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SAFETEMBER 2018 FLTA’s annual month-long fork lift truck safety campaign.
the FLTA have worked closely with media outlets, partner organisations, training companies, and trade associations to launch a range of resources designed to help reduce the severity and frequency of lift truck accidents.
Why is SAFETEMBER so important?
Acclaim Handling, and the entire fork lift truck industry has taken great strides forward in safety in recent years, supported by the FLTA’s Safety Month initiatives, their annual National Fork Lift Safety Conference and their Awards for Excellence event (which we proudly took home an award for), It features both a Safety Award, for products, and a Safe Site Award, for companies which demonstrate the greatest improvement in on-site safety.
The reason they do this – and the reason SAFETEMBER is so important – is because the ubiquitous fork lift truck is the most dangerous form of workplace transport in the UK; it is responsible for more accidents and serious injuries every year than even HGVs.
As an industry, the FLTA bear witness to over 1300 fork lift truck accidents a year, which means on average there are five accidents every workday in the UK. All of these accidents are avoidable, and we believe a lasting change in workplace attitudes and culture is necessary from everyone who works on a fork lift site in order to change this.
Who should get involved with SAFETEMBER?
Safetember is not just for fork lift truck operators, supervisors, managers and safety personnel. It’s for everyone who works with or alongside forklift trucks…including manufacturers, dealers and suppliers.
What is this year’s focus?
Highlighting the severity of fork lift accidents, this year’s theme is: ‘You don’t walk away from a fork lift accident’. Due to their sheer weight, injuries sustained from fork lifts are likely to be significant – even life-changing. Equally, anyone witnessing a minor or near-accident should not ignore it: for the sake of everyone they work with, it is their duty to report it.
How can people get involved and what resources are available?
Throughout SAFETEMBER the FLTA website will host various free online resources, which are perfect for things like induction courses, training sessions and toolbox talks. You’ll find safety videos, downloadable posters, free fact sheets and much more.
The FLTA’s Store has a range of tools to support you, including cost-effective employee safety handbooks which spell out the dos and don’ts to anyone working in close proximity to forklifts.
Most importantly, get involved this SAFETEMBER. Engage in the discussions, explore the wide range of resources we have on the FLTA website, check out the fact sheets, download the posters and videos, take part in the online assessment tool… and do everything you can to improve safety and ensure the safety of your colleagues.
