Expert Workplace Injury Lawyers Back FLTA Safetember Campaign

Specialist workplace injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have backed the Fork Lift Truck Association’s (FLTA’s) Safetember Safety Month, a month-long initiative aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of fork lift truck in the workplace.

According to the organisation, fork lift trucks remain the UK’s most dangerous form of workplace transport and cause more injuries in the workplace than heavy goods vehicles, with 800 accidents involving fork lift trucks recorded in 2014.

The FLTA has arranged a number of safety events throughout September designed to encourage employees and companies to review the way fork lift trucks are used in their workplace and to take action to stop bad practice.

Peter Harvey, the chief executive of the FLTA, said: “We will be urging every company that operates FLTs to implement the changes necessary to give workers the freedom to report bad practice in a genuinely blame-free environment.”

Stephen Nye, an expert workplace injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, who has represented a number of workers who suffered life-changing injuries as a result of accidents at work, said:

Expert Opinion

Incidents involving fork lift trucks in the workplace are all too common and there are strict guidelines for their use to try to keep workers safe. <br/> <br/>“Sadly, we have seen through our work the very serious consequences accidents involving fork lift trucks can have for those involved. Often these accidents are a result of poor working practices going unchecked within the workplace and it is vital action is taken to reduce the number of these incidents in the future. <br/> <br/>“The FLTA’s campaign will hopefully encourage employees and companies to ensure safety is always the first priority and to work together to develop and implement safe ways of working so the frequency of fork lift truck accidents is reduced. Stephen Nye - Partner