England battery guidance sets out testing and discharge measures; OSHA details recycling hazards

Environment Agency guidance published on 21 May 2026 says large battery packs and modules should be tested before further treatment and safely discharged to an appropriate level where necessary. US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) material also identifies stored electrical energy, thermal runaway and chemical hazards during lithium-ion battery recycling.

Section 5.1 covers large packs and modules from electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems. It addresses electric shock, short circuits and thermal runaway, with discharge where necessary and preparation before dismantling where possible.

OSHA includes recycling among the activities covered by its lithium-ion battery hazards page. Internal short circuits or mechanical damage can initiate thermal runaway, and fires can release harmful substances including hydrogen fluoride and carbon monoxide.

The English guidance also calls for assessment of discharge hazards, including gas formation, temperature rise and electrolyte leakage. Energy recovery from discharging may be considered where possible and practicable.

Work on high-voltage batteries requires appropriately trained and qualified technicians. Testing, charging, discharging and dismantling must take place in designated, marked and well-ventilated areas.

The guidance concerns waste battery treatment and transfer facilities under environmental permitting in England. Operators must assess measures for their activities, scale and location as part of meeting permit requirements.

The GOV.UK contents and update history both give 21 May 2026 as the publication date of this guidance. This report reviewed the documents on 29 October; OSHA material provides US occupational safety context.