The Australian Industrial Truck Association (AITA) has highlighted concerns over forklift safety at its annual general meeting.

AITA president Paul Bennett, of BT Lifttrucks Pty Ltd, said a report by workers’ compensation authority Worksafe Victoria showed half the people killed in forklift accidents were pedestrians struck or crushed by forklifts or their loads.

Mr Bennett said a forklift safety study by Melbourne-based Monash University was nearing completion, and a safety seminar program launched by Worksafe this year was proof the industry was developing a better attitude to forklift safety.

The AITA elections were held during the meeting. Mr Bennett was returned as president, Bernie Whelan (Crown Equipment Pty Ltd) was elected vice-president and Mark Fritzen (Nacco Materials Handling Group) was re-elected chairman of the AITA engineering committee.