Birmingham, United Kingdom (16th October, 2012) – Trucks Direct UK Ltd, one of the UK’s largest suppliers of quality used forklift trucks for sale and hire, comment on the recent rise of serious forklift accidents occurring in Scotland.
Announcing the start of a recruitment drive for qualified local fork lift truck and mobile plant trainers, Mentor, one of the UK’s leading training providers, has revealed that – after nine years of steady decline – fork lift truck accidents in Scotland are once again on the rise.
Provisional figures from the HSE for 2010/11 reveal that there has been a 4.8 per cent increase in serious fork lift truck accidents which result in workers requiring three or more days off work.
However, since Mentor opened its Livingston office and training centre in 2008, the number of fork lift training instructors covering training in Scotland has almost trebled and, by adding to their ranks, the organisation aims to ensure even better availability for their customers.
Between 2001/02 and 2008/09, the number of workers injured in incidents involving fork lift trucks was reduced by 52 per cent.
Mentor Managing Director Richard Shore commented: “We have seen very significant improvements to the safety record, which has been achieved through good practice and training.
“These latest figures are by no means a sign of things to come. Instead, they should act as a strong reminder that improving safety is an ongoing process with foundations of good practice and high calibre training provision.”
Simon Watkins of Trucks Direct commented: “Whilst the most recent statistics from Mentor are disappointing, they serve as a reminder of how imperative it is to ensure that fork lift operators receive continuously-updated training – after all, a well-trained forklift operator is a safe one.
“Mentor has contributed enormously to the reduction of similarly high statistics in the last few years, and we look forward to seeing how their expertise contributes to the reduction in these most recent figures.”
For more information on Trucks Direct UK’s products and services, please visit http://www.trucksdirectuk.co.uk or call 0121 344 4744.
About Trucks Direct UK Ltd:
Centrally-located in the West Midlands, Trucks Direct is one of the country’s largest suppliers of quality used forklift trucks, with many years of trading and thousands of satisfied customers throughout the UK and overseas. The company’s long history and extensive contacts in the industry enable them to offer the highest-quality vehicles at the lowest prices. Trucks Direct’s customers range from small businesses acquiring their first forklift, up to some of the country’s largest plc companies, and they employ qualified engineers to ensure that each vehicle sold is thoroughly checked and delivered with 12 months L.O.L.E.R. certification.