‘Show your hand’ for new safety campaign

Mentor to launch new initiatives aimed at reducing accidents between fork-lift trucks and pedestrians

THIS September, Mentor FLT Training will be urging fork-lift truck operators to ‘Show your hand’ to reduce the risk of serious accidents involving pedestrians.

Despite raised awareness of the need for segregation, collisions continue to be the leading cause of workplace transport accidents, and according to HSE figures, in the case of lift-truck accidents specifically, pedestrians account for 57% of those injured.

However, Mentor believe their latest initiative can help limit the risk. ‘There’s clearly still plenty of work to be done to prevent avoidable injuries,’ explained managing director, Stuart Taylor. ‘It’s vital that your drivers and their colleagues are aware of the dangers of being in close proximity and understand how to work together safely.’

According to Mentor, a big part of the problem is the absence of a standardized approach to interactions, which is where their campaign comes in.

‘We’re asking fork-lift operators nationwide to raise a hand to colleagues on foot if they come too close to their trucks, to indicate that they should stop,’ said Mr Taylor. ‘If they fail to do so, the driver should stop their truck, to limit the risk of an accident and a potential serious injury.

‘Whether you’re working on or around fork-lifts, it’s crucial that you never assume you’ve been seen or that your colleague will move out of your way. By using our simple safety message and staying alert, you can eliminate any assumptions and take responsibility for your own safety.’

Mentor will launch the ‘Show your hand’ campaign during Safetember, National Fork Lift Safety Month (1–30 September).

‘But fork-lift safety isn’t just for Safetember,’ added Mr Taylor. ‘We’re hoping that its impact will be long lasting. It is a clear, universal and easy-to-enforce message – making it an ideal tool for any site to adopt.’

From 1 September, Mentor will be giving away free ‘Show your hand’ campaign kits to help employers introduce and promote this simple message and improve site safety. The kits contain everything needed to spread the message on site – including exclusive posters and videos for presentations and toolbox talks.

To find out more about ‘Show your hand’, visit: www.mentortraining.co.uk