New guidance on storing and charging lithium-powered e-bikes and scooters in the workplace

The British Safety Council has published an introductory guide for employers to help them manage risks posed by storing and charging lithium-powered e-bikes and scooters in the workplace. Most e-bikes are powered by Lithium Ion (Li-on) batteries, larger versions of the kind found in our smartphones, tablets, and some laptops.

In a recent, UK-based survey of users (and potential users) of e-bikes, 40 percent of current users commuted to (and from) a place of work, with 20 percent having used them for business travel.  Questions arise around how we use, charge, and store e-bikes in the workplace – and the additional hazards and risks that this may bring.

To coincide with this week’s National Battery Day 2024, the British Safety Council has published an introductory guide for employers on managing the risks from Li-on batteries. Over the last six months batteries have regularly made headlines, with tragic stories of fires and explosions, resulting in injury and loss of life. Many of these were traced back to the charging of Li-on e-scooters and e-bikes.

Phil Pinnington, Head of Audit and Consultancy, British Safety Council, said: “As with all new and developing technologies, the increasing use of e-bikes and scooters has prompted a wave of new questions, considerations, and challenges – not least for employers, as e-bikes and scooters have entered the workplace; and are routinely charged at (or under) our desks. British Safety Council’s ‘Introductory Guide’ to Li-on batteries in the workplace offers a series of tips to help employers identify and assess the risks posed, how to put control measures in place, and shows some of the solutions being used around the world.

British Safety Council’s introductory guide recognises the challenges posed by the storage and charging of lithium-powered e-bikes and scooters in the workplace and provides employers with some tips to help mitigate the risks. It is available to download for free here.