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| Occupational Safety & Health Administration | ||||||
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OSHA News Release
2004 - 01/15/2004 - OSHA, Industrial Truck Association form Alliance |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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OSHA Trade Release January 15, 2004 Contact: Bill Wright Phone: (202) 693-1999 OSHA, Industrial Truck Association form Alliance
Will focus on safe operation of powered industrial trucks WASHINGTON -- Protecting workers from hazards associated with powered industrial trucks is the goal of an Alliance signed today by the Industrial Truck Association (ITA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). "Each year, thousands of preventable forklift-related injuries occur throughout U.S. workplaces," said OSHA Administrator John Henshaw. "The Alliance we're establishing today with ITA is designed to do something about that. We look forward to ITA's counsel and expertise in designing training and informational products that will have a positive impact on the health and safety of workers who use powered industrial trucks." "The Industrial Truck Association has a long history of working with OSHA," added Dirk von Holt, ITA President. "We believe formalizing this relationship into an Alliance is a major step towards increasing worker safety as it relates to the use of industrial trucks. We look forward to our industry working directly with regulators to devise programs that add to these efforts." Injuries associated with the operation of powered industrial trucks are often attributed to a lack of safe operating procedures and safety-rule enforcement, plus insufficient training. The Alliance will encourage and promote the training of operators based on the OSHA's operator training standard. OSHA and ITA will also develop electronic assistance tools on the safe use and operation of the trucks, including the issues concerning youth workers. OSHA and ITA will work together to develop information on the safe operation of powered industrial trucks for possible inclusion in operators' manuals, and distribution through both print and electronic media and from the organization's respective websites. Both organizations will pursue opportunities to speak, exhibit, or appear at conferences and other events such as ITA's Annual or Spring meetings. OSHA and ITA will also participate in forums and stakeholder meetings on issues concerning powered industrial trucks, including youth worker outreach. Finally, ITA members will be provided information on the potential benefits of participating in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Program, Consultation, and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). Founded in 1917, ITA represents manufactures of lift trucks and their supplies and works with federal and state regulatory agencies and standards setting organizations on safety and health, environmental, and operator issues. ITA members also manufacture tow tractors, rough terrain vehicles, hand-pallet trucks and automated guided vehicles. OSHA is dedicated to assuring worker safety and health. Safety and health add value to business, the workplace and life. For more information, visit www.osha.gov. ###
U.S. Labor Department releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call (202) 693-7773 or TTY (202) 693-7755. |
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