Environmental Concerns Regarding Electric Lift Truck Batteries
The electric lift truck is normally considered more stable and safe than diesel and gas 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 however. They have rechargeable batteries as their source of power, and batteries could present risks to the natural world 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 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 which, when used in manufacturing processes, poses hazards to the quality of water due to drainage and runoff. When lead enters a water system it could cause different types of health issues to human beings and could even cause death. The sulfuric acid utilized in lift truck batteries is very harmful to skin and can lead to severe burns. Sulfuric acid also produces harmful fumes which can cause damage to both the natural world and to humans.
Regular Storage and Use
When recharging, the lead-acid battery could produce hydrogen gas as a chemical byproduct. When recharging batteries for any types of vehicle or a lift truck, smoking, sparks, flames and heat should be kept well away from the recharging site. The flammable hydrogen could cause an explosion if ignited by heat or flame.
If it come into contact with bare skin, sulfuric acid in the batteries can result in chemical burns. This is not a concern during normal use of the battery, but if a battery is punctured or damaged, the acid could spray or leak, potentially burning anybody who is nearby.
Disposal
Incorrect 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 can either be neutralized or recycled. To avoid the serious environmental consequences of wrong disposal, all lead-acid batteries bought or sold in the U.S. include a "core charge" which will just be returned if the used battery is turned in.