Environmental Concerns About Electric Lift Truck Batteries
The electric forklift is usually considered more stable and safe than gas and diesel 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 source of power, and batteries could present risks to the natural environment as well as to personal safety. There are risks connected with the storage, disposal, use and manufacture of rechargeable batteries for lift trucks.
Manufacturing
The lift truck battery consists of lead plates being placed in a sulfuric acid solution, which are called lead-acid rechargeable batteries. Lead is a toxin which, when utilized in manufacturing processes, poses hazards to water quality because of runoff and drainage. Once lead enters a water system it can lead to different types of health problems to living beings and could even be fatal. The sulfuric acid used in forklift batteries is detrimental to skin and can lead to severe burns. Sulfuric acid also produces harmful fumes that can cause damage to both the natural environment and to human beings.
Normal Storage and Use
When recharging, the lead-acid battery could produce hydrogen gas as a chemical byproduct. When recharging batteries for a lift truck or any other types of vehicle, smoking, sparks, heat and flames should be kept well away from the recharging place. The combustible hydrogen can result in an explosion if ignited by flame or heat.
If it touches the bare skin, sulfuric acid in the batteries could result in chemical burns. This is not an issue during normal use of the battery, but if a battery is damaged or punctured, the acid could 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 could either be neutralized or recycled or could be reused in new batteries. To avoid the serious environmental consequences of improper disposal, all lead-acid batteries bought or sold within the United States include a "core charge" which will only be returned if the used battery is turned in.