Industry Unites to Mark National Forklift Safety Day

Today’s National Forklift Safety Day, sponsored by the Industrial Truck Association, will serve as a focal point for manufacturers to highlight the safe use of forklifts and importance of operator training. The day will provide an opportunity for the industry to educate customers, policymakers and the administration on forklift operating safety practices.

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 pounds.

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.

National Forklift Safety Day will be marked on June 9, 2015.

National Forklift Safety Day will be marked on June 9, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill Hotel, 400 New Jersey Avenue, Washington, D.C. The event will take place from 9am to 11am and will feature speakers from OSHA, the forklift industry representatives, a representative with jurisdictional oversight over the Department of Labor (DOL/OSHA).

ITA’s membership is comprised of industry manufacturers of lift trucks, tow tractors, rough terrain vehicles, hand-pallet trucks and automated guided vehicles throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.