National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) says powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR) may not work correctly if batteries aren’t stored properly. The faulty batteries could lead to a faulty respirator, which leads to a higher risk for injury or death.

NIOSH says users should inspect batteries for damage before use, assure the battery is stored in the proper temperature and humidity requirements, keep the batteries away from heating sources such as furnaces and sunlight, keeping non-rechargeable batteries in their initial packaging until usage and more.