Why Safety Week?

Every year, literally hundreds of UK workers receive life-shattering injuries in serious fork lift truck accidents. Statistically, a person is killed every six weeks.

National Fork Lift Safety Week was launched in 2008 to raise awareness of dangers of working near fork lift trucks, and the importance of common sense measures that can make fork lift operations as safe and efficient as possible.

Many workers simply don’t realise that you don’t have to be operating a fork lift truck to be injured by one, or even killed: two-thirds of those hospitalised in fork lift accidents are pedestrians.

Accordingly, the message behind this year’s National Fork Lift Safety Week, for truck operators and pedestrians alike, was:

“Look out for each other.”

This was aimed firstly at operators of fork lift trucks, reminding them how important it is to protect colleagues by being vigilant and aware of their surroundings at all times.

Secondly, it was directed at pedestrians wherever there are fork lift trucks working, warning them always to keep their eyes open and exercise caution around the vehicles.

Serious fork lift truck accidents have an horrific physical and emotional impact on everybody involved… by taking a little extra care and making allowances for your colleagues, you can protect yourself and others.

Click here to see what free resources are still available, even after Safety Week.