Statistics by the UK's leading authority on forklift use show that over half of employees who regularly work with forklifts in Britain are insufficiently trained to do so.

Announcing details for the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA)'s annual National Fork Truck Safety Conference, the organisation's leaders have voiced their
concerns over the effect the shortfall will have in the workplace.

FLTA CEO David Ellison says by not prioritising training, some companies are "knowingly" placing their workers and businesses at risk.

"It is an employer's duty of care to provide appropriate training and regularly assess individual skill levels ... Neglecting this responsibility unnecessarily puts employees in genuine danger. Forklifts may perform an unparalleled amount of good in British workplaces, but in the wrong hands, they are potentially lethal," he says.

Every day, at least one worker in Britain is hospitalised with serious injuries. Ellison says in the majority of cases, the accident could have been avoided with suitable training. "Clearly, operators need to be properly trained but other employees are at risk if they work near forklifts, and they need awareness training too."

As a result of these findings, the FLTA is making forklift training the focus of its National Fork Truck Safety Conference, held at Warwick University on 21 September.

"We have already lined up some highly regarded speakers - including representatives from the HSE (Health & Safety Executive) - who will address the key issues concerning forklift training and much, much more," Ellison says.

For more information on the conference, visit www.fork-truck.org.uk.