RIDDOR change

Amendments to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations relax the requirement to report some accidents and replace the "major” injury category with a specified list. This, says Mentor Training, could put forklift truck-related injuries under the spotlight.

"Around two thirds of lift truck accidents involve a collision with a pedestrian, so the injuries are often severe. The new focus on these types of accidents could, therefore, make materials handling the centre of attention, for the most regrettable of reasons.”

Nonetheless, Mentor believes the change could ultimately save lives in the industry.

MD, Richard Shore, explains: "The recent decline in forklift truck accidents seems to have stalled, so this might be just the wake-up call materials handling needs, to shake it out of its complacency."