Jungheinrich Warehouse Forklift Sacramento

Environmental Concerns Regarding Electric Forklift Batteries

The electric lift truck is usually considered more safe and stable than gas and diesel 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 natural world. There are risks connected with the storage, disposal, use and manufacture of rechargeable batteries for forklifts.



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 used in manufacturing processes, poses hazards to the quality of water because of drainage and runoff. When lead enters a water system it can result in different types of health problems to living beings and could even lead to death. The sulfuric acid utilized in lift truck batteries is very detrimental to skin and could lead to severe burns. Sulfuric acid also produces noxious fumes that could cause damage to humans and the environment.



Regular Storage and Use

When recharging, the lead-acid battery could produce hydrogen gas as a chemical byproduct. When recharging batteries for a forklift or any other types of vehicle, smoking, sparks, flames and heat must be kept well away from the recharging site. The combustible hydrogen can cause an explosion if ignited by flame or heat.



If it touches the 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 must be avoided at all costs. The sulfuric acid can either be recycled or neutralized or can be reused in new batteries. In order to avoid the serious environmental consequences of incorrect 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.

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