More than half of men and women who regularly work with fork lift trucks in Britain are not sufficiently trained to do so, according to statistics released by the nation’s leading authority on the use of fork lift trucks.

Announcing details for the Fork Lift Truck Association’s annual National Fork Truck Safety Conference, the organisation’s leaders voiced their concerns over what effect this shortfall would have in the workplace now… and in the months ahead.

Chief executive David Ellison says: “It is an employer’s duty of care to provide appropriate training and to regularly assess individual skill levels. By not prioritising training, some companies are knowingly placing their workers and businesses at risk.

“Neglecting this responsibility unnecessarily puts employees in genuine danger. Fork lift trucks may perform an unparalleled amount of good in British workplaces, but in the wrong hands they are potentially lethal.

“Every day at least one worker in Britain is hospitalised with serious injuries. Sadly, in the vast majority of cases, the accident could have been avoided with suitable training. Clearly operators need to be properly trained but other employees are at risk if they work near to fork lift trucks, and they need awareness training too.”

As a result of this evidence, the FLTA has elected to make fork lift training the main focus of its  Association’s National Fork Truck Safety Conference, which will be held at Warwick University on Wednesday 21st September.

David Ellison says: “As ever, this year’s programme will be packed with practical and informative sessions. We have already lined up some highly regarded speakers – including representatives from the HSE – who will address the key issues concerning fork lift training and much, much more.

“We’ll be revealing the programme in a few short weeks, but booking is available now. Last year’s Conference sold out in record time. Book early to avoid disappointment.”

The Fork Lift Truck Association is the UK’s independent trade body tasked with improving standards and safety in the fork lift truck industry. Based in Alton, Hants, It is the largest body of its kind in Europe, and has been a leading authority on fork lift truck practices since 1972.

The Association introduced National Fork Lift Safety Week in 2008, in a bid to reduce the number of British fork lift truck accidents attributable to human error, whether through complacency or lack of awareness of basic safety procedures.

For more information on National Fork Lift Safety Week, the National Fork Truck Safety Conference or any of the FLTA’s activity, visit the FLTA online.

FLTA

www.fork-truck.org.uk

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