This week marks the final of the seven stages of the UK Materials Handling Association’s (UKMHA) National Forklift Safety Day which, in 2024, spanned seven months driving home the message that every day should be forklift safety day.

The 2024 campaign kicked off in June with stage one which was Prepare, exploring the actions which could and should be taken to reduce the chances of a forklift safety incident becoming an accident.

Stage two was launched in July looking at Respond which examined the steps which need to be taken immediately after a forklift accident. This was followed by Investigate in August, offering tips on conducting a thorough investigation after a forklift accident.

In September the campaign focused on the steps needed to Report an accident, October was Restart and how to safely recommence production before Learn in November asking what key learnings there are after an accident.

The seventh and final area of focus for the National Forklift Safety Day is Prevent which asks businesses to find and implement the most effective strategies they can to prevent further forklift accidents.

“Spreading the campaign over an extended period of time enables us to stay true to our commitment to “make every day National Forklift Safety Day”,” UKMHA states. “Ultimately, we aim to ensure that participants gain an understanding of what to do before, during, and after an incident.”

Information and resources on National Forklift Safety Day and each of the seven stages of the 2024 campaign can be found on the UKMHA website.