In the present day, rarely a day goes by, it seems, without fresh pictures of Russian warehouses on fire.
There are more banal causes for fire, of course. One that has been in the news in recent years is lithium batteries.
These batteries are everywhere now, from consumer electronics, to e-bikes and scooters, and of course forklift trucks. Demand from the public for these goods is only going to grow, as will the electrification of material handling equipment. That means more warehouse operators have to become comfortable with the safe storage and use of lithium-ion batteries.
Let me stress that batteries are not the same category of risk as marauding Roman soldiers or explosive-laden drones (if that wasn’t obvious enough!). All workplaces contain risks, and warehousing companies are used to managing everything from slips, trips and falls, to hazardous materials.
Fire is a deeply evocative subject, but while we should be alive to the risks, there is no reason that batteries cannot be safely handled and stored.
Lithium batteries are not a new technology, but in our conversations with warehousing companies, we hear that not all currently want to take on contracts to store them. In part, this may be about reservations from insurers, whether justified or not.
This is a collective issue, and that means collaboration is needed. At the UK Warehousing Association, we have worked with our friends at the UK Material Handling Association to produce two new pieces of guidance.
The UKWA-led guidance, which draws on the expertise of our members, covers the storage of smaller batteries, such as those used in consumer goods like laptops. The UKMHA’s document relates to larger traction batteries, like those used in material handling equipment.
The guidance isn’t a replacement for product-specific, or site-specific safety measures. It’s not regulation. It is meant to provide a baseline to help warehouse operators understand the issue, and the areas they need to consider, such as storage conditions, staff training, and emergency plans.
Some of the points raised in the UKWA’s portion of the guidance include inspecting batteries on receipt, segregating them from general stock, quarantining anything damaged or suspect, and taking care over where and how they are charged.
A vital part of what trade associations do is providing practical advice for members, and signposting to further sources of information. I was delighted that David Goss from UKMHA was able to join me at the most recent UKWA Member Connect event, hosted by Uniserve at their site in Felixstowe.
We had a great discussion on the issues, and hopefully gave the attendees ideas to take away. Both guidance notes are available, free of charge, on the UKWA’s website. We encourage you to read and share them widely. When it comes to safety, it isn’t a competition.
Clare Bottle
UKWA, CEO
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