Electric scooters
Although it’s legal to buy e-scooters, there are limitations on where they can be used, and for good reason.
Stats published by.GOV.UK showed there were 1,434 casualties following collisions involving e-scooters, compared to 484 in 2020. So with the rise in ownership comes the increased accident rates. Statistics also showed that,
There were 1,352 collisions involving e-scooters, compared to 460 in 2020, (Source .GOV.UK).
According to statistics published by Tredz 1 in 20 people in the UK own an E-Bike, and within the UK and 12% of people considering buying a new bike are looking at electric models, (Source Mintel).
E-bikes- A popular choice
So, although e-bikes are more efficient than cars and they reduce your carbon footprint, they can be expensive.
The average price of electric bikes in 2020 in the UK was £1,854, it’s an expensive investment, (source Bicycle Association). So you want to ensure you think carefully about that investment and take time to think about safety including the purchase of a suitable helmet to wear whilst cycling. After all, statistics showed that in the year 2020, there were 4,215 cyclists reported being seriously injured, and 11,938 were slightly injured whilst out cycling, (Source .GOV.UK).
Sadly 141 pedal cyclists were killed in Great Britain in 2020 (Source .GOV.UK)
But risks from collisions aren’t the only risks with e-scooters and e-bikes. People often don’t stop and think of other hidden dangers, like their lithium batteries catching fire.
London Fire Brigade Statistics
Statistics published by the London Fire Brigade have stated that within London fires caused by lithium batteries are rising dramatically. They said that,
Callouts to e-bike and e-scooters fires are now being made on average every two days. (Source London Fire Brigade).
What are the risks?
Well, let’s start with charging points at work and associated risks:
- Location of the charging point
- The number of charging points
- Lithium-ion battery fire risks and mitigation strategies
- Health and Safety risks with charging cables
These lithium-ion batteries are safe but only when used and managed correctly and all of these will need to be carefully considered prior to installation.
Lithium-ion batteries
Important to note is that lithium-ion battery fire isn’t spontaneous but rather relies on external factors like damage and operating temperatures to name a few.
But one of the most important things is to always purchase and use the correct charger for e-scooter and e-bikes from a reputable seller and that includes any replacement parts.
Fire safety
Fire safety is often overlooked when considering e-scooters and e-bikes, but they’re important for keeping your staff and other people safe. So never block an emergency exit with an e-bike or e-scooter.
Poor fire safety management has very serious consequences, in terms of lives lost, injury, damage to property, the environment, and business continuity.
That’s why a Fire safety strategy should be paramount prior to the purchase and installation of any charing areas of electric e-scooters and e-bikes.
Companies must implement best practices when it comes to health and safety to mitigate any risks. They are also required to put in place suitable arrangements to manage fire safety and this includes assessing the risks, implementing suitable and sufficient control measures, and monitoring those arrangements.
There’s a wealth of advice and information out there when it comes to Lithium- Ion batteries, so where do you start?
Leave it to the experts
We would recommend using a consultancy firm that can give you the best advice, the latest facts and figures, and health and safety guidance. By doing this you can be sure you have done more than just meet your legal and moral obligations.
Enlisting the help of a trusted specialist will help you do more than just tick a box.
Ligtas’ Service offering
We offer:
- Consultancy
- Training
- Gap analysis
- Fire expertise
- Accreditations
Ligtas are Third Party Accredited Life Safety Fire Risk Assessors under the BAFE SP205-1 Scheme and have a dedicated team of fire safety specialists.
We deliver a bespoke fire risk management service, fully compliant with the Articles of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England & Wales. The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, and the associated Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 in Scotland; and in Northern Ireland the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. The Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
We also offer an array of accredited and Ligtas-certified fire safety courses like the NEBOSH certificate in fire safety.
The NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety is a globally relevant fire safety qualification that you can complete in just one week. This qualification can help you protect people, property, and ultimately your business from the harm a fire can cause.
Course Overview
The NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety is ideal for:
- Those responsible for fire safety in low to medium-risk workplaces
- Health and Safety managers
- Facilities Managers
- Health and safety representatives within businesses
Or how about enrolling all your staff in the Ligtas fire safety awareness course?
Course Overview
The Fire Safety Awareness course will cover fire hazards, prevention, and precautions. Introducing the fire triangle participants will learn about the importance of managing fire risks in the workplace.
Who is this course for?
This course is aimed at all employees.
These courses can either be delivered in-house, via Ligtas classroom training or online via our Learning Management System.
The Ligtas Learning Management System (LMS) is a platform that can support all of your company’s learning content. It enables the documentation, tracking, reporting, and delivery of training courses from enrolment to final completion.
Learning Management System Overview
Staff can easily view and book training, whilst management can access a suite of detailed reports accessible on any internet-connected desktop, tablet, or mobile. The Ligtas LMS is beautifully designed and helps you know what’s working, who’s compliant, what training has been completed, and more.
Training materials hosted on the Ligtas LMS provide flexible, modern learning, which enables businesses to have a fully engaged and knowledgeable workforce. No matter the size of your organisation, even for small businesses, the LMS can be tailored to suit your needs.
The takeaway message here is don’t just assume everything will be fine. As a business, you need to do more than just tick a box. It’s about being proactive to help mitigate health, safety, and fire risks to your employees and others.
You can entrust Ligtas after all we are the experts in health and safety.
Contact our professional, trusted experts at 02922 800 000 or enquries@ligtas.co.uk
