Environmental Concerns About Electric Forklift Batteries
The electric lift truck is normally considered more stable and safe than diesel and gas powered internal combustion engines. Both gas and diesel engines pose a fire risk and emit harmful exhaust toxins. The electric forklift is not without is hazards though. They have rechargeable batteries as their power source, and batteries could present risks to the natural world as well as to personal safety. There are hazards connected with the storage, disposal, use and manufacture of rechargeable batteries for lift trucks.
Manufacturing
Most lift truck batteries are made by placing lead plates into a solution of sulfuric acid. These are known as lead-acid rechargeable batteries. Lead is toxic which, when used in manufacturing processes, poses hazards to water quality due to runoff and drainage. When lead enters a water system it could lead to a range of health problems to living beings and could even result in death. The sulfuric acid used in forklift batteries is really detrimental to skin and could lead to severe burns. Sulfuric acid also produces toxic fumes that can cause damage to the environment and to human beings.
Regular Use and Storage
Lead-acid batteries can produce hydrogen gas as a chemical byproduct when recharging. When recharging batteries for any types of vehicle or a forklift, heat, flames, sparks and smoking should be kept well away from the recharging site. The combustible hydrogen could cause an explosion if ignited by heat or flame.
Sulfuric acid in the batteries could result in chemical burns if it touches the bare skin. This is not a problem during normal use of the battery, but if a battery is damaged or punctured, the acid can leak or spray, potentially burning anyone who is nearby.
Disposal
Improper disposal of lead-acid batteries should always be avoided. These batteries must be recycled correctly or reused in new batteries so that the sulfuric acid could either be recycled or neutralized. To avoid the serious environmental consequences of improper disposal, all lead-acid batteries sold or purchased in the U.S. include a "core charge" which would only be returned if the used battery is turned in.