Association releases list of worst areas for accidents

News Story
- 8 Oct 2009 ( #431 ) - Alton, United Kingdom
1 min read
Birmingham is the UK city with the most forklift incidents, according to the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA).

The FLTA revealed the findings, based on Health Safety Executive statistics between 2001 and 2008, during its National Forklift Safety Week last month.

The Yorkshire and West Midlands areas are a particular concern, says the FLTA, as they account for the top seven danger zones in the association's list of accident black-spots.

The South of England is also included in the list, with Milton Keynes coming in at eighth. It had 150 serious forklift incidents over the past seven years, closely followed by Northampton and Thurrock in Essex.

The FLTA says statistics also show that the rate of serious forklift-related injuries among men was up to five times higher than for women. This takes into account the uneven split between males and females working in the vicinity of forklifts.

Workers over 45 and heavy goods vehicle drivers waiting for their lorries to be loaded and unloaded have the highest fatality rates.

FLTA CEO David Ellison says over 400 people are hospitalised as a result of forklift incidents annually.

"These are major, life-shattering injuries like crushings and amputations. Last year, 10 people were killed, and with forklifts working on about 100,000 UK sites, literally anyone could be at risk," Ellison says.

He adds that most forklift incidents are avoidable and that the victim is usually not the truck's operator.

The 10 Worst Areas for Forklift Incidents in the UK
  1. Birmingham, West Midlands
  2. Wakefield, Yorkshire
  3. Leeds, Yorkshire
  4. Doncaster, Yorkshire
  5. Sandwell, West Midlands
  6. Bradford, Yorkshire
  7. Walsall, West Midlands
  8. Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
  9. Northampton, Northamptonshire
  10. Thurrock, Essex
MHE incident reporting tool established in UK
MHE incident reporting tool established in UK 7 Aug 2025 - Newbury, United Kingdom - 1 min read
UK safety body hands out fines
UK safety body hands out fines 17 Jul 2025 - United Kingdom - 1 min read
Briefs
Briefs 3 Jul 2025 - 1 min read
Previously about:
Movers & Shakers News Story - 29 Apr 2021 - 2 min read
FLTA Award winners announced News Story - 15 Apr 2021 - United Kingdom - 1 min read
Events updates News Story - 18 Feb 2021 - 2 min read
Do you have materials handling news? Submit your news here

PREMIUM business

BSL New Energy Technology Co., Ltd
BSLBATT - practical expertise and excellent design in the industrial lithium-ion battery market.

Find the right machine for your business with F. Uchiyama, exporter and wholesaler of used forklifts and construction machinery. With 100 years of experience in the trade, you can leave the export procedures to us!
FOR SALE:
2019 Toyota 02-2TD20 Tow Tractor
1991 Komatsu FD25-11 Diesel Forklift
2007 Skyjack SJ4632 Scissor Lift 

Find more machines here | Contact us with enquiries 

Words of support …

These releases in Forkliftaction are a nice experience for SNDC... We got seven inquiries coming from Canada, USA, Mexico, Israel and Australia (five from retailers, two from machines manufacturers) and we are still in contact with them. I can state that's a success story!

David Massat, Sales Director OEM and Export

Are you recruiting? Find your ideal candidate among a diverse range of materials handling professionals:

Forkliftaction's JOB MARKET

Find the right machine for your business with F. Uchiyama, exporter and wholesaler of used forklifts and construction machinery. With 100 years of experience in the trade, you can leave the export procedures to us!
FOR SALE:
2019 Toyota 02-2TD20 Tow Tractor
1991 Komatsu FD25-11 Diesel Forklift
2007 Skyjack SJ4632 Scissor Lift 

Find more machines here | Contact us with enquiries 

PREMIUM business

BSL New Energy Technology Co., Ltd
BSLBATT - practical expertise and excellent design in the industrial lithium-ion battery market.

Are you recruiting? Find your ideal candidate among a diverse range of materials handling professionals:

Forkliftaction's JOB MARKET

Find the right machine for your business with F. Uchiyama, exporter and wholesaler of used forklifts and construction machinery. With 100 years of experience in the trade, you can leave the export procedures to us!
FOR SALE:
2019 Toyota 02-2TD20 Tow Tractor
1991 Komatsu FD25-11 Diesel Forklift
2007 Skyjack SJ4632 Scissor Lift 

Find more machines here | Contact us with enquiries 

PREMIUM business

BSL New Energy Technology Co., Ltd
BSLBATT - practical expertise and excellent design in the industrial lithium-ion battery market.

Are you recruiting? Find your ideal candidate among a diverse range of materials handling professionals:

Forkliftaction's JOB MARKET