Battery safety incidents hit German facilities in Erfurt and Dorsten

At the CATL battery manufacturing site in Erfurt, Germany, an unidentified hazardous substance released from battery pallets injured four male workers with serious respiratory damage. The men were decontaminated on site by fire‑brigade crews and taken to hospital for treatment. Police investigations are ongoing to determine whether a technical fault or human error caused the leak, and authorities have assured the public that no wider danger exists.

A separate incident occurred at the Humbert recycling plant in Dorsten, where a fire broke out after incorrectly disposed lithium‑ion batteries ignited inside a paper‑handling hall. The blaze was quickly contained by firefighters, but the event highlighted the growing risk of battery‑related fires in waste‑processing facilities. Local officials and industry representatives are urging proper disposal of rechargeable batteries to prevent future accidents.