Crown Equipment Corporation is participating this week in the Industrial Truck Association’s (ITA) inaugural “National Forklift Safety Day” with various initiatives taking place throughout the company as well as at Crown’s six regional training centers in the United States. In addition to Crown representatives participating in National Forklift Safety Day events in Washington, D.C., each regional forklift training center is commemorating the day with special sessions and mementos for attendees.
According to the ITA, National Forklift Safety Day serves “as a focal point for manufacturers to highlight the safe use of forklifts and importance of operator training. This day provides an opportunity for the industry to educate customers, policymakers and the administration on forklift operating safety practices.”
Ron Brewer, manager of operator training, Crown Equipment, acknowledged the importance of National Forklift Safety Day, emphasizing that everyone involved with forklift safety must commit to greater focus on the topic throughout the entire year.
“Forklift safety is never just a one-time thing,” Brewer said. “This applies to National Forklift Safety Day, an operator training session or a safety audit, or any other opportunities focused on safe and proper operation of industrial vehicles. The Crown Equipment safety culture begins at design and continues through manufacturing to training. And, we are leveraging new technologies on and off the forklift to improve safety. Crown is proud to join with the Industrial Truck Association and our fellow forklift manufacturers in striving for an enhanced safety culture for the entire industry.”
Throughout the year, Crown offers safety learning opportunities in three formats: Demonstrated Performance MoveSafe operator training, Demonstrated Performance TrainSafe train-the-trainer training and Demonstrated Performance LeadSafe warehouse supervisor training. In addition, Crown offers tools and resources for customer-led classes. For a full listing of Crown’s training programs, visit the Training section of crown.com or contact a local Crown Lift Trucks location. Operators seeking to review the safety manual for their Crown forklift may download it in the Operator’s Corner section of the Crown website.
Crown’s comprehensive approach to forklift safety has achieved market-leading status as the forklift brand most associated with safety according to a recent survey of the material handling industry conducted by AGiLE Business Media, publisher of Supply Chain Quarterly and DC Velocity magazines. The company’s commitment to safety is also evident in its own facilities. Eight of Crown’s sites earned Lift Truck Operator Awards from the National Safety Council in 2011 for outstanding safety practices.
For more than 60 years, the ITA has been the leading organization of industrial truck manufacturers and suppliers of component parts and accessories that conduct business in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Based in Washington, D.C., ITA maintains an influential voice in international standards development for the industry. The organization also advances engineering practices to promote safe products, disseminates statistical marketplace information, and provides industry forums for learning and networking.
