The Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) has a hard-hitting message for forklift users ahead of its upcoming annual National Fork Truck Safety Conference at Warwick University on 25 September.

FLTA chief executive David Ellison says people tend to think of a forklift tipping over being the worst-case scenario when considering "unsafe operations".

"But it can and does get worse if the operator is not restrained ... Many people think this is something that couldn't happen on their site but we know it still does happen on someone's site, and more often than you would think," Ellison says.

Themed "Safe Operations", the 2008 safety conference will kick off with a discussion on forklift tip-overs.

John Moutrie from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)'s field operations directorate will explain why forklift tip-overs continue to be a concern and what the HSE is doing about them.

Moutrie will also review other aspects of forklift operations that feature in HSE incident reporting.

Expert speakers will give presentations on what the forklift industry is doing to make lifting operations safer and to reduce the risks.

Toyota Material Handling UK will explain how safety features can be designed into new trucks as they are being developed. B&B Attachments will give examples of attachments that have been designed to meet specific needs. CMP Batteries will look at safety issues related to operation and management of battery power. Continental Tyres will explain how tyre awareness can boost safe operations.

Ian Melhuish of NACCO Materials Handling Group will discuss alternative fuels and the safety challenges they pose. There will also be presentations on new products that play a role in operational safety.

FLTA members pay GBP93 (including VAT) for the all-day event. Non-members pay GB125. For more details, visit www.fork-truck.org.uk, email mail@fork-truck.org.uk or call +44 (0) 1256 381 441.