On June 12 and 13, 2017, members of the Industrial Truck Association (ITA) will take part in the fourth annual National Forklift Safety Day in Washington, D.C. This event, which is open to interested parties such as lift truck fleet managers, provides an opportunity for the industry to educate customers, policymakers, and government officials about the safe use of forklifts and the importance of proper operator training. ITA represents manufacturers of lift trucks, AGVs, and similar equipment in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The organization promotes international standards development, advances engineering and safety practices, disseminates statistical information, and holds industry forums.
On June 12, from 3: 00 to 5: 00 pm, an educational session open to ITA members and invited guests will update attendees on forklift-related developments at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), ITA's new report on the economic impact of the lift truck industry, NAFTA and other trade policies, and current congressional activity. On June 13, the morning program will focus on industrial and forklift safety and will feature speakers from both industry and government. In the afternoon, ITA members will hold meetings with members of Congress representing their states and home districts. Forklift manufacturers, dealers, and distributors around the country will also hold local events promoting forklift safety that day.
June 12 speakers will include:
- Gary Cross, Partner, Dunaway & Cross
- Scott Klug, former member of Congress
- Ken Monahan, director, international trade policy, National Association of Manufacturers
- Hamilton Galloway, head of consultancy Americas, Oxford Economics
June 13 speakers will include:
- Glenn Grothman, U.S. House of Representatives' Education and the Workforce Committee
- Brett Wood, president and CEO, Toyota Material Handling North America, ITA chairman
- Patrick Kapust, deputy director, Directorate of Enforcement Programs, Occupational Safety & Health Administration
- Kevin Krakora, vice president design, quality, and product support, Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America, ITA National Forklift Safety Day Task Force Chairman
- Terry Cirone, vice president of safety, International Scrap Recycling Institute
- Scott Bicksler, Lead Safety Manager, Aerotek
ITA says it hopes National Forklift Safety Day will provide greater awareness of safe practices as well as encourage safer behavior in warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing plants, and other environments where forklifts are in use.
Interested in attending? Details are available at www.indtrk.org/events. You can also request more information about National Forklift Safety Day by submitting a query at www.indtrk.org/contact or by calling (202) 296-9880.
And be sure to check out DCV's special coverage of National Forklift Safety Day. In addition to the articles in our May issue, over the next few weeks we'll bring you an electronic newsletter featuring commentaries by industry experts on improving and maintaining forklift safety; news about related events around the country; and a series of videos featuring lift truck industry executives' comments on the importance of forklift safety.
Forklift makers speak out on safety
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 | Safety doesn't happen by accident |
 | KEYTROLLER: Creating a Culture of Safety |
 | Forklift Safety Rules of the Road |
 | Training Basics Using Advanced Technology |
 | Active collision warning alerts for manned forklift truck applications |
 | Toyota's contribution to safety |
 | UniCarriers Americas Promotes Dealer Training & National Forklift Safety Day. |
 | Smart safety means more productive operations |
Forklift safety videos
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