Bringing home the realities of safety issues and legislation is the aim of the Fork Lift Truck Association's safety conference, to be held in Gaydon on September 24.

FLTA chairman Brian Warbrick said the event brought together high-calibre speakers, selected for their authority and experience.

"What we will be learning about is not just a theoretical risk. Accidents can and do happen. They involve real people in real tragedies, with catastrophic consequences for victims, families and businesses," he said.

"Just take one recent example. An engineer was killed when a fork detached and fell from seven feet. Investigations revealed there had been a crack in the fork before the accident. The business had to pay fines and costs, but the true cost for the employee and his family was much higher."

Mr Warbrick said forklifts were deadly weapons if not handled properly.

"A major problem in addressing safety concerns is information overload," he said. "That is why the FLTA has set-up initiatives such as the safety conference, to cut through to the most vital advice and make it relevant to everyday situations."