Environmental Issues About Electric Lift Truck Batteries
The electric lift truck is usually considered more safe and stable than diesel and gas powered IC engines. Both diesel and gas engines pose a fire risk and emit harmful exhaust toxins. The electric forklift 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 environment. There are risks connected with the manufacture, use, disposal and storage of rechargeable batteries for forklifts.
Manufacturing
The forklift battery consists of lead plates being placed in a solution of sulfuric acid, which are called lead-acid rechargeable batteries. Lead is toxic which, when utilized in manufacturing processes, poses hazards to the quality of water due to drainage and runoff. Once lead enters a water system it could lead to different types of health issues to living beings and could even be fatal. The sulfuric acid used in forklift batteries is harmful to skin and can result in severe burns. Sulfuric acid also produces toxic fumes that could cause damage to human beings and the natural environment.
Regular Use and Storage
When recharging, the lead-acid battery can produce hydrogen gas as a chemical byproduct. When recharging batteries for a forklift or any other types of vehicle, flames, heat, sparks and smoking must be kept well away from the recharging site. The flammable hydrogen could result in an explosion if ignited by flame or heat.
Sulfuric acid in the batteries could lead to chemical burns if it touches the bare skin. This is not an issue during normal use of the battery, but if a battery is damaged or punctured, the acid can leak or spray, potentially burning anybody who is nearby.
Disposal
Improper disposal of lead-acid batteries must always be avoided. These batteries must be recycled correctly or reused in new batteries so that the sulfuric acid can either be neutralized or recycled. To be able to avoid the serious environmental consequences of wrong disposal, all lead-acid batteries purchased or sold within the United States include a "core charge" that will just be returned if the used battery is turned in.