Men in greater danger than women
September 24th 2009

Male workers have been warned to take a leaf out of their female colleagues’ books this week, as research reveals that men are far more likely to be involved in a fork lift truck accident than their female counterparts.

Even when the difference between the total numbers of men and women working in the vicinity of fork lifts is taken into account, men are still five times more likely to be hospitalised or killed in a fork lift truck accident, according to the UK’s foremost authority the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA).

Significantly, the statistics do not just apply to those working on and around the vehicles – the disturbing ratio applies equally to pedestrians.

The findings have been announced at the start of National Fork Lift Safety Week, which runs from 21st to 27th September. This annual awareness campaign aims to highlight the dangers associated with fork lift trucks in a bid to reduce the “unacceptable number” of preventable accidents.

Announcing the figures, FLTA Chief Executive David Ellison says: “Men need to learn from their female co-workers that fork lift trucks can be deadly, and should be always treated with great caution.

“Every single day, somebody is hospitalised or killed by a fork lift truck – and the vast majority of the victims are men. These accidents claim lives and shatter families, friends and workplaces. If men could take the same precautions as women, much of this unnecessary tragedy would be eliminated.

“We ask everyone who finds themselves in the vicinity of a fork lift truck to be alert and to avoid making any assumptions that the driver – who may well be concentrating on a complex manoeuvre – has seen or heard you.

“In short, wherever you are, please remember to keep an eye open for fork lift trucks, and simply steer well clear…. and make allowances for possible mistakes. As our campaign slogan for 2009 says: look out for each other.”

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