Warehouse workers and employers will receive free training materials on battery hazards after OSHA reviews and approves the curriculum.

Battery Council International (BCI) will develop safety instruction for lithium-ion forklift batteries and other material handling equipment with funding from OSHA’s Susan Harwood Training Grant Program.

The curriculum will serve warehouse, distribution and industrial employees, including workers learning to maintain battery-powered fleets. Materials will be offered nationwide at no charge following OSHA approval, the association said.

Planned lessons will address charging risks, battery storage, damaged battery handling and warning signs of overheating that can escalate into a fire. Other topics include lead-acid battery hazards, selecting compatible chargers and coordinating emergency procedures with fire departments.

The association said differences among battery chemistries can create risks when facilities apply the same practices across mixed fleets. The instruction will supplement existing forklift operator training.

Battery manufacturers will contribute technical expertise through an association subcommittee. A four-hour pilot involving 20 workers and employers will test the materials at a facility using lithium-ion batteries or multiple battery types.

• Novara

  All in One Safety Software

  Novara's unified EHS and risk management platform gives your team the data, insights, and configurable tools to manage safety by design — not reaction.
  See how Novara works → Novara.com

• Friday New Product Roundup: October 16

  This week's products include cut-resistant apparel, carbon-toe work boots, pallet rack repair kits, an automated compressed air control and a weatherproof cable enclosure. Read Now

• Workplace Noise Can Affect More Than Your Hearing

  Long-term exposure to hazardous noise can affect worker safety, overall health and quality of life, making consistent hearing protection essential. Read Now

• Why Hands-On Training Still Matters in a Digital Age

  VR, AR and AI can expand training opportunities, but physical practice remains essential when workers must handle equipment, coordinate with teams and perform correctly in high-risk situations. Read Now

• The Heat Stress Standard and the Employer's Decision Dilemma

  With OSHA's proposed heat rule unfinished but enforcement expanding, the metric an employer chooses to trigger protective action — Heat Index or wet bulb globe temperature — may matter more than the regulation itself. Read Now

• Navigating Electrical Safety’s Gray Areas

  Electrical safety standards provide a framework, but real-world work doesn't always offer clear-cut choices. Five common gray areas show why understanding the hazard, the task and the worker’s qualifications matter when the right decision is not immediately obvious. Read Now

• The Keys to a Successful Smart PPE Rollout

  A rushed rollout produces resistance. A focused pilot and transparency on goals produce a program workers trust. Read Now

Most   Popular

• Why Hands-On Training Still Matters in a Digital Age

  VR, AR and AI can expand training opportunities, but physical practice remains essential when workers must handle equipment, coordinate with teams and perform correctly in high-risk situations.

• Survey Links Unverified AI Guidance to Higher Regulatory Fines

  Respondents linked unchecked AI output to incorrect filings, missed deadlines and failed audits, and teams that put sensitive data into personal AI tools reported problems far more often.

• ASSP Survey Finds AI Adoption Growing in Workplace Safety

  AI use in workplace safety is growing, but investment, data quality and organizational challenges remain barriers.

• Firefighter Health and Safety Technology Guide Research Collaboration

  International working groups will examine occupational health risks, smart protective equipment and oversight of AI tools.

• Data Center Construction Raises Confined Space Safety Considerations

  Electrical and mechanical spaces on rapidly expanding data center projects can present access, ventilation and rescue challenges that require careful hazard evaluation.

More AI Coverage

Please type the letters/numbers you see above.

• VAC-U-MAX, Fauske & Associates, LLC, Donaldson, EMSL Analytical, Inc.

  Where Dust Explosions Start: Equipment-Level Hazards & How to Control Them (Part 2) Oct 15, 2026

• PIP Global Safety

  The Next Generation of Head Protection and Connected PPE Oct 20, 2026

• J. J. Keller & Associates Inc.

  OSHA Training for General Industry: Key Training Elements of The Most Common Safety Topics Oct 21, 2026

• FacilityOS, Industrial Scientific Corp.

  Facility Safety Summit Oct 22, 2026

• FacilityOS, Industrial Scientific Corp.

  Facility Safety Summit Session 1: Three Standards Updates That Could Impact Your Facility Safety Program Oct 22, 2026

• FacilityOS, Industrial Scientific Corp.

  Facility Safety Summit Session 2: Facility Disaster & Emergency Preparedness Oct 22, 2026

All Webinars