In 2021, one in ten cars bought in the UK was electric, according to the Society of Motoring Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Electric vehicles are powered by large batteries, which are either fueled by the motion of the car itself (in a hybrid model) or charged at a charging station.
These lithium batteries are extremely advanced but highly flammable if misused or faulty. In the case of "thermal runaway," there is a rapid and extreme rise in temperature passing between battery cells, which can produce smoke, cause a fire, or even an explosion in extreme cases.
G4S safety incident response team
In 2019 the G4S safety incident response team on site worked with the manufacturer’s own on-site safety crew and conducted in-depth risk assessments to understand the new challenges they would face with the new vehicles, and how to mitigate them.
Working closely with the manufacturer’s security team, G4S has put in place a triple-mitigation response. Firstly, the personal protective equipment (PPE) for the security team has to be fit for purpose, with the additional requirement that it could be light enough to be worn throughout the day and still provide the required standard of protection. In addition, masks and breathing apparatus needed to be fitted with P3 filters, specialized in filtering the toxic gases released during a thermal runaway.
thermal runaway fire blankets
Fire response strand teaches the safety incident response team how to manage fire within the first 15 minutes
Secondly, the team invested in specific thermal runaway fire blankets which could be thrown over the battery to suffocate any potential fire. And lastly, specific safety briefings and training were developed so all those involved would know exactly what to do if a thermal runaway event occurred.
The training provided has four strands, which is akin to the training for fire brigade and emergency first responders. The fire response strand teaches the safety incident response team how to manage fire within the first 15 minutes of the incident starting.
impact of a thermal runaway event
The other strands are security training, environmental incident training, and medical training, meaning that the team is equipped to deal with the secondary impact of a thermal runaway event, be that injury to those in the area, or the structural integrity of the building around them.
Steve White, National Account Director for G4S, said: “We have yet to have such an event get out of hand but I am proud of the team for the work they carried out in identifying the risk and putting together a plan quickly and efficiently to mitigate against it. It will probably save someone's life.”
