Every day, British workers are seriously injured - or worse - in forklift accidents. PHOTO: FLTA

The Fork Lift Truck Association will invite IMHX visitors to test their awareness of forklift best practice this March, with a free, interactive safety challenge.

With an estimated 20,000 materials handling professionals expected to attend the four-day exhibition, the association hopes to give as many as possible the chance to check their safety awareness, rule out any blind spots and, potentially, win prizes.

The "Play it Safe" challenge is open to all and each day the top-scoring contestant will win a year's free membership of the FLTA Safe User Group, as part of a safety prize bundle worth GBP400.

However, with HSE figures indicating that forklifts continue to be a leading contributor to workplace transport incidents, the association believes it is the challenge itself which is most valuable.

FLTA chief executive Peter Harvey explains: "The safety challenge is a bit of fun, but with a serious message. Every day, British workers are seriously injured in forklift accidents, and we hope anyone visiting IMHX will take two minutes out of their day to test and improve their own safety skills.

"We're not trying to catch anyone out; just giving them an opportunity to check their own understanding of current best practice, so they can spot any risks they've missed and make things safer back at work if need be."

The Fork Lift Truck Association is the UK's independent authority on forklifts.