Due to the impact and challenges of COVID-19, the seventh annual National Forklift Safety Day (NFSD) will be held as a virtual event this year on June 9, 2020 at 9:00 AM EDT. NFSD serves as an opportunity to highlight the safe use of forklifts and the continued need for operator training.
Open to everyone, the format will be similar to previous years with presentations from government representatives, safety experts and industry representatives.
The speakers and their general topics for National Forklift Safety Day 2020 include:
● Brian Feehan, President, Industrial Truck Association—Moderator
● Jay Gusler, ITA Chairman of the Board & Executive Vice President of Operations, Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA)—Welcome & Overview
● Loren Sweatt, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)—OSHA Updates/Resources
● Chuck Leon, Technical Specialist, Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS)—Pedestrian Safety
● Scott Bicksler, Lead Safety Manager, Aerotek—Temporary Employee Safety
● Chuck Moratz, NFSD Task Force Chair & Senior Vice President, Global Engineering, CLARK Material Handling Company—Forklift Industry Safety
“National Forklift Safety Day is a significant event for our industry in promoting a safe work environment for all employees,” says Jay Gusler, executive vice president, operations at MCFA and ITA chairman. “This year safety awareness has taken on a new meaning. We’re proud to support and work with ITA to help reinforce the safe use of material handling equipment that is keeping essential businesses running.”
“We understand there is a critical need for effective forklift operator training,” adds Brian Feehan, president of ITA. “National Forklift Safety Day is meant to keep that discussion at the forefront year-after-year.”
All interested parties can attend the National Forklift Safety Day 2020 event by clicking here: www.indtrk.org/national-forklift-safety-day.
MCFA Commits to Being “Engaged in Safety”
Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA), a manufacturer of forklifts under the Cat lift trucks, Mitsubishi forklift trucks and Jungheinrich brands, plans to support National Forklift Safety Day through a variety of safety-focused activities.
MCFA employees will observe the occasion with its “Engaged in Safety” commitment, an ongoing initiative focused on reinforcing safety best practices as well as highlighting new observations related to COVID-19.
To help encourage and strengthen safe forklift operation, MCFA provides operators with various training and safety resources.
Toyota Dealers Mitigate Risks Associated with COVID-19
With active concerns revolving around the ongoing COVID-19 situation, forklift manufacturer Toyota Material Handling (TMH) is observing National Forklift Safety Day through implementation of various measures across its dealer locations to ensure customer service is uninterrupted while responsibly keeping personal health front of mind.
For example, Tampa-based Southern States Toyotalift responded to COVID-19 by training and equipping associates with the tools they need to disinfect the units worked on in accordance with CDC guidelines and best practices before and after the service is completed to ensure the safety of their employees and technicians. Associates are also required to wash their hands thoroughly every 60 minutes for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Additionally, Southern States Toyotalift has implemented a policy limiting physical interaction and asking all personnel to remain six feet apart at all times. Associates conduct self-monitoring and report to management daily on medical status and surveying of symptoms.
Across its North American locations, Toyota dealers are offering advanced service options to ensure their customers’ material handling fleets remain operational throughout this ongoing situation. In addition to those common measures previously mentioned, dealers have also implemented after-hours service, outdoor parking lot service, free cartage to service locations, as well as digital condition reporting.
During National Forklift Safety Day, TMH dealers across the United States and Canada will offer no-cost forklift site consultations for customers.
“Safety is strongly rooted in Toyota’s culture,” says Jeff Rufener, TMH’s president & CEO. “It remains our number one priority and National Forklift Safety Day reinforces its importance and shares that message every year. Many of the risks we’re used to dealing with can be anticipated or avoided when proper precaution is taken. We’re tackling COVID-19 using that same approach; implementing solutions that protect us from the risks we can’t see.”
EnerSys Recognizes Importance of Training
EnerSys, a provider of stored energy solutions for industrial applications, is supporting National Forklift Safety Day. The ITA works closely with OSHA to facilitate training seminars and develop educational resources to emphasize safe practices in warehouse environments. According to OSHA, common injuries occur when lift trucks are inadvertently driven off loading docks, lifts fall between docks and an unsecured trailer, a lift truck strikes another lift truck, or they fall while on elevated pallets and tines.
“This year’s celebration of National Forklift Safety Day is especially unique due to the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and validates even more the importance of safety and operator training,” says Harold Vanasse, senior director of marketing, Motive Power Americas at EnerSys. “Despite the challenges that remain as a result of this global health crisis, we applaud ITA for their unwavering drive to raise awareness about this pertinent industry topic.”
Crown Equipment Emphasizes Importance of an Integrated Approach to Safety
Lift truck manufacturer Crown Equipment Corp. plans to use National Forklift Safety Day as an opportunity to emphasize the importance of taking a holistic approach to safety that brings a consistent focus on safety management and stresses the important role everyone plays in a safer work environment.
To help inform warehouse, supply chain and safety managers, Crown is releasing a new e-book, “An Integrated Approach to Forklift Safety,” this summer. The first chapter is available now in a new safety and support display in Crown’s virtual trade show, with subsequent chapters being released on the platform in the coming weeks. The e-book looks at the five vital components of an integrated safety approach:
Equipment design that takes an operator-centric approach.
Training that extends beyond forklift operators.
Connectivity that provides more visibility and awareness.
Optimization that is informed by data analytics.
Compliance management that controls access and automates processes.
“Now more than ever, everyone, regardless of their role, has an important part to play in creating and promoting a strong forklift safety culture in the workplace,” says Jim Mozer, senior vice president, Crown Equipment.
