The second annual National Forklift Safety Day, sponsored by the Industrial Truck Association, will be held on June 9, 2015, at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The event serves as a focal point for manufacturers to highlight the safe use of forklifts and the importance of operator training. This day provides an opportunity for the industry to educate customers, policymakers and the administration on forklift operating safety practices. Material Handling & Logistics will again serve as the exclusive media partner for National Forklift Safety Day.
Powered industrial trucks, or forklifts, originated in the United States in 1917. Since that first lift truck, annual sales have grown to more than 190,000 in the U.S. alone. Forklifts are used to move and lift materials and offer load capacities from a few thousand pounds up to 180,000 lbs.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces regulations regarding the manufacture and operation of industrial trucks. The Industrial Truck Standards Development Foundation (ITSDF), which is accredited by ANSI, and UL (Underwriters Laboratories Inc.) develop the safety standards for designing and manufacturing industrial trucks. National Forklift Safety Day will provide greater awareness of safe practices and in turn encourage safer behavior.
The event will take place from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM and will feature Jordan Barab, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health; forklift industry representatives from Toyota Material Handling and NACCO; and Congressman Reid Ribble (R-WI), a U.S. Representative with jurisdictional oversight over the Department of Labor. MH&L will provide full coverage of the event, and will host a live Twitter chat as a follow-up, with details to be forthcoming.
