Like other products powered by rechargeable batteries, mobility scooters, powered wheelchairs, and homelifts increasingly feature lithium battery (Li Batt) technology. The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) has been asked by its members to highlight safe practices for use, maintenance, and disposal of Li Batts.
Below, there are two different Li Batt guidance documents: a toolkit for businesses (B2B) and a guidance document for retailers and consumers (B2C).
The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) has created this toolkit at the request of its members, who wish to take industry-leading approaches to the safe use of Lithium Batteries (Li Batts). The BHTA has worked with DG Solutions, a market-leading consultant on dangerous goods to produce this guidance; if you have additional questions on Li Batts, please write to info@bhta.com and enquiries@dangerous-goods.co.uk.
Part 1 provides a plug-and-play template for a company’s own Li Batt policy; companies can use this to build a new policy or stress-test an existing policy
Part 2 provides a checklist of detailed information on key Li Batt processes and practices – classification, regulation, transportation, marking, etc. – for the three key corporate stakeholders in Li Batts in the assistive technology sector (Manufacturers, Distributors, and Retailers); companies can use this to ensure their processes and practices are best in class and to help define which parts of good Li Batt practice are the responsibility of which stakeholder.
Part 3 provides a checklist of critical Li Batt safety and usage information that Distributors and Retailers should share with Customers; it is a shortened version of BHTA’s Li Batt B2C guidance, and companies can use it to shape consumer-facing practices.
Part 4 provides a checklist of critical Li Batt processes and practices around the transportation of Li Batts between companies and customers; companies can use it to determine which transport class to use for Li Batts, depending on type/condition/quantity of battery.
Part 5 provides a plug-and-play template for a company’s end of life and disposal process and practices around Li Batts, including list-view templates, workflow-view templates, document retention maps, and decision-trees; companies can use this this to build a new policy or stress-test an existing policy.
Download the lithium battery B2B toolkit here.
Given Li Batts’ unique health and safety and environmental risks, the BHTA has published B2C guidance for all BHTA members to note for their own staff, and to provide to consumers (if they operate B2C).
The guidance below contains important information about the different types of lithium batteries on the market; advice for retailers to pass on to their consumers about lithium battery charging, temperature considerations, battery maintenance, battery life expectancy, and battery disposal; the pros and cons of lithium batteries; among many other key safety points.
Click below to find out more about lithium battery safety guidance for retailers and consumers. Alternatively, you can download the PDF version here.
