Announcing details of its 11th annual National Fork Lift Truck Safety Conference, the Fork Lift Truck Association has encouraged managers and supervisors to take a 'top to bottom' approach to fork lift truck safety to improve the UK's safety record.

Every day, on average, a worker in Britain is hospitalised with serious, potentially life-changing injuries - or worse - as a result of an incident involving a fork lift truck.

This year's Conference, which will take place on 25th September 2013 at Warwick University, will be opened by a keynote address by HSE Policy Director Jane Willis.

Through a series of informative and interactive sessions, led by an international roster of experts, Conference Delegates will gain a deeper understanding of the key issues affecting safety in the workplace, including the benefits of employee engagement in the safety process.
FLTA Chief Executive Peter Harvey said: "Creating a healthy and safe workplace is not solely the responsibility of management. It's vital for workers at all levels - from CEO to shelf-stacker - to get involved. Every contribution counts."

Reinforcing this message at the Conference, will be Babcock International Group.
In February 2013, the Plymouth-based team were awarded the FLTA's prestigious Safe Site Award for their success in bringing together a workforce of more than 500 to deliver a range of safety improvements. Among their achievements was the development of a set of safety standards, created by the very drivers responsible for complying with them.

Peter continues: "At this year's Safety Conference, we'll look at ways which employers can engage their workforces in creating and maintaining safer workplaces.

"Those on the frontline have the most to contribute and the most to gain from these discussions. With their hands-on experience, they are best placed to advise and recommend the types of improvements which will reduce workplace accidents in a manner that is both time and cost effective.
"But it shouldn't stop there. We're encouraging every one of the tens of thousands of businesses in the UK operating fork lift trucks to aim for total safety culture at their sites by maximising involvement from employees at every level: from the shelf-stacker right through to the CEO."

The Conference will be held in the Ramphal Building at Warwick University on Wednesday 25th September 2013. The Conference will start promptly at 9.30 am and close by 4.00 pm.