Best Practices on Forklift Handling and Maintenance
The proper maintenance and handling of industrial forklift batteries is a crucial part of ensuring your warehouse operations are consistently running smoothly. When the battery of your forklift is down it means your forklift is inoperable. The good news is there are a couple of things you can do to ensure your forklift batteries are working properly. The following maintenance and handling practices will guarantee that your forklift batteries work well and have a long lifespan.
How to Handle Forklift Batteries
The forklift batteries are not the same as car batteries. The majority of forklifts come with batteries that are very heavy and a lot harder to maneuver. As a matter of fact, if these batteries are not handled properly, they can be very dangerous. Here are a few tips on how to handle the forklift batteries.
- Always use the right equipment: There are special equipment for handling forklift batteries. This is because the batteries are too heavy to be lifted by a single person. You will mostly need a walkie pallet jack to move forklift batteries.
- Batteries should be handled next to the washing station: Just like car batteries, forklift batteries contain acid. Handling the batteries close to a washing station ensures in case hazardous liquid spills you will be able to wash it off fast.
- Wear protective gear: You need to put on an overall, rubber gloves, and safety glasses when maneuvering batteries. Your skin has to be covered completely to prevent getting into contact with the hazardous liquid.
- Remove metallic items: The last thing you want when handling forklift batteries is to be electrocuted because you forgot to remove metallic jewelry.
These tips will guarantee the proper handling of forklift batteries. Next, you need to learn how to properly charge the batteries.
How to Charge Forklift Batteries
Battery charging must always be done properly not only to get the best performance but also to extend the life of the forklift batteries. The forklift batteries should be charged when necessary and for the right amount of time. Under- or overcharging the batteries will harm the batteries and put you at risk. Here are a few tips you should use when charging.
- Charge in a designated area: This is an OSHA recommendation that has to be followed by every forklift owner.
- Know when the batteries need to be charged: For a lead acid battery, you need to charge it when it is at 80% discharge. If you charge before it gets to 80% discharge you will interfere with its lifespan. Always measure the depth of the battery discharge before charging.
- Clean it properly if there is an overflow: Overflow can cause corrosion which will degrade the life of the forklift battery.
- Use the recommended charger: The charger you use has to be compatible with the amperage/voltage of your forklift battery. Label all your chargers properly to avoid mistakes.
- Go for a charger that prevents overcharging: Overcharging will reduce the life of your battery.
- Charge at the right temperature: The service life of the battery will be affected if you charge when the battery is too hot or too cold.
- Turn off the charges completely before you connect or disconnect a forklift battery.
These tips will help get the best service from your battery life. If there is a problem, don’t try to fix it yourself. Call in a professional or if you need help finding the right battery for your forklift, call Industrial Batteries – best forklift batteries in Toronto at 1-905-965-4288