Environmental Concerns About Electric Lift Truck Batteries
Electric forklifts are generally safer and more stable than gas and diesel powered forklifts. Diesel and gasoline engines emit toxic exhaust and pose a risk of fire. Nevertheless, electric forklifts could be dangerous, also. They have rechargeable batteries as their power source, and batteries can present risks to personal safety as well as to the natural environment. There are risks connected with the use, manufacture, disposal and storage of rechargeable batteries for lift trucks.
Manufacturing
The forklift battery consists of lead plates being placed in a sulfuric acid solution, that are called lead-acid rechargeable batteries. Lead is toxic which, when used in manufacturing processes, poses hazards to the quality of water due to runoff and drainage. When lead enters a water system it can cause a range of health problems to human beings and can even result in death. The sulfuric acid utilized in lift truck batteries is really detrimental to skin and could cause severe burns. Sulfuric acid also produces toxic fumes which could cause damage to the environment and to humans.
Regular Use and Storage
Lead-acid batteries could produce hydrogen gas as a chemical byproduct when recharging. When recharging batteries for any kinds of vehicle or a lift truck, heat, flames, sparks and smoking must be kept well away from the recharging place. The combustible hydrogen can cause an explosion if ignited by flame or heat.
Sulfuric acid in the batteries can cause chemical burns if it touches the bare skin. This is not an issue during normal use of the battery, but if a battery is punctured or damaged, the acid can spray or leak, potentially burning anybody who is nearby.
Disposal
Incorrect disposal of lead-acid batteries must always be avoided. These batteries should be recycled properly or reused in new batteries so that the sulfuric acid could either be neutralized or recycled. To avoid the serious environmental consequences of improper disposal, all lead-acid batteries purchased or sold within the United States include a "core charge" which would only be returned if the used battery is turned in.