The Forklift – indispensable but dangerous

UK
In both the UK and Sweden, figures show that forklifts account for more workplace accidents than any other machine. In the UK alone, forklift accidents result in 300 hospital visits a year, which, according to the British Safety Council, is five British workers a day. The most vulnerable are workplace walkers, who make up 57 per cent of those injured in the UK and 80 per cent of those injured in the USA. In their study, the British Safety Council claim that many of the accidents could have been avoided if companies had been more stringent in cordoning off walking and driving areas.

Australia
Australia is one country that has steadily reduced the number of forklift accidents. In 2008, the number of seriously injured people was registered at 1,100. Seven years later it had dropped to 800. The country has invested heavily in the safety training of forklift drivers and other employees at workplaces where forklifts are used.