National Forklift Safety Day shines spotlight on technicians

As one of the UK’s leading industry-wide safety campaigns, NFSD continues to champion best practice in the operation, maintenance and management of forklift trucks. This year’s focus recognises the critical role technicians play in keeping equipment safe, compliant and fully operational throughout its working life.

The rationale for this year’s theme is rooted in workplace injury statistics. Between 2019 and 2025, UK forklift suppliers lost, on average, more than 1,000 working days per year due to workplace injuries. UKMHA data reveals that 85% of these incidents involved forklift technicians working at customers’ premises.

The data also highlights key risk areas, with more than 20% of injuries resulting in time off work linked to manual handling failings, while 30% of incidents occurred when technicians were not actively working on the material handling equipment itself.

By highlighting the skill, professionalism and responsibility of service engineers, UKMHA aims to raise awareness of the essential contribution technicians make to workplace safety and the long-term resilience of the materials handling industry.

Commenting on the campaign, David Goss, technical director at the UK Material Handling Association, said: “National Forklift Safety Day plays a really important role in UKMHA’s vision to reduce the number of incidents and accidents involving MHE technicians by improving working practices on common activities. This goal will be achieved through a combination of workplace guidance and targeted training for technicians.”

To support this objective, the UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) has developed manual handling training tailored specifically to the tasks carried out by technicians working within the material handling sector. The Association is partnering with a specialist manual handling training provider to enable members to roll out the programme quickly and cost-effectively.

The training offer will also include ‘train the trainer’ sessions, allowing suitably qualified and experienced employees within UKMHA member organisations to deliver training directly to colleagues.

Alongside technician-focused initiatives, UKMHA is calling on end users to play their part in improving workplace safety. As part of the campaign, the Association will invite users to sign up to its Safe Working Area Charter, helping to ensure technicians are protected while visiting customer sites.

In addition, UKMHA will provide a dedicated space on the National Forklift Safety Day website where members can showcase safety-related products and services.

To further support the campaign, UKMHA will release a range of practical resources designed to help reduce incidents and accidents involving MHE technicians. Shared through the National Forklift Safety Day website and social media channels, these resources will include bite-sized training videos covering topics such as van safety, point-of-work risk assessment, the selection and use of PPE, and LPG cylinder handling.

The National Forklift Safety Day initiative has been raising awareness about the safe use of material handling equipment since 2014. Dedicated to promoting safety standards across the entire material handling industry, UKMHA is encouraging businesses, technicians and end users across the sector to participate in National Forklift Safety Day 2026.

For more information, visit the official National Forklift Safety Day website at nationalforkliftsafetyday.co.uk.