General

Affected: All Forklift Battery Rooms and Charging Areas Subject: Federal safety regulations require employers to monitor and ventilate hydrogen in battery charging areas. OSHA, IFC, NFPA, and IEEE all mandate or recommend these essential safety precautions. Protect your staff and your warehouse with state-of-the-art hydrogen monitoring and ventilating equipment from BHS. Description: The Occupational Health and Safety Administration states: “Ventilation shall be provided to ensure diffusion of the gases from the battery and to prevent the accumulation of an explosive mixture.” OSHA 29 CFR 1926.441(a)(2) The National Fire Protection Association states: For flooded lead-acid, flooded nickel-cadmium, and VRLA batteries, ventilation shall be provided for rooms and cabinets in accordance with the mechanical code and one of the following: (1) The… Continue Reading

Clear, concise warning signs prevent accidents, alert staff of potential dangers, and contribute to a safe and well-run warehouse. According to several safety agencies signage is also a requirement to comply with federal regulations. BHS provides Signage and Posting that can be purchased as a kit or individually to ensure compliance. Description: The Occupational Health and Safety Administration states: “Caution signs shall be used only to warn against potential hazards or to caution against unsafe practices. All employees shall be instructed that caution signs indicate a possible hazard against which proper precaution should be taken. Safety instruction signs shall be used where there is a need for general instructions and suggestions relative to safety measures.” (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.145(c)(2-3)) The… Continue Reading

Affected: All Forklift Battery Rooms and Charging Areas According to several safety agencies, drench showers and eye wash stations are a requirement in any battery room. BHS offers several models of emergency eye washes and showers, including a portable unit for areas without plumbing access as well as a shower/eye wash combination unit to ensure compliance. Description: The Occupational Health and Safety Administration states: “Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use.” (OSHA standard 1910.151(c) / 29 CFR 1910.151) “Facilities for quick drenching of the eyes and body shall be… Continue Reading

Affected: All Forklift Battery Rooms and Charging Areas According to several safety agencies, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required in any battery room. BHS offers complete PPE kits as well as individual items for spares / replacements to ensure compliance. Description: The Occupational Health and Safety Administration states: “Face shields, aprons, and rubber gloves shall be provided for workers handling acids or batteries.” (OSHA standard 1926.441(a)(5)) “The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.” (OSHA standard 1910.133(a)(1)) “Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head… Continue Reading

Affected: All Forklift Battery Rooms and Charging Areas According to several safety agencies, spill control is a necessity in any battery room. BHS offers a wide variety of complete spill kits as well as absorbents and neutralizing compounds to ensure compliance. Description: The Occupational Health and Safety Administration states: “Facilities shall be provided for flushing and neutralizing spilled electrolyte, for fire protection, for protecting charging apparatus from damage by trucks, and for adequate ventilation for dispersal of fumes from gassing batteries”. (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178(g)(2)) The International Fire Code states: “An approved method and materials for the control and neutralization of a spill of electrolyte shall be provided in areas containing lead-acid, nickel-cadmium or other types of batteries with free-flowing… Continue Reading

Models Affected: All Since 2010 machine guarding violations have been among OSHA’s top ten most cited violations each year. Though machine guarding typically does not enhance a machine’s effectiveness or efficiency, machine guards must remain intact and in place. Description: Machine guards are important for many reasons. They protect personnel from potential injury as well as protect equipment and components from damage during normal operation. In some instances guarding also serves as a structural component, critical to the integrity and operation of the machine. Many times, guarding is removed because the operator feels the guards inhibit the machine’s effectiveness or efficiency. Guards are often removed for service and not reinstalled due to a rush to return the unit to service… Continue Reading

Models Affected: Charger Accessories Proper cable routing and charger mounting should not be overlooked in setting up a battery room or charging area. Failure to properly route cables and mount chargers could result in inefficient operation, damage, and possibly unsafe conditions. Description: Charger cables not properly routed or suspended are susceptible to damage from forklifts traveling near the charging area. Cables left hanging or lying in roller compartments of the battery stands can be cut or pinched by the battery as it is moved in and out of the stand. Cables lying on the floor may also become a trip hazard for battery room personnel. Damaged cables or connectors may arc creating a fire or explosion hazard as well as… Continue Reading

Models Affected: All Battery Lift Beams In order to ensure continued safe operation, Battery Lifting Beams (BLB) should be inspected regularly for excessive wear and/or damage. Inspections should be performed at the beginning of each shift and/or before first use. Use of a lifting device that is worn or damaged can lead to loss of load and possible personal injury or death. Description: Each BHS lifting beam includes an inspection decal on the unit explaining the items which should be inspected daily. Those items are as follows: Inspect the wood laminate load members for any cracks, splits, indentations or de-lamination. Inspect all attaching hardware for tightness and wear. Inspect hook adjusting trunnions for wear or damage. Inspect load pins on… Continue Reading

Models Affected: All Warning labels and placards are important parts of any machine and should not be overlooked during regular maintenance. Warning labels and placards should be legible at all times and worn or damaged labels should be replaced as soon as possible. In some instances, missing or illegible labels could result in equipment being shut down until the labels are replaced. Description: BHS uses various types of labels and placards to convey potential hazards as well as important equipment specifications, such as capacity. Reference previous Tech Tip TT-926, “Warning Labels and Placards” for more information regarding the use and meaning of the labels and placards used by BHS. Recommendation: Any worn, damaged, missing or illegible labels should be replaced… Continue Reading

Models Affected: All BHS recommends regular inspection and maintenance of all battery handling equipment. Lubrication is an integral step in this process and involves much more than simply applying lubricant. Following the tips below will ensure proper lubrication, and ultimately, a longer life span of your battery handling equipment and its parts. Recommendation: To prevent unnecessary wear on components, it is important to clean old grease from equipment prior to lubrication. Dust and debris can become embedded in exposed grease and oil, making the lubricant gritty, which can cause wear instead of preventing it. It is important that exposed grease and oil be removed from components before new lubricant is applied. For lubrication of BHS equipment, a #2 lithium based… Continue Reading