Seventh annual National Forklift Safety Day held virtually

The Industrial Truck Association (ITA) celebrates National Forklift Safety Day to raise awareness of safety for those who produce, operate and work on or around forklifts, according to the association. Photo: FG Trade/E+/Getty Images

The Industrial Truck Association (ITA) held its seventh annual National Forklift Safety Day as a virtual event June 9.

The event serves as an opportunity for forklift manufacturers to highlight the safe use of forklifts, the value of operator training and the need for daily equipment checks. It also allows the propane industry to showcase its safety offerings to a high-demand propane market segment. Propane currently holds a 90 percent market share for Class 4 and 5 forklifts.

“Safety has been and will continue to be paramount to our industry,” says Jay Gusler, executive vice president of operations for Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America and ITA chairman of the board. “Collectively, we dedicate a tremendous amount of time and effort to ensure the safety of our products. From an industry perspective – the collaboration, through the ITA, has been instrumental in keeping our industry at the forefront of the latest developments in codes and standards. Safety requires dedication, time and perseverance. We must take the time to ensure proper safety training is adhered to and make it a priority.”

Government officials, safety experts and industry representatives discussed a variety of subjects, including pedestrian safety and temporary employee safety that emphasized the need for operator training across all aspects of the industry.

National Forklift Safety Day raises awareness on the value of safety for those who produce, operate and work on or around forklifts.

“Industrial truck manufacturers have long supported the necessity of operator training and safe work practices,” says Brian Feehan, president of ITA. “We are sponsoring this event to focus on the importance of safety and training. Safety is paramount to our industry and operator training has been proven to prevent accidents.”

Many ITA members and their dealers, through social media and other safe practices, sponsor local forklift safety activities for their customers to enhance awareness of safe practices in warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing plants and other environments where forklifts are in use.

In addition, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) commemorated the day by releasing a bundle of Forklift Safety Day materials, which includes a forklift safety handout, PowerPoint, instructional video and poster, among others. The safety information PERC offered can be used for propane marketers to share with forklift customers.

The free resources are highlighted with an eight-part video series, each emphasizing a different safety protocol for those working with or around propane forklifts.

“These resources were created to help crews build and maintain a strong safety culture not only around National Forklift Safety Day, but all year round,” says Jeremy Wishart, director of technical communications at PERC. “The resources are wide in scope, bringing attention to safety reminders big and small. Plus, they can be consumed virtually while much of the country is staying safe at home.”