Environmental Issues About Electric Lift Truck Batteries
The electric lift truck is usually considered more stable and safe than diesel and gas powered IC engines. Both diesel and gas engines pose a fire risk and emit harmful exhaust toxins. The electric lift truck is not without is hazards though. They have rechargeable batteries as their power source, and batteries can present risks to personal safety as well as to the natural world. There are risks connected with the storage, disposal, use and manufacture of rechargeable batteries for lift trucks.
Manufacturing
Most forklift batteries are made by placing lead plates into a sulfuric acid solution. These are referred to as lead-acid rechargeable batteries. Lead is toxic which, when utilized in manufacturing processes, poses hazards to water quality due to runoff and drainage. When lead enters a water system it can result in different kinds of health issues to living beings and can even be fatal. The sulfuric acid utilized in lift truck batteries is really detrimental to skin and could cause severe burns. Sulfuric acid also produces noxious fumes that can cause damage to the natural world and to humans.
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 lift truck, heat, flames, smoking and sparks should be kept well away from the recharging site. The combustible hydrogen can cause an explosion if ignited by heat or flame.
Sulfuric acid in the batteries could lead to chemical burns if it touches the bare skin. This is not a problem during normal use of the battery, but if a battery is punctured or damaged, the acid can spray or leak, potentially burning anyone who is nearby.
Disposal
Improper disposal of lead-acid batteries should always be avoided. These batteries should be recycled correctly or reused in new batteries so that the sulfuric acid could either be recycled or neutralized. To prevent the serious environmental consequences of improper disposal, all lead-acid batteries purchased or sold within the U.S. include a "core charge" which will just be returned if the used battery is turned in.