Alliance aims to prevent hazards of industrial trucks

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently renewed its alliance with the Industrial Truck Association (ITA). The organizations will continue their efforts to provide employers and employees with training resources on the proper operation and use of powered industrial trucks.

"OSHA and ITA have made significant achievements in promoting safety when using powered industrial trucks," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke Jr. "We are pleased to work with an organization whose leadership appreciates the results our collaborative relationship has achieved in improving the safety of powered industrial truck operators. As we continue our Alliance, our goal is to increase access to training resources to reduce injuries and prevent exposure to other potential hazards."

Through the OSHA and ITA alliance, ITA is presenting an Industrial Truck best practices seminar titled "Forklift Safety: Man, Machine & Environment." The seminar for OSHA staff focuses on maintaining vehicle stability and preventing vehicles from tipping over. In addition, ITA distributed to its members the Department of Labor-developed article "VPP - A Proven Way to Reduce Injuries, Illnesses and Costs." ITA representatives continue to serve on the editorial board for the OSHA Powered Industrial Trucks Safety and Health Topics page, where nearly 84,000 individuals have received information and training resources.

"The alliance with OSHA has become the single-most important government relations effort ITA has engaged in since its move to Washington in 1984," said ITA president Stan Simpson. "Through ITA's alliance with OSHA, the association is engaging in very important outreach and compliance assistance activities. We've increased our communications with the public and our industry about the importance of safety and health in the workplace through our websites and OSHA speakers at our events. More importantly, the OSHA and ITA alliance seminar is sharing information with the agency's staff throughout the country about best practices relating to the use of powered industrial trucks."

ITA represents manufacturers and suppliers of lift trucks. Its members also manufacture tow tractors, rough terrain vehicles, hand-pallet trucks and automated guided vehicles. The association works with federal, state and standards-setting organizations to develop guidelines to reduce the number and severity of lift truck accidents.