OSHA Clarifies Recordkeeping Requirements for Lithium-Ion Battery Injuries
A new OSHA letter of interpretation explains when injuries involving personal rechargeable lithium-ion batteries must be recorded on employer injury and illness logs and highlights key safety concerns tied to battery hazards.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Feb 10, 2026
OSHA has issued new guidance clarifying when injuries involving personal rechargeable lithium-ion batteries must be recorded on employer injury and illness logs.
In a Feb. 9 letter of interpretation, OSHA stated that if an injury caused by a lithium-ion battery is work-related and meets one or more of the agency’s general recording criteria, it must be documented on OSHA Forms 300, 301, and 300-A, or equivalent recordkeeping forms.
The agency also emphasized growing safety concerns about lithium-ion batteries in workplace environments, noting hazards during manufacturing, use, emergency response, disposal, and recycling. OSHA warned that lithium-ion battery incidents can involve fires, explosions, and exposure to hazardous chemicals.
OSHA outlined several safety practices employers can use to reduce risks, including storing materials in cool, dry locations, maintaining adequate ventilation, monitoring storage areas for flammable or toxic gases, and using appropriate recycling and disposal methods. The agency also emphasized the importance of providing emergency equipment, such as eyewash stations and safety showers, when employees may be exposed to battery materials.
OSHA said letters of interpretation are intended to clarify how existing standards apply to specific situations and do not create new regulatory requirements.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco brings a strong and varied journalism background to her role at Occupational Health & Safety, having previously served as a multimedia editor, broadcast journalist, professor and reviewer across major news organizations. As Content Editor, she writes news and feature articles, hosts sponsor and editorial webinars, co-hosts the SafetyPod worker health and safety podcast, and manages the brand’s digital and social media presence. She is committed to informing and engaging the safety community through compelling reporting and conversations that support safer, healthier workplaces.