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