Jungheinrich Warehouse Forklift Provo

Environmental Problems About Electric Forklift Batteries

Electric lift trucks are generally safer and more stable compared to diesel and gas powered forklifts. Diesel and gasoline engines emit toxic exhaust and pose a risk of fire. Nevertheless, electric forklifts can 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 storage, disposal, manufacture and use of rechargeable batteries for lift trucks.



Manufacturing

The forklift battery consists of lead plates being placed in a sulfuric acid solution, which are known as lead-acid rechargeable batteries. Lead is a toxin that, when utilized in manufacturing processes, poses hazards to the quality of water due to drainage and runoff. Once lead enters a water system it can result in a variety of health problems to people and can even result in death. The sulfuric acid utilized in lift truck batteries is very harmful to skin and can result in severe burns. Sulfuric acid also produces toxic fumes which could cause damage to both the environment and to human beings.



Regular Use and Storage

Lead-acid batteries can produce hydrogen gas as a chemical byproduct when recharging. When recharging batteries for any kinds of vehicle or a forklift, smoking, sparks, heat and flames should be kept well away from the recharging site. The combustible hydrogen can result in an explosion if ignited by heat or flame.



If it come into contact with bare skin, sulfuric acid in the batteries could lead to chemical burns. This is not a concern during normal use of the battery, but if a battery is damaged or punctured, the acid can spray or leak, potentially burning anyone who is nearby.



Disposal

Disposing of lead-acid batteries improperly should be avoided at all costs. The sulfuric acid can either be recycled or neutralized or could be reused in new batteries. To prevent the serious environmental consequences of incorrect disposal, all lead-acid batteries sold or purchased within the U.S. include a "core charge" that would just be returned if the used battery is turned in.

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