On March 5, 2026, a Victoper headlamp that is used on hardhats and PAPR helmets on the Y-12 Cleanup Project overheated. Prompt action was taken to secure the headlamp and remove the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
Thanks to the situational awareness and questioning attitude of project personnel, no fire occurred and no personnel, facility, or other equipment were impacted.
Upon making notifications to facility management, fire protection, electrical, and safety, an investigation determined that the headlamp batteries were identified in a Consumer Product Safety Commission safety warning.
Contact your facility manager and remove from service all Victoper headlamps or any 18650 lithium-ion battery cells discovered on all UCOR sites, including the Cleanup Campus.
Whether at work or home, rechargeable lithium cells without proper protection are potentially hazardous when handled, transported, stored, charged, or used to power devices.
These battery cells may have exposed metal terminals that can short-circuit when they make contact with metal objects, such as keys or loose change in a pocket.
Once shorted, loose cells can overheat, igniting the cell’s internal materials and forcibly expelling burning contents, resulting in fires, explosions, and injuries.