The New Fire Safety Challenge
Safety professionals need to prepare for lithium-ion batteries in the workplace.
- By David Kopf
- Jun 18, 2026
Safety managers today face a growing fire safety challenge that barely existed at scale a decade ago: lithium-ion battery systems. Once confined to laptops and cell phones, lithium-ion batteries now power everything from industrial equipment and backup power systems to data centers and large-scale energy storage installations. As these systems become more common across workplaces, so do the unique hazards they can create when something goes wrong.
The growth has been rapid. According to the American Clean Power Association, U.S. energy storage installations surpassed previous records by 52 percent in 2025, driven in part by expanding commercial and industrial deployments. Meanwhile, the United States installed a record 57.6 gigawatt-hours of new energy storage capacity in 2025 alone, according to data from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Globally, the International Energy Agency labels battery storage as one of the fastest-growing energy technologies in the world.
For workplace safety professionals, battery storage systems are becoming part of normal facility operations, whether supporting manufacturing processes, reducing energy costs, or providing backup power for critical systems.
Recently, I spoke with Josh Dinaburg, Fire Test Specialist at CSA Group, for Episode 229 of the OH&S SafetyPod, “Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Safety in the Workplace.” Dinaburg leads large-scale fire testing at CSA Group’s Distributed Energy Resource Laboratory and specializes in lithium-ion battery risks and energy storage system fire safety.
One of the most important points Dinaburg emphasizes during our discussion is that lithium-ion battery fires differ significantly from many traditional workplace fire hazards. Unlike flammable liquids or combustible materials that require an external ignition source, batteries can contain both the fuel source and the ignition source within the same unit. Once a battery enters thermal runaway — a rapid chain reaction in which heat and chemical reactions accelerate uncontrollably — the event can become difficult to stop.
Dinaburg also discusses other hazards that can emerge during these incidents, such as toxic gases, arc flash risks, and post-fire re-ignition concerns. Some larger battery systems can contain up to 1,500 volts DC, creating electrical hazards even after a fire appears to be extinguished. At the same time, Dinaburg stresses that modern battery systems are generally very safe when properly designed, tested, installed, and maintained. He points to evolving standards, large-scale fire testing, employee awareness, and coordination with local fire departments as important parts of preparedness planning.
Our conversation covers a lot of useful ground. To hear the full discussion and learn more about lithium-ion battery fire safety, subscribe to the OH&S SafetyPod and listen to Episode 229: “Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Safety in the Workplace.” You can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and other major podcast platforms.
David Kopf
Publisher & Executive Editor, OH&S Magazine
This article originally appeared in the June 2026 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.
About the Author
David Kopf is the Executive Editor of Occupational Health & Safety and the Group Publisher of the Security-Safety Group at 1105 Media.