A million Britons in danger due to lack of forklift training
A study carried out by the Forklift Truck Association has revealed that over 1.2 million workers in the UK are at risk of a serious, even fatal accident because they have not been properly trained to work with forklift trucks. According to these latest shocking reports, as many as 10 Britons are killed every year and over 400 suffer major injuries such as amputations and crushing in forklift truck related incidents. Researchers from the FLTS examined figures from the Office for National Statistics and Skills for Logistics and found that roughly 1 in 12 UK employees work with forklifts on a regular basis but less than half of the number has received any basic training. It’s not just forklift operators who are concerned but van and HGV drivers, warehouse workers and managers too. FLTA chief executive David Ellison explains: “Even after recent safety improvements, fork lift trucks account for more serious injuries than any other workplace transport. It’s essential that anyone working near such potentially dangerous equipment is properly trained. “We’re not just talking about fork lift operators. Around two thirds of accident victims are colleagues on foot – and of course managers can’t protect employees unless they’ve also had the right training to spot and eliminate risks. “That’s why we were concerned to see that 55% of logistics workers lack the basic skills for their job. If this extends to fork lift truck awareness, which we are sure it does, it’s no wonder these life-shattering accidents happen – literally every day.” David Ellison concludes: “All employees must have the right training to carry out their work safely. We hope to reach as many fork lift managers as possible to remind them about that. “We believe providing proper, accredited training – for all relevant staff – is the single most significant action any employer can take to safeguard employees. “When money is tight, you really need to think where priorities lie and ensure safety is not too far down the list.” |
|||||
Product Microsites
|
|||||
