Announcing the programme for Understanding and Communicating the Risks - this year's National Fork Lift Truck Safety Conference - the Fork Lift Truck Association has urged businesses across the UK to remember that it's good to talk.

"Every year more than 400 employees are hospitalised with serious injuries - including amputations and fractures - following fork lift truck accidents," explains FLTA Chief Executive David Ellison. "Although accidents are caused by individual mistakes, these are often directly related to an organisation's approach and commitment to communicating risks.

"This year's Safety Conference programme has been tailored to help fork lift truck users tackle this key issue. Our sessions will enable them to identify major risks and communicate them clearly and concisely to their staff to keep their site, operations and colleagues both productive and safe."

The one-day event, sponsored by Calor, will take place at Warwick University Arts Centre on Wednesday 30th September.

An information-packed programme will focus on recognising and highlighting potential safety threats in the workplace. High calibre speakers, new research findings, case studies and - above all - simple solutions will show how to reduce accidents, damage and possible injury in any site where fork lift trucks operate.

Carol Grainger is one of the Health and Safety Executive's foremost experts on fork lift truck safety. She will deliver the day's key note address. As manager for the HSE Workplace Transport Programme, she will highlight current concerns surrounding fork lift truck operations and discuss what the HSE is doing in response. She will also reveal the latest HSE research into root causes of fork lift truck accidents.

First launched in 2003, the FLTA Safety Conference is now well established as an annual fixture in the materials handling calendar. As ever, its aim is to give practical guidance on issues and problems raised by - and directly affecting - users of fork lift trucks.

Expert speakers will give presentations on what the fork lift truck industry is doing to help communicate - and thereby reduce - safety risks. Programme highlights include:

Understanding the Risks

Latest accident research and risk analysis will be provided by the HSE, the University of West England, IWS Handling and others. Learn about engaging concerns and fresh insights into persistent problems.

Communicating the Risks

How can you get your message across? A bright, innovative approach to risk assessment and the latest methods of data transfer can help avoid risk and keep everyone in the picture.

Minimising the Risks

First glimpse presentations of new, innovative products that will help minimise risk:

• Seats designed to reduce vibration and minimise fatigue

• Powered pallet trucks with built in safety sensors

• Hi-tech and low-tech pedestrian alert systems

• Simple hydraulic switches to aid stability

Sharing the Risks

The true stories of real businesses that got it wrong… and right - including how FLTA Safe Site Award winner City of London Corporation reduced accidents at New Spitalfields Market by a staggering 77%.

LPG safety Masterclass

The UK's leading LPG supplier, Calor, gives the definitive guide to hazards' identification and safe practice.