Can we have propane forklifts in production areas, or only electrical?

Hello everyone! 

Question:

Can we have propane forklifts in production areas, or do they have to be electrical? 

Generally speaking - no and it is most times due to fumes.

At our suggestion I have a client at a seafood company changing out a number of fork lifts and going over to battery this week.

No. We still have one propane forklift but I have instructed warehouse it is strictly for using it outside. Inside production it is all battery. 

We use an electric forklift in the production and warehouse area (for storing raw produce and packaging). 

We still use one propane forklift outside of the production area, away from finished product.  

It is your best bet to start to move towards electric if you can, at least for your production and finished product areas.

Jenna

Totally agree no propane in the production facility during production.  However, during a major renovation with the plant down and some of the heavy equipment is propane powered. But we ensure that the facility is well aired out and cleaned before production begins again.

My facility has been SQF certified for 5 years and all we have ever used is propane forklifts. Auditors have requested the annual emissions testing CoA but they have never raised issue with us using propane in the warehouse and packaging areas.