Re: Battery Spill Kit Contents
 

I recommend using a ~2" putty knife for collecting neutralized gunk.

Re: Battery Spill Kit Contents
 

That makes sense too, and you've saved a kid the agony of digging with his hands. :D ;) I should get two so one can push onto the other.

I'm also wondering about rinsing the area after scraping it. Once I've turned the problem over to the pit admin. area, it's their problem, but in my own shop I'd like to know what else should be done. We would like to stay on the "good" side of the janitorial staff by not leaving them nasty messes.

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We also added to our kit contractor bags. They are PP and thicker than regular garbage bags. You can get them at Home Depot.

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Back when I was with 294, we did have a battery spill. We mounted the battery upside down in 2010, and the cumulative effects of driving over the bumps led to a failure of the top vent of the battery. The leaking acid burned through a good portion of the anodizing on the battery holder before we started neutralizing it with baking soda. We contacted the UL safety inspectors, and they disposed of the battery in some sort of acid-resistant plastic container. So essentially, they're the ones to contact if you have a battery spill.

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I made the attached instruction sheet following 122's experience with a battery leak this season. Note some important procedural differences compared to Bill's document (please speak up if you see something unsafe!). I tried to place an emphasis on early detection and notification.

Re: Battery Spill Kit Contents
 

I would put a small shovel or sturdy broom in my spill kit for those bigger spills. I would also use a professional absorbent product rather than baking soda. I heard SpillFix is better for battery acid spills than some other absorbents but I haven’t had a chance to try it yet myself.

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Never say never.

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I'd also recommend an apron and shoe covers. Tyvek-coated polyethelene single-use products should do. Generally the cleanup process for the neutralized material is messy (particularly if you are using loose baking soda as the neutralizing agent) and you really don't want to get any of it on your clothes or shoes.

I work with large quantities of a higher capacity version of this type of battery, and while spills are quite rare, being prepared for immediate action if one occurs is very important.

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Came here to say the same thing. I've seen spills, and I've also seen the intensely-scary bulging battery more times than I'd like. Even small bulges are concerning, but if you're able to watch the plastic bubble out rapidly from ~10ft away, it's pretty nerve-racking to be one of one the volunteers that need to hold the crowd back until facilities gets there. (Been there, done that - three times.)

What we did to get it safely out of the arena was place it in one of those paint buckets (with a lid) and bring it someplace safe- in our event's case, out to the loading dock so the University's facilities staff could handle it. I recommend keeping a bucket like that handy somewhere in your pit just in case you start to see some bulging. It is not a permanent fix but it at least keeps the contents of the battery from going too far should the casing fail.

Be careful, be mindful, keep an eye on your batteries. If something seems off, don't use it or handle it. Put it in a safe container, mark it off, and talk to someone about it immediately.

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The SpillFix product may be better but the baking soda is more available for most teams. The best one for neutralizing the battery acid is the one you have on hand at the time.

Our battery cabinet was knocked over at a scrimmage and several batteries fell out and hit the concrete floor. No visible damage was found at the time. Weeks later, we found some batteries leaking.