The Industrial Truck Standards Development Foundation (ITSDF) says over 20,000 free copies of the B56 series of American National Standards for powered and non-powered industrial trucks have been downloaded from its website.

Industrial Truck Associated-funded ITSDF assumed management of the 11 published B56 standards in September 2005 and began delivering copies free of charge in April 2006 (Forkliftaction.com News #254).

This was aimed at spreading the use of the standards.

The ANSI/ITSDF B56.1-2005 standard, which is referred to by OSHA inspectors to ensure safe use of forklifts at work, was downloaded over 5,500 times, ITSDF president William Montwieler says.

"This demonstrates the need and usefulness of the B56 standards," he adds.

"It is our hope that industrial truck operators become familiar with the user's section in each of the standards to become more knowledgeable, safer operators."

ITSDF, classified as a charitable foundation, was established in 2005 to administer the B56 standards. The B56 Standards Committee's scope is to establish safety requirements for industrial trucks and wheels and casters.