Forklift Battery Charging Station Safety

When an electric forklift’s battery reaches around 80% discharge, it’s the optimal time for the operator to return the battery to the charging station. Since charging the battery involves safety risks, such as exposure to sulfuric acid, charging installations must be located in designated areas specifically for this purpose. Ensuring safety at the forklift battery charging station should always be a top priority.

Setting Up Your Forklift Battery Charging Station

In case of an emergency, your forklift battery charging station should have the following supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE):

• Face shield, rubber gloves and body apron
• Eye wash station, located within the charging area, that provides a minimum flush of fifteen minutes
• Neutralizers for spilled electrolyte (i.e. soda ash or baking soda)
• Approved fire protection
• Protection from chargers being damaged by a forklift
• Proper ventilation of fumes from gassing batteries

Prohibited Items In Charging Station

Smoking, open flames, sparks, and electric arcs are strictly prohibited in the charging area. Tools and other metal objects should also be kept away from the tops of uncovered batteries to prevent accidents.

Shop our training materials to find items needed for your charging station. ProLift is also able to support your industrial battery maintenance needs.