Today [10 June] marks the annual National Forklift (FLT) Safety Day. But why is there a day dedicated to FLT Safety?
Largely seen as the workhorse of the industry, FLTs are one of the most used industrial vehicles, so it’s no surprise they’re involved in about 25% of all workplace transport incidents. And the work they’re used for can often be repetitive leading to complacency. And when complacency kicks in, accidents can happen.
I’m pleased to see this year the UK Materials Handling Association (UKMHA) has chosen a campaign focussing on the emotional impact a serious accident can have on the people involved. It’s often referred to as the ripple effect. Work colleagues, family, and friends, as well as the people directly involved are all affected when someone has an accident at work.
I’ve been following Lisa Ramos, who herself had a life changing accident 19 years ago resulting in an above knee amputation. She shares her story to raise awareness of the repercussions of an accident and help others avoid suffering in the future. If you haven’t read her story, I strongly recommend you check it out. You'll think twice and be more aware when working in close proximity to FLTs.
But what can we do to make the workplace safer?
Our proximity warning systems are currently operating on more than 145 FLTs across the UK in a range of environments from waste and recycling to warehousing, providing an early warning of the risk of a collision. We want to stop anyone having to suffer what Lisa and others have been through, by eliminating vehicle to pedestrian collisions.
See how an FLT proximity alert can make your operations safer today. Book a demo.
