领先的工业电池充电解决方案供应商Ametek Prestolite Power正在提醒各级物料搬运行业参与者，将安全性放在叉车车队的首要位置是有必要的 - 包括电池和充电器以及对它们的所有操作。

根据美国国家职业安全和健康研究所（NIOSH）的说法，最常见的叉车事故包括工人被叉车碰撞，挤压，碾压或压在地上或从车上坠落。同样位于事故前列的是意外火灾，爆炸和涉及叉车电池和充电器的事故而导致的烧伤和触电事故。

“遵循所有相关的安全程序和维护方案，电动叉车电池和充电操作是非常安全的”AMETEK Prestolite Power业务经理Jeff Harrison说。“最重要的是，培训和准备是确保您的人员和财产达到最高安全水平的关键。”

除了确保仓库有适当的内部安全标志外，叉车操作员还需要确保将工作人员分配给安全团队，以确保符合当地，州和联邦法规。例如，OSHA指出了与电池和充电器相关的四种主要危害：

●重量 - 叉车电池很重，在被电池处理设备悬挂时会构成威胁。
●腐蚀性液体 - 铅酸蓄电池中的电解液含有危险的硫酸。
●气体 - 在充电过程中，电池会释放出氢气，当浓度过高时，它们会引起爆炸。
●接触电源 - 有源电池单元存有电荷，当员工触摸时可能会短路，导致电灼伤。电弧放电也会增加爆炸的风险。

以下是一套有助于减少叉车和电池充电相关事故的指导原则：
1）将电池更换区域或“电池室”与一般仓库物理隔离，并确保其通风良好。
2）保护电池处理设备，具有高度可见的结构屏障和水平，平坦和耐酸的地板。
3）为每个电池室配备电池清洗和洗眼器，溢出套件和氢气检测器。有充足的水，苏打灰，小苏打和二氧化碳、干化学品或泡沫灭火器。
4）穿戴正确的防护装备，包括护目镜，面罩，橡胶或氯丁橡胶手套和围裙。
5）去除任何金属物品，包括珠宝，并保持金属物体远离未覆盖的电池。
6）采取易燃材料的预防措施。
7）在开始有效充电前检查电解液和水位，但在充电完成之前不要加水。
8）混合电解液时，始终将酸倒入水中，而不是相反，并缓慢倒入。
9）在安装或拆卸夹紧连接时，请保持充电器关闭并拔下电源插头。
10）对于带密封通风口的电池，不要超过25安培的电流。
11）如果电池发热，或者通风口开始泄漏液体，请关闭充电器并以较低的充电速率重新开始。
12）将水位保持在指定高度，但仅在充电完成后添加蒸馏水。
13）在指定的服务日志中记录所有级别。
14）定期进行预防性维护或让合格的经销商执行该服务。

By MMH Staff · June 12, 2018

In observation of National Forklift Safety Day on June 12, Ametek Prestolite Power, a leading industrial battery charging solutions provider, is reminding material handling industry participants at all levels about the need to put safety first in their forklift fleet – as well as their batteries and chargers – within all operations.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the most common forklift injuries occur when workers are hit, struck, crushed or pinned by the vehicle or fall from one. Also at the top of the list are burns and electrocutions resulting from accidental fires, explosions and mishaps involving lift truck batteries and chargers.

“Electric forklift batteries and charging operations are extremely safe when properly implemented and all relevant safety procedures and maintenance regimens are followed,” says Jeff Harrison, Business Manager for AMETEK Prestolite Power.  “Above all, training and preparation is key to ensuring the highest level of safety possible for your personnel and property.”

In addition to ensuring a warehouse has proper in-house safety signage, forklift operators need to make sure to assign staff members to a safety team to ensure compliance with local, state and federal regulations. OSHA, for instance, points to four primary hazards associated with batteries and chargers:

● Weight – Lift truck batteries are heavy and pose a threat when suspended by battery handling equipment.
● Caustic fluids – Electrolytes in lead-acid battery cells contain hazardous levels of sulfuric acid.
● Gasses – During charging, batteries emit hydrogen gas and when levels get too high they can burst into flames or explode.
● Exposure to electricity – Active battery cells hold an electrical charge, which can short circuit when touched by an employee, causing electrical burns. Arcing also increases the risk of explosion.

The following is a set of guidelines for helping to reduce forklift- and battery charging-related accidents:
1) Separate the battery changing area or “battery room” from general warehouse traffic and make sure it is adequately ventilated.
2) Protect battery handling equipment with highly visible structural barriers and floors that are level, flat and acid-resistant.
3) Equip each battery room with battery wash and eye wash stations, spill kits and hydrogen gas detectors. Have available plenty of water, soda ash, baking soda and CO2, dry chemical or foam fire extinguishers.
4) Wear the right protective gear, including safety goggles, face shields, rubber or neoprene gloves and aprons.
5) Remove anything metallic, including jewelry, and keep metal objects away from uncovered batteries.
6) Take precautions with flammable materials.
7) Check electrolyte and water levels before beginning active charging, but don’t add water until after charging is complete.
8) When mixing the electrolyte, always pour acid into water, not the other way around, and pour slowly.
9) Keep the charger turned off and unplugged while attaching or detaching clamp connections.
10) For batteries with sealed vents, don’t exceed 25 amperes of current.
11) If the battery heats up, or if vents start leaking fluid, turn off the charger and start over with a lower rate of charge.
12) Keep water levels at the indicated height, but only add the deionized water after recharging is complete.
13) Record all levels in a designated service log.
14) Have regular preventative maintenance or have a qualified dealer perform that service.