Technicians take centre stage

AS ONE of the UK’s leading industry‑wide safety initiatives, NFSD continues to highlight best practice in the safe operation, maintenance and management of forklift trucks. On 9 June 2026, technicians take centre stage as the campaign highlights the essential contribution of skilled engineers. Their expertise ensures that forklift equipment is maintained to the highest standards, supporting safe, reliable and compliant operations throughout its working life. With this focus, UKMHA aims to reinforce the vital role technicians play in building a safer and more resilient industry.

The rationale for this year’s theme is derived from workplace injury statistics. Between 2019 and 2025, UK forklift suppliers lost, on average, more than 1,000 working days per year to workplace injuries. UKMHA data reveals that 85% of these incidents involved forklift technicians working at customers’ premises. Notably, more than 20% of injuries resulting in time off work are linked to manual handling failings, while 30% of incidents occur when technicians are not actively working on the MHE.

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.”

UKMHA’s manual handling training is tailored to the specific 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 this training quickly and cost-effectively. The training offer also includes ‘train the trainer’ sessions allowing suitably qualified and experienced staff of UKMHA members to deliver the training directly to their co-workers.

UKMHA continues to champion safety across the industry, but meaningful change ultimately depends on those working within it and their customers, the end users. To support this, the Association will invite users to sign up to its Safe Working Area Charter, helping to ensure technicians are protected when visiting customers’ sites. In addition, UKMHA will provide a dedicated space on the National Forklift Safety Day website where members can showcase their safety-related products and services.

To further support the campaign, UKMHA will release a range of practical resources aimed at reducing incidents and accidents involving MHE technicians. These will be shared via the National Forklift Safety Day website and social media channels and will include bite-sized training videos covering topics such as van safety, point of work risk assessment, 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, the UKMHA invites everyone to participate in National Forklift Safety Day 2026.