Lift truck Battery Dangers
Electric forklifts are the main choice by a lot of supply outlets or warehouses which need to transport equipment and heavy things into and out off storage. These battery-powered machinery can quietly run on large batteries and can lift heavy cargo. Typically, warehouse employees are responsible for recharging the batteries or swapping them out during a shift. Although these batteries have been designed and developed with safety as the main concern, there are still several problems a handler needs to know and things to be prevented when in the vicinity of the batteries.
Weight
Some forklift batteries can weigh up to 2000 lbs. or 1 ton, depending upon the model. These extreme weights factors will require mechanical assistance to safely charge and change the battery. Roughly 50 percent of all forklift battery-related injuries are caused by incorrect moving and lifting these heavy pieces of machinery. Sometimes jacks, other forklifts or even specialized carts are used so as to transport and move heavy batteries. The overall success of utilizing these pieces of machinery would truly depend on how the handler securely affixes the battery to the cart. Unfortunately, serious injuries could happen due to falling batteries.
There are strict protocols in the industry that describe how and when a forklift battery should be charged. Nearly all companies have extensive rules and regulations describing the safest way to remove the forklift battery in a safe and efficient way.
Corrosives
In order to handle them, it is important to know the battery is filled with corrosive liquids that require you to follow safety measures. Two of the most common lift truck battery kinds include sulfuric acid and potassium hydroxide. These are both very corrosive materials which can result in chemical burns to the skin, hands, face and eyes.