Toyota's BT Pro Lifter hand pallet truck was the winner in the industrial trucks category.

Judges of the inaugural IMHX Design 4 Safety Awards were impressed with the winners announced in a ceremony on the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA)'s stand at the IMHX materials handling expo in Birmingham.

Toyota Material Handling's BT Pro Lifter hand pallet truck was the winner in the industrial trucks category. The judging panel found that the hand pallet truck significantly reduced the effort needed to move a load, which benefited the unloading of tightly packed goods trailers. By making it easier to manage heavy loads on a vehicle tail lift, the Pro Lifter contributed to a reduction in working-at-height accidents.

Sentry Protection Products' Rack Sentry Cut-Out won in the racking and storage category. The judges liked the product's "unique combination of robust design and low cost". The judges noted that many forms of racking protection systems are available but pointed out that unlike floor-fixed protection systems which often entail a floor repair as well as replacement after an accident, the Rack Sentry Cut-Out was "easily and quickly made good, like an airbag for racking".

Cooper SH's NearGuard Safety Alert System was the winner in the technology category. Judges thought that the system that uses RFID technology to track the location of personnel relative to moving forklifts was a trend that would grow in the future.

Lastly, Transdek's double deck lift won in the automation category. Judges found the double deck lift could reduce the likelihood of struck-by incidents involving forklifts and making it safer to move loads at height.

Peter Lennon, head of the workplace transport team in the Health & Safety Executive's work environment, radiation and gas division presented the awards. He said good design was an integral part of the health and safety system.

"It is clear that designing innovatively for health and safety makes economic sense because it helps businesses manage risks and so reduce the number of people being injured or suffering ill-health at work," Lennon explained.

BITA created the Design 4 Safety Awards to highlight the importance of safety product design features in helping to ensure safe materials handling operations. Over 10% of IMHX exhibitors contributed entries to the awards, which were judged by a panel of independent industry specialists.