National Forklift Safety Day 2016: Local events to highlight safety, operator training

The main event for National Forklift Safety Day 2016 will be held in Washington, D.C., on June 14. But lift truck manufacturers, dealers, and providers of associated products and services around the country will be holding their own events to help customers improve safety in their warehouses and distribution centers. Below are just a few examples; for more information about National Forklift Safety Day programs and events in your area, contact your local forklift dealer.

Briggs Equipment, which represents Hyster and Yale with 28 locations across eight states from Texas to Tennessee, has launched its BE SAFE promotion, which will run from June to September 2016. The distributor's 360 service technicians will promote safety throughout the summer, actively engaging customers in conversations about pedestrian and worker safety and offering product discounts on practical solutions like blue lights and seat belts that can help customers embrace safety for their employees. During that time, Briggs' safety department will also be bringing its safety message to customers' premises throughout the southern U.S. For more information, go to www.briggsequipment.us.

Clark Material Handling Co. will host a communitywide forklift safety awareness event at its Lexington, Ky., campus (700 Enterprise Dr.) on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in support of the third annual National Forklift Safety Day. The program will run from 11: 30 a.m. to 1: 30 p.m. and is open to the public. The program will include an open house, including plant tours; a flag-raising ceremony in honor of Flag Day; a "lift truck rodeo" competition and safety demonstrations; a display of aftermarket safety products; the premiere of the new video "Forklift Safety: Pre-Shift Inspection"; live radio coverage by 98.1 FM WBUL; and free lunch and door prizes. Clark is also offering discounts on selected safety products purchased during June. www.clarkmhc.com

Hyster Company is offering new "Forklift Safety Tips" and "Pedestrian Safety Tips" posters in four language options. The posters spotlight the best safety practices for forklift operators as well those working around them. Available in English, Spanish, Canadian French, and Portuguese, the high-quality posters are designed to be hung in material handling facilities, offering a visual representation of the "do's" and "don'ts" of safely operating a forklift and valuable tips for pedestrians in environments where forklifts are in operation. The posters are available as part of the Hyster Best-In-Class Operator Training Program, which covers all five lift truck product classes and includes everything needed to conduct the classroom component of an OSHA-compliant operator training session. An English-language sample of the "Forklift Safety Tips" poster is available here; "Pedestrian Safety Tips" poster can be found here.

During the month of June, I.D. Systems is offering a free, 30-minute webinar titled "Creating a safer forklift work environment." During the webinar, the provider of vehicle and fleet management software will discuss the safety benefits of automated access, safety checklists, and impact management. The presenter will also discuss specific safety issues with attendees. For more information, contact Holly FitzGibbon at (201) 678-7725 or hfitzgibbon@id-systems.com.

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA) will host its third annual National Forklift Safety Day employee event on Tuesday, June 14, at its Houston, Texas, headquarters facility. MCFA will promote the safe and efficient operation of forklifts through a fun-filled day of collaborative events with over 800 MCFA employees in attendance. MCFA manufactures and distributes Mitsubishi, Cat®, and Jungheinrich material handling equipment throughout the Americas.

MCFA is encouraging its dealer network to recognize National Forklift Safety Day this year by hosting facility safety and forklift operator trainings at their dealerships. Training is important not just for new drivers, but also for experienced drivers. Properly trained operators mean fewer industrial accidents and a safer work environment.

To help our dealers and customers prepare for National Forklift Safety day, MCFA has shared on its website "Forklift Rules of the Road," a publication that outlines best practices for safe forklift operation.

UniCarriers Americas will offer FREE operator training courses through its factory stores, Capital Equipment and Handling and New England Industrial Truck. UCA will also offer special aftermarket parts promotional pricing on selected equipment throughout the month of June. In addition, some UniCarriers dealers, such as MidAtlantic Industrial Equipment in York, Pa., will be hosting open house events on June 14.

For more information about National Forklift Safety Day and these events, visit unicarriersamericas.com/About-Us/NFSD.

Yale Materials Handling dealer Barclay Brand Ferdon will be hosting a safety summit at its headquarters in South Plainfield, N.J., on June 14, 2016, in conjunction with National Forklift Safety Day. The summit will be held from 9: 00 a.m. to 2: 00 p.m., and will include a morning seminar, followed by a lunch and safety product demonstrations. The seminar will provide information about OSHA standards and its penalty system, and attendees will receive detailed information about OSHA's standard requirements, rules, violations, and citations. In addition, attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and receive guidance on safety compliance.

Barclay Brand Ferdon assists customers with material handling equipment, fleet service, and general warehouse operations, including employee training and safety recommendations. More information is available at www.bbfyale.com, or call (908) 561-2100.