Environmental Problems About Electric Forklift Batteries
Electric lift trucks are generally more stable and safer than diesel and gas powered forklifts. Diesel and gasoline engines emit toxic exhaust and pose a risk of fire. Nonetheless, electric forklifts can be dangerous, also. They have rechargeable batteries as their source of power, and batteries can present risks to personal safety as well as to the natural world. There are hazards 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 sulfuric acid solution. These are referred to as lead-acid rechargeable batteries. Lead is a toxin which, when used in manufacturing processes, poses hazards to the quality of water because of runoff and drainage. When lead enters a water system it can lead to different types of health issues to people and could even lead to death. The sulfuric acid used in lift truck batteries is really harmful to skin and could cause severe burns. Sulfuric acid also produces toxic fumes which could cause damage to humans and the environment.
Regular 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, sparks, smoking, heat and flames should be kept well away from the recharging site. The flammable hydrogen can result in an explosion if ignited by heat or flame.
If it touches the bare skin, sulfuric acid in the batteries could result in chemical burns. 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 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 can either be neutralized or recycled. To be able to prevent the serious environmental consequences of wrong disposal, all lead-acid batteries sold or purchased within the U.S. include a "core charge" that will only be returned if the used battery is turned in.