Clark promotes forklift safety day
Lexington, KY, United StatesClark Material Handling Company has planned activities at its Lexington headquarters to support and promote the first National Forklift Safety Day on 10 June.
The events scheduled for the day include an open house for local customers, an onsite forklift operator instructor training certification course, new equipment safety demonstrations, safety-specific product walkarounds, driver demonstrations on safe forklift operation and a display of Clark's aftermarket safety products.
National Forklift Safety Day was established by the Industrial Truck Association (ITA) and its member companies. The ITA has also organised two full days of events in Washington, DC on 9-10 June that include keynote comments by OSHA and a reception with government officials. In addition to forklift safety events, ITA member companies will also meet with congressional leadership to discuss trade initiatives currently in negotiation.
Mentor: lie jeopardising forklift safety
Chesterfield, United KingdomA senior director at Mentor Training has slammed the "dangerous lie" he believes is responsible for hundreds of UK forklift accidents.
Stuart Taylor of Mentor Performance Risk Management, part of Mentor Training, says every day, materials handling workers are being hospitalised because they, or their manager, think of safety as a cost to be minimised.
"The tragic truth is (that) these compromises are being made for no good reason. Improving safety saves on day-to-day damage like racking damage, forklift repair bills and damaged stock - instantly making you more profitable."
In the last 25 years, over 10,000 warehouse workers have been seriously injured or killed in accidents involving forklifts. According to the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), at least 70% of these accidents were easily avoidable.
"Better practice is an opportunity to make money", says Taylor. "IOSH says 70% of accidents are avoidable. At Mentor PRM, we believe 70% of costs are avoidable too.
"Education is the key to dispelling this lie. When people start understanding that safety and profitability are the same thing, it'll be good news for employees ... and for business as well."