President of the Australian Industrial Truck Association (AITA) Steve Stewart has announced the forklift industry body will sponsor its third annual National Forklift Safety Week from 3 to 7 June 2013. This year’s event will feature a Safety Week Seminar on Tuesday 4 June at the Novotel Sydney, Rooty Hill, from 9am to 12 noon.

The main theme of the week and the seminar will be an in depth review of the main changes in the revised AS 2359:2-2013 Powered Industrial Trucks – Operation and the impact on end users.

The seminar will feature speakers on a range of topics around this theme, including implications for training, traffic management, areas of responsibility for safety issues under the new standard, the impact of WHS harmonisation and other legal issues.

AS2359.2-2013 Powered Industrial Trucks Part 2: Operation Summary of Main Changes

Requirements and guidance for site traffic management plans.

More definitive requirements and guidance for qualifications, training, authorisation of operators.

Responsibilities clarified/separated: users / supervisors / 0perators. 
Elevating operator-type trucks – fall protection.
Freight container handling section.
Loading docks – truck and trailer isolation.
Specification of control and measurement of noise.
Guidelines included for purchasing an industrial truck.
“The AITA is particularly pleased to be conducting the 2013 National Forklift Safety Week in light of the changes in the recently released new standard, which will have a significant impact on the safety of all employees working with, or around, lift trucks every day,” Mr Stewart said.