Forklift Safety Tip #8 - Forklift Battery Chargers Must Be Turned Off When Not Being Used
News Flash: Forklift batteries explode! If you use electric forklifts on your site then this will be an important tip for you. Every time a forklift battery is charged it puts off a highly explosive gas (called Hydrogen). Any spark or flame around the charging battery will cause it to explode, with an extremely nasty result.
Walk near any of the battery chargers on your site and you'll find that 95% of them will be left permanently switched on, even while no forklift is plugged in. Why is this such a problem?
You see, every time the forklifts are plugged in to or off of the charger a large spark jumps from one plug to the other. This is all done either directly over the top of the battery or right next to it. Any sparks around the battery can cause them to explode.
Forklift batteries are held in a thick metal carrier. When they explode the top blows off of them with an enormous amount of force and acid usually blows out. People standing near are very lucky to avoid injury when ever one explodes.
But the solution is simple. Operators should switch the forklifts and chargers off before connecting or disconnecting them from the chargers. It's an easy fix to a dangerous problem, but one that can save a nasty incident on your site.
A lot of companies are posting signs in the charging area stating that chargers are to be switched off. This is just one step towards preventing an accident in the charging area.
If you have any question relating to this or any other matter, please feel free to call on
1300 799 112.