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Forklift Safety: A Practical Guide

andrewbaxter@sgworld.com (Andrew Baxter) — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:58:19 GMT

70% of forklift truck accidents in the UK could have been avoided by following HSE guidelines. They’re not hard to follow. Here’s how to ensure your site uses FLTs safely.

Why Forklift Safety Matters

Alison Johnson — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:57:55 GMT

Every year in the UK, more than 1300 people are injured by forklifts at work.

Workplace injuries put employees out of work, reduce efficiency, lower employee morale and damage your company’s reputation. A happy, safe workplace gets far more done. So, risk assessments, pre-use inspections and forklift maintenance must be completed to reduce the risk of injury… or worse.

7 Common Causes of Forklift Injuries and How to Prevent Them

andrewbaxter@sgworld.com (Andrew Baxter) — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:57:27 GMT

1 in 4 accidents in transport and storage involve someone being hit by a forklift. That’s a staggering statistic, especially given most forklift accidents can be avoided. We’ve put together a list of the 7 most common causes of forklift injuries and how to stop them.

Material Handling Equipment Checklists: Why Material vs Mobile Matters

ianbotterill@sgworld.com (Ian Botterill) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:37:14 GMT

If you spend any time in a warehouse or on a construction site, you will hear people use the terms "Material Handling Equipment" and "Mobile Handling Equipment" as if they are the same thing. They aren't.

Why ‘Dusty’ Risks Assessments are your Biggest Liability

Susan Bailey — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:54:25 GMT

Risk assessments often get a bad reputation. When it comes to health and safety at work, many people see them as nothing more than boring paperwork or a tick-box exercise. However, risk assessments are fundamental to creating a safe and well managed workplace, playing a vital role in protecting individuals, preventing accidents, and supporting organisations in meeting their legal responsibilities.

Making Pre-Use Safety Checks Unmissable with a Safety Inspection Station

ianbotterill@sgworld.com (Ian Botterill) — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:29:14 GMT

It’s easy to call a pre-use equipment check a "lifesaver," but for that to be true, the check actually has to happen. Every single time.

Why We Need to Take the "Invisible" Risk of Noise Seriously

Susan Bailey — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 15:19:27 GMT

When we talk about workplace safety, we usually focus on the things we can see—forklift movements, trip hazards, or working at heights. But there is a permanent, life-changing injury that happens quietly every day: noise-induced hearing loss.

LOTO vs. LOTOTO: What's the Difference and Why it Matters

andrewbaxter@sgworld.com (Andrew Baxter) — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:03:45 GMT

We sell lots of LOTO kit. That stands for Lock Out, Tag Out. It is the essential process you follow to safely isolate machinery before maintenance.

But the best practice has changed. It is now called LOTOTO.

What does the extra 'TO' mean?

It means Try Out.

Here is how they work:

1. LOTO (Lock Out, Tag Out)

You shut down the machine, isolate the power, and put a lock and tag on it. You assume the machine is safe.

BEST PRACTICE 2. LOTOTO (Lock Out, Tag Out, Try Out)

You do everything above. Then you formally try to switch the machine back on.

That last step is crucial. Why? Because sometimes:

❌ The machine was not fully isolated.
❌ The isolation switch is broken.
❌ Residual energy is still held in the system (like pressure or stored heat).

Trying to switch it on proves the isolation worked. If the machine does not start, you know it is safe to work on. If it does start, you have just stopped a serious accident.

Why the 'Try Out' Must Be Documented

The difference between LOTO and LOTOTO is literally the difference between an assumption and proof. Accidents during maintenance often happen when unexpected energy is released. This is called unexpected start-up or re-energisation.

In the UK, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) requires that machinery undergoing maintenance is isolated from all energy sources. The "Try Out" step is the most effective way to provide the necessary evidence that you have met this safety obligation.

This is where documentation becomes vital. You need a system that ensures the 'Try Out' step is: 1) Completed, and 2) Formally recorded before work begins.

🛡️ Secure Your LOTOTO Process with SG World Compliance Tools

We supply the essential components needed to guarantee the LOTOTO procedure is followed correctly every single time. We make sure our full offering supports this complete LOTOTO process, because consistency and accountability are the only things that matter in safety.

Our essential Lock Out Tag Out offering ensures you have everything needed to complete the full Try Out verification and maintain high standards:

• Documentation and Accountability (Registers & Certificates):

The 'Try Out' step must be formally recorded. Our LOTO Register and Isolation Certificates integrate this crucial verification check, providing a clear audit trail and ensuring the job is correctly signed off.

• Physical Security (Locks & Hasps):

We supply the Lock Out Tag Out Steel Padlock and Hasp Kits that are necessary to physically isolate the energy source. These products are a vital component for ensuring the energy cannot be re-applied before the 'Try Out' verification.

• Compliance & Visibility (Signage & Bundles):

Our Magnetic Signage provides clear, high-visibility warnings across your site, reinforcing the need for the verified LOTOTO procedure. We also offer full Bundles to standardise your entire safety system.

By moving to the LOTOTO standard, you are not just changing a word; you are confirming a higher level of worker protection. Work with SG World to ensure your procedures meet today’s safety best practices through robust documentation and standardisation.

Ready to upgrade your LOTOTO documentation and safety provision?

View the LOTOTO Range

Why NHS Estates Teams Need Bespoke Permit to Work Systems

andrewbaxter@sgworld.com (Andrew Baxter) — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:56:36 GMT

If you're managing NHS property, plant, or clinical environments, your paperwork isn't just admin, it’s your audit defence.

Why You Need to Sort Ladder Safety Before the Christmas decorations go up

Alison Johnson — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 09:41:02 GMT

The festive season in hospitality is all about presentation, and that means putting up decorations. As soon as Halloween finishes, the push begins to get the Christmas decorations put up across your hotels, restaurants, and venues.