The Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) is challenging 100,000 UK businesses that use forklifts to undergo a basic safety test.

With at least one worker hospitalised because of an unavoidable forklift accident every day, the FLTA is encouraging employers to sign up for a 20-minute online challenge to boost awareness of essential aspects of planning, training, maintenance and Thorough Examinations.

Entitled "Go For Gold", the free challenge is part of the association's National Fork Lift Safety Week, which has been credited with reducing fatal accidents in UK workplaces.

Supplementary information is provided to enable participants to improve their knowledge before taking the test. Companies achieving 80% or more on the test will receive a certificate.

FLTA CEO David Ellison says: "Companies that are serious about their employees' safety can show it, by taking this simple, free challenge and reaching our gold standard.

"We're not trying to catch anybody out, so all the information you need is in front of you. The point is to ensure as many businesses as possible have a good grasp of the basic safety principles that can, quite literally, protect workers' lives and limbs."

Companies can pre-register for the Go For Gold challenge now, at the FLTA Website www.fork-truck.org.uk, and take the test during Safety Week itself (24-28 September).

The top 10 scores will qualify for 15 months' free membership of the FLTA Safe User Group, while companies registering for the challenge before 31 August will receive a 10% discount on attendance at the association's annual National Fork Truck Safety Conference during Safety Week.