Jungheinrich Warehouse Forklift Houston

Environmental Issues About Electric Lift Truck Batteries

The electric forklift is usually considered more stable and safe compared to 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 though. 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 risks associated with the manufacture, use, storage and disposal of rechargeable batteries for forklifts.



Manufacturing

The lift truck battery consists of lead plates being placed in a sulfuric acid solution, that are called lead-acid rechargeable batteries. Lead is a toxin that, when used in manufacturing processes, poses hazards to the quality of water due to runoff and drainage. When lead enters a water system it can lead to different kinds of health issues to people and can even be fatal. The sulfuric acid utilized in forklift batteries is really harmful to skin and could cause severe burns. Sulfuric acid also produces toxic fumes which could cause damage to the environment and to human beings.



Normal Storage and Use

Lead-acid batteries could produce hydrogen gas as a chemical byproduct when recharging. When recharging batteries for a forklift or any other types of vehicle, smoking, sparks, flames and heat should be kept well away from the recharging site. The combustible 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 leak or spray, potentially burning anyone who is nearby.



Disposal

Incorrect 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. In order 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 would just be returned if the used battery is turned in.

• Skyjack Rough Terrain Scissor Lifts Houston
  Rough Terrain Scissor Lifts Mid-Size SJ 7127 The SJ 7127 provides both powerful and solid design elements so as to be capable of meeting the demands of the most challenging environments at the job location.... More
• Jungheinrich Dual Fuel Forklift Houston
  On construction locations all over the world, lift trucks, bulldozers and bobcats have become essential machinery. Forklifts are versatile industrial machinery which come in lots of sizes from fairly small to extremely huge. These types... More
• Yale IC Forklifts Houston
  Internal Combustion Lift Trucks The IC forklift belongs in the class V and IV forklift classification. They can be diesel, liquid propane or gas units. Mainly, the ICE or also referred to as internal combustion... More
• CAT Rough Terrain Forklift Houston
  The rough terrain lift truck is a machine designed particularly to carry out tasks on challenging terrain which a traditional pneumatic tire forklift is not able to complete. This tire design allows the equipment to... More
• Toyota Forklifts Houston
  Forklifts were first made almost 100 years ago, and were once only simple equipment that were manufactured to transport pallets from one place than another. Sophisticated lift trucks nowadays, are now offered in numerous designs,... More