Accidental swallowing of a button or coin battery, by a pet or child, can result in severe injury or death, especially when the battery becomes lodged in the oesophagus. Standards Australia has launched a new free Consumer Reference Guide on Button Batteries to improve public access to the latest expert consumer advice aimed at preventing common dangers caused by button batteries. Products containing small batteries pose serious risks, and the guide aims to help the community identify safer options and avoid preventable dangers. Find out more here. To read the full relevant standard FREE, AS 5347:2023, Button/coin batteries and consumer goods that use button/coin batteries – Safety for consumers, visit Standards Australia’s Reader Room, and how to use the Reader Room demonstration video.
Consumer Reference Guide – Button Batteries – includes What you need to know; What to look for when buying; Storage and disposal; and In case of emergency.
CFA engages with these issues as part of the CFA Standards Project by supporting a representative to the Standards committee which developed the button battery standard. The CFA representative ensures the impact on Australian consumers is always a central part of the committee’s deliberations.