A risk assessment for charging batteries at this Knaresborough quarry identified that a new charging station was needed with the following criteria:
• protection for operatives should there be an ignition of gases
• good ventilation
• battery away from sources of ignition
• clear definition
• positioned away from work areas
• bench at a suitable height to reduce the risk from manual handling
• clear instruction and training for the new facility.
Thus a well-ventilated charging cabinet with twin compartments was installed. The battery to be charged is placed on one side of the cabinet, with the charging equipment and electrical switchgear on the other. An extractor fan mounted in the battery-charging compartment provides ventilation.
A sliding door made from a shatterproof plastic draws across the front of the cabinet and allows only one of the two compartments to be open at any time. The top compartment is a window to view the operation and the lower part contains two hand holes that enable the charger grips to be connected and disconnected from the battery with the operator safely behind a protective screen. The power to the charger is only turned on or off with the door closed. |
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battery charging station
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