FLTA announces theme for Safetember fork lift safety month

Tagline: You don’t walk away from a fork lift truck accident

The Fork Lift Truck Association has revealed plans for its annual safety campaign – Safe member – which runs from 1 to 30 September.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, it’s possibly the most important 30 days of the year for FLTA Members, their customers and the wider industry: helping increase awareness of the dangers associated with fork lift truck operations.

According to the HSE, fork lift trucks are involved in 1 in 4 accidents involving workplace transport: making them more dangerous than LGVs and HGVs.

FLTA Chief Executive Peter Harvey MBE says: “These accidents are not easy to overlook. Every day, on average, three people are seriously injured and hospitalised in incidents involving fork lift trucks.

“Yet these accidents are anything but ‘everyday’ for the injured, their colleagues, families and friends… The resulting injuries – including dislocations, amputations and long-bone fractures – change lives. In an instant.”

That’s why the core message of the FLTA campaign will be: You don’t walk away from a fork lift accident.

Harveycontinues: “The very size and nature of fork lift trucks means there are no minor injuries. If you are involved in an accident, you’ll be seriously injured and it will change your life forever… as well the lives of everyone around you.

“Because of this, it’s important that accidents and incidents (no matter how small) are never overlooked. Instead, they should serve as a warning – creating an opportunity to learn and improve.

“And that’s where we need your support. Whether you’re a fork lift truck dealer, training body, ancillary supplier, manufacturer or end user, we’d like you to spread this important message to your colleagues, friends and families…”