Jungheinrich Warehouse Forklift Eugene

Environmental Concerns About Electric Forklift Batteries

The electric forklift is usually considered more safe and stable than diesel and gas powered internal combustion engines. Both diesel and gas engines pose a fire risk and emit harmful exhaust toxins. The electric lift truck is not without is hazards however. They have rechargeable batteries as their power source, and batteries can present risks to personal safety as well as to the environment. There are risks connected with the storage, disposal, manufacture and use of rechargeable batteries for lift trucks.



Manufacturing

The majority of forklift batteries are made by placing lead plates into a solution of sulfuric acid. These are known as lead-acid rechargeable batteries. Lead is a toxin that, when utilized in manufacturing processes, poses hazards to the quality of water because of drainage and runoff. Once lead enters a water system it can cause a range of health issues to people and could even cause death. The sulfuric acid used in lift truck batteries is very detrimental to skin and could cause severe burns. Sulfuric acid also produces toxic fumes which could cause damage to both humans and the natural environment.



Normal Storage and Use

Lead-acid batteries can produce hydrogen gas as a chemical byproduct when recharging. When recharging batteries for a lift truck or any other types of vehicle, smoking, sparks, heat and flames must be kept well away from the recharging site. The flammable hydrogen can lead to an explosion if ignited by flame or heat.



Sulfuric acid in the batteries could cause chemical burns if it touches the bare skin. 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 anybody who is nearby.



Disposal

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

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