Hancock approved the purchase of a battery-operated forklift after a town employee working at the Transfer Station & Recycling Center went to the hospital earlier this month with carbon monoxide poisoning from a propane-powered lift.
Hancock Director of Public Works Tyler Howe met with the Select Board on Jan. 20 to discuss carbon monoxide emissions at the recycling center.
After the recycling center was weatherized two years ago, three carbon monoxide sensors were installed in the building. The sensors were alerted to high levels in early January. According to Howe, the emissions were coming from the station’s forklift.
Recycling Center Attendant Michelle Le Blanc said that on Jan. 12, because the recycling center was short-staffed, a member of the highway department was there to provide assistance. While helping move material, the highway department worker began feeling lightheaded and was brought to the hospital for what was diagnosed as carbon monoxide poisoning.
Howe said 20 parts-per-million is considered the upper threshold for safe levels of carbon monoxide inhalation. When examined, the forklift, which was manufactured in 1993, produced 400 parts-per-million, forcing the recycling center to open all of its windows and doors to air out. Until the forklift is replaced, it can’t be used in an enclosed area for health and safety reasons, Howe said.
Howe proposed two possible replacement forklifts to the board. The options were a new Bobcat for $48,000 or a used battery-powered 2016 Toyota for $29,000. “The Toyota has a new $10,000 battery in it,” Howe said.
Town Administrator John Coyne said the recycling center should “terminate the propane lift,” adding that it can’t be used with people in the building.
Howe noted the station is looking at a short-term rental. He said the Toyota was eligible for a trial period, and it can be returned if deemed unsuitable for the station’s needs.
In addition to the forklift, the station also needs a new baler. Normally, the station operates two balers, a blue and a green one. However, the blue baler, which is responsible for processing plastic, aluminum and paper, ceased working about two months ago, according to Le Blanc.
“We had a similar issue seven years ago where the motor in the baler shut down,” she said.
The green baler originally processed only cardboard, but due to the blue baler malfunctioning, it has assumed processing of the other materials as well. The new baler costs $30,000.
The Select Board approved purchasing the used forklift and the new baler. The purchases are being funded with the town’s DPW Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. Howe said they started using the forklift on Friday, Jan. 23, and the baler is scheduled to arrive in four to six weeks.