This document is a guide to identify safety issues such as arc flash when handling hazardous voltage battery packs. It also identifies electrical safety categories that are important to understand before proceeding with energized electrical work associated with automotive batteries and other hazardous voltage systems. It covers direct and indirect hazards, shock and arc boundaries, hazard risk categories, and personal protective equipment (PPE); ensuring proper storage/isolation in battery packs; checking the current status of the battery. Also covered are best practices for testing the state of health of battery systems and procedures for obtaining a permit to work on HV vehicles.