Members of the Industrial Truck Association spent National Forklift Safety Day trying to make a dent in the political barriers blocking their access to global markets.

Success in global markets isn’t just about money. It depends on how you do business. For proof, look no further than the S&P 500. More and more companies listed in that economic index tout the way they’ve reduced greenhouse gases, reduce waste, operate safely and respect human rights. Recently the Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. companies listed on European exchanges are more likely to spread the word about their corporate citizenship since the European Parliament passed a directive in April requiring large businesses to provide such details.

Similarly, international trade agreements are built on such squishy things as trust. Unfortunately, there’s little of that inside the chambers where U.S. policy is made. Political polarization between Democrats and Republicans has paralyzed the passage of trade policy that would make it easier for American companies to grow their businesses around the world. And as we implied up front, trade barriers aren’t all financial. They can relate to safety standards surrounding equipment. That’s an issue U.S. business people have the power to address, both among themselves through their trade associations and in-person with their local and national representatives in government.

That was the thinking that inspired the Industrial Truck Association (ITA) to promote the first National Forklift Safety Day on Tuesday, June 10, 2014. This is a day on which occupational safety is spotlighted for all users of industrial trucks—both through the media and face-to-face networking. But just as importantly, ITA is using this day as a conversation starter between its OEM members and their elected representatives.

On June 9th, ITA-member forklift OEMs flew into Washington, DC to strategize with each other on how to approach their congressmen and senators on matters of corporate citizenship and business growth.  They were each scheduled to meet with their representatives on Capitol Hill the next day, so they wanted to make best use of June 9th to prepare. Forklift safety provided a good entry-point for that discussion.