Forklift accident statistics UK

Forklift accidents can seriously injure operators, pedestrians and visiting drivers. Collisions, unstable loads and overturns all require controls that suit the truck, task and workplace.

The current HSE headline series groups incidents by accident kind and industry; it does not provide a directly comparable annual total specifically for forklift deaths and injuries. This guide uses clearly labelled Great Britain workplace-transport figures alongside HSE lift-truck guidance.

Reviewed 15 October 2026. HSE statistics cover Great Britain. Non-fatal injury and ill-health figures are for 2024/25 or the stated multi-year average; fatal figures are 2025/26 provisional. Cost estimates refer to 2023/24.

Key facts & figures (overview)

24 deaths involved workers struck by moving vehicles across all industries in 2025/26, provisional.
18 deaths involved something collapsing or overturning across all industries in 2025/26, provisional.
21 deaths involved workers struck by moving objects in 2025/26, provisional.
15 deaths occurred in the broad transportation and storage sector in 2025/26, provisional.
40,000 injuries a year were estimated across transportation and storage, averaged over 2022/23–2024/25.
2.4% of transportation and storage workers reported an injury annually over that period.
Three stages of lift-truck training: basic, specific job and familiarisation.
Separate routes help keep pedestrians away from moving trucks.
Operator restraints must be provided and used where needed to control overturning risks.
Regular assessment identifies when refresher training is needed; there is no universal fixed interval.

How many people are killed or injured by forklifts each year?

In Great Britain in 2025/26, 24 workers were killed after being struck by a moving vehicle, 21 after being struck by a moving object and 18 when something collapsed or overturned. These provisional figures cover all industries and equipment types. They must not be relabelled as forklift-only totals.

An up-to-date forklift count would need a defined equipment-based analysis, including its year and coverage. Broad accident-kind totals cannot provide that equipment-specific count.

Who gets hurt: pedestrians vs. operators

People at risk include operators, staff walking through work areas and delivery drivers. A pedestrian can be exposed without taking part in the lifting operation.

Use routes and barriers that prevent unnecessary access to operating areas. Brief visitors and drivers and provide a safe waiting place. A warning alarm or high-visibility clothing does not replace physical separation where practicable.

The most common causes of forklift accidents

A truck and pedestrian sharing space without adequate separation.
Poor visibility, blind corners or unsafe reversing arrangements.
Unstable, excessive or incorrectly positioned loads.
Excessive speed for the surface, gradient, load or turning movement.
Unsuitable equipment, defects or inadequate maintenance.
Insufficient training, supervision or authorisation.

These are prevention priorities from HSE guidance, not a current percentage breakdown of forklift accidents.

Forklift overturns and operator protection

Turning too fast, unsuitable ground, travelling with a raised load or handling an unstable load can increase overturn risk. Controls depend on the truck and conditions.

Provide the protective structure and restraint needed for the risk and ensure operators use them. Training must cover the manufacturer’s instructions and incident procedures. A seatbelt does not make an unsafe route or load acceptable; one emergency procedure should not be assumed to suit every truck design.

Preventing pedestrian collisions

Review the complete movement of goods and people, including goods-in areas, blind intersections and loading. Designate crossing points and control access where segregation is incomplete.

Investigate collisions and near misses to identify weaknesses in routes, sight lines, loading arrangements, speed and supervision. Do not assume that a fixed national share of incidents is caused by operator error.

Which industries are most affected?

Lift trucks are used in manufacturing, storage, distribution, retail, construction and other sectors. An industry’s overall injury rate does not establish its forklift-specific risk.

Transportation and storage had an estimated 40,000 non-fatal injuries annually over 2022/23–2024/25, equivalent to 2.4% of workers compared with 1.8% across all industries. These include activities beyond warehousing and causes beyond lift trucks.

Who is most at risk?

Include new starters, agency staff, visitors and experienced workers changing equipment or duties in the assessment. An unsupported age or regional ranking is not a substitute for understanding exposure.

Operators need training and authorisation for the equipment and work. Pedestrians need information about routes and restricted areas. Supervision should identify unsafe practices and trigger reassessment.

The cost of forklift accidents to UK businesses

Consequences depend on the incident. These cost categories are useful for planning; they are not fixed prices or predictions of a court penalty.

Potential consequence	What an employer may need to address
Injury and recovery	Absence, appropriate support and replacement cover.
Operational disruption	Investigation, interrupted work and changes to the system.
Equipment or stock damage	Repair, replacement and checks before return to use.
Legal and regulatory action	Enforcement or claims where the relevant legal conditions are met

Comparing prosecution fines requires the facts of each case and the applicable sentencing framework.

Interpreting accident trends

Broad workplace-transport figures do not establish a trend in forklift-only incidents. Historical studies may use different equipment definitions and reporting thresholds.

At business level, track comparable incidents and near misses alongside exposure, such as operating hours. Review changes in reporting before interpreting a change in totals as a change in safety.

Forklift legal requirements in the UK

In Great Britain, PUWER requires suitable equipment, maintenance, information, instruction and training. LOLER adds requirements for lifting operations and equipment, including thorough examination where applicable. Transport arrangements must protect pedestrians and others affected by the work.

HSE describes three training stages: basic, specific job and familiarisation. Assess performance and arrange refresher training when needed. A manual handling awareness course does not qualify someone to operate a forklift. Northern Ireland has separate legislation.

Preventing forklift accidents: what the evidence shows

Pedestrian segregation

Use separate routes and controlled crossings. Restrict access to loading areas.

Operator restraints

Provide the appropriate restraints and protective arrangements and supervise their use.

Training and authorisation

Confirm competence for the truck, attachments and task, with familiarisation before authorisation.

Site-specific induction for visiting drivers

Explain routes, waiting areas and loading arrangements.

Pre-use inspection

Follow manufacturer checks and the site system; report defects and remove unsafe equipment from use.

Speed management

Set speeds appropriate to visibility, pedestrians, the surface and the load.

Load management

Use rated capacities and approved attachments. Keep loads stable and follow operating instructions.

Written by workplace safety experts

This guide was produced by the team at Manual Handling Training, a UK provider of RoSPA-approved and CPD-accredited online health and safety training. Manual handling and workplace transport safety are closely connected — forklift operations eliminate some manual handling risks while creating a new set of serious hazards that require active management. We publish data resources like this one because we believe clear, accurate information is foundational to safer workplaces, and because clean forklift accident data for the UK is genuinely hard to find in one place.

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