FLTA - Play it safe
October 10th 2007

Every year, more than 400 UK workers are killed or seriously injured in fork lift truck accidents. Little wonder, then, that the Fork Lift Truck Association directs so much of its effort towards improving safety in the workplace.

One of the many safety initiatives developed or supported by the FLTA over the last year has been an online operator assessment and monitoring tool from multimedia experts Interactive Driving Systems. Feedback from the Association, and from delegates at its annual Safety Conference, helped to shape this computer programme. It offers a quick, easy and very inexpensive way of fulfilling an employer’s duty to reassess all of its fork lift truck operators on a regular basis.

Virtual Risk Manager – FLT can be found on the FLTA website – www.fork-truck.org.uk – where it is available at a nominal charge of just £25 per operator. The package will provide personalised written feedback and will clearly identify any areas in which the operator may need refresher training.

According to the FLTA, most fork lift accidents could be avoided by following a set of very simple, basic rules. With this in mind, the Association launched its Safety 4MOST pack in 2007 to sum up these rules in terms of the four key aspects of fork lift safety: Management, Operator, Site & Truck. A free copy of the pack can be obtained from the FLTA office (contact details follow).

Encouraging progress in the field of fork lift safety is one of the key aims of the FLTA Annual Awards for Excellence. For information on how to vote, and a chance to attend the entertainment-packed Awards ceremony on 9th February 2008, you should again visit the FLTA website – www.fork-truck.org.uk.

Peace of mind – at no extra cost

In every walk of life there are good suppliers and bad suppliers of goods and services. Make the wrong choice and you could find yourself seriously out of pocket – or worse. Thankfully, good suppliers in the fork lift world can be identified easily by the FLTA marque they display. Better still, dealing with a company endorsed by the FLTA marque shouldn’t cost a penny more than going to one outside the Association. So why take risks?

Consider this: What’s the worst thing that can happen if you choose the wrong supplier for your materials handling equipment and maintenance? Here are just a few possible answers…

The supplier’s poor standard of work can leave you operating a dangerous truck – and wide open to the risk of accidents, prosecutions and fines, compensation claims, damage repair bills and disruption to your business.

The supplier’s lack of knowledge or understanding of the law can leave you liable to legal action for infringements that a good supplier would have avoided.

The supplier’s poor service can leave you with reduced productivity – or even a complete shutdown – while you wait for repairs to your equipment.

Need we say more?

The sign of quality

For peace of mind, always look for the FLTA marque. To earn the right to display it companies must first of all qualify for membership and be accepted. They must also agree to abide by a rigorous Code of Practice and work to the highest standards.

FLTA members benefit from a range of services designed to take their companies to a higher level in terms of improving efficiency, complying with legislation and ensuring safety.

What can the FLTA do for you?

With their proven capacity and competence, their commitment to service and safety, and the authoritative information and support they receive from the Association, you can be assured that every FLTA member has ‘all the right tools to do the job’. That includes properly equipped workshop facilities, efficient working systems and up-to-date knowledge – particularly when it comes to safety issues and legislation.

Remember: Only FLTA members are allowed to display the FLTA marque. That marque is your clear signal that the supplier will deliver the high standards demanded by the Association. Why would you settle for anything less?

Safe users

To help fork lift owners and operators to cope with the burden of responsibility for safety, keep up to date with the law and understand the issues, the FLTA runs a Safe User Group. This helps to cut through the paperwork and gives truck users the information they need… in a form that’s totally relevant, very concise and extremely easy to use. It’s a service that saves time and money for the member and his or her business… while helping to make the workplace a safer environment for everyone. Visit the website – www.fork-truck.org.uk – to find out more.

What is the FLTA?

The FLTA is the most representative body of its kind in Europe. By working to raise and maintain standards in the materials handling

industry, it helps to enhance safety in the workplace, increase the productivity of businesses and protect the interests of consumers.

Its ability to do all of those things effectively is built upon the quality of its membership, the authority it carries within the industry and

the practical difference its initiatives, activities and advice make to daily working life.

Members of the FLTA include every major fork truck manufacturer, as well as importers, distributors, dealers and suppliers of related equipment and services.

It represents – and welcomes as members – companies of every size. To ensure that the industry’s full spectrum is covered, it also runs a Safe User Group meeting the specific needs of those who actually operate the trucks. The Association influences decision makers at every level, works closely and productively with other key organisations such as the Health and Safety Executive, and effectively lobbies government departments on the industry’s behalf.

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