Maryland Industrial Truck Supports National Forklift Safety Day

Maryland Industrial Truck celebrates the fourth annual National Forklift Safety Day this Tuesday, June 13, in Washington, D.C., along with other manufacturers and industrial companies using material handling equipment. Sponsored by the Industrial Truck Association (ITA), this event will educate customers, government officials and policymakers about the importance of proper operator training and the safe use of forklifts. Local events will take place all over the nation to celebrate as well.

Through the years manufactures’ have developed safer forklifts but safety is still a major issue with over 90% of lift trucks having an accident at some during the equipment’s life span.

Unicarriers provides increased stability, greater visibility and more protection to operators now more than even ever before with its latest models.  However, even with the safest models of forklifts, proper operator training, knowledge, attitude and skills are vital to ensure a safe work environment. In light of National Forklift Safety Day, Maryland Industrial Trucks offers quality Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – compliant training classes and programs so companies can meet safety requirements to provide and conduct business in a safe, productive fashion. Maryland Industrial Trucks has also provided a daily checklist with suggestions of what operators should look for when they are about to operate their forklifts. With a commitment to safety, listening to customer feedback and recognizing the need for appropriate operator training, Maryland is proud to be an authorized dealer of Unicarriers and promote forklift safety awareness this National Forklift Safety Day.

National Forklift Safety Day will kick off on June 12th, 3 to 5 p.m., with an educational session discussing OSHA developments on forklifts, ITA’s latest report on the lift truck industry’s economic status and NAFTA trade policies. The official holiday will be filled with industry related speakers and breakout sessions with district congressional representatives.

As few of the keynote speakers include Brett Wood, President and CEO, Toyota Material Handling North America, ITA chairman and Deborah Dougherty, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Occupational Safety & Health Administration. Many other industry giants are also speaking.

It’s no secret that the lift truck industry has a significant impact on the country’s economy. It pays over $5 billion in taxes annually alone. So the next time you are at the home improvement store and watching that lift truck move lumber, remember that for very one job the forklift industry creates there are 2.5 jobs created in other industry sectors. That is why National Forklift Safety Day is so important and hopes to reach over 60 million people this week with its message.

For more information on National Forklift Safety Day, contact your Maryland Industrial Trucks representative or visit http://www.indtrk.org/national-forklift-safety-day.