Training crucial says UKWA on National Forklift Safety Day

Welcoming the hard-hitting campaign around National Forklift Safety Day (NFSD) 2025, which highlights the human cost of accidents involving material handling equipment, UKWA Chief Clare Bottle has reiterated the importance of training in keeping people safe.

“We are committed to promoting safety as a priority in warehouses,” she said. “While most warehouses are safe, the goal should be zero harm across the sector. This requires proper training and fostering a culture where safety is in the DNA of the business.”

The National Forklift Safety Day aims to equip employers and professionals with the knowledge they need to ensure safe working practices. Supported by the slogan “A Painted Line Isn’t Enough”, this year’s campaign sheds light on the long-lasting implications MHE accidents can have for all involved.

The associated social media campaign will provide reminders on the need for segregation of pedestrians from MHE, and also of the importance of seatbelt use and utilisation of appropriate PPE.

Focus for the day of the event, Tuesday 10 June, will be the launch of a new safety initiative commissioned by the UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA). This major new project has been designed to improve safety across the entire material handling sector and to provide insights into what accidents actually happen and why they occur.

NFSD will also see the release of a new white paper developed from roundtable discussions between specialists in the material handling industry about how safety standards can be improved.

In a departure to previous campaigns, this year the focus will be on the emotional impact a serious accident can have on all the people involved, including friends and family as well as colleagues.

Such events can be truly life-changing, as attendees at UKWA’s recent Workplace Transport Safety Day heard from guest speaker whose life was irrevocably changed in 2006 when she became an above-knee amputee caused by a forklift truck reversing into her while she was in a designated walkway area in the warehouse where she worked.

Lisa now campaigns for greater safety awareness in the workplace and urges businesses to take greater responsibility for the safety of their workforce.

UKWA is joining UKMHA in urging members to leverage the campaign to promote their own safety solutions and services.

More information on NFSD is available by visiting www.nationalforkliftsafetyday.co.uk