--- title: 5 things to consider to improve safety in your material handling operation description: 5 key considerations you should make to enhance safety in your material handling operation image: https://blog.toyota-forklifts.co.uk/hubfs/Blog%20Featured%20Image%20(3).jpg --- [Skip to content](https://blog.toyota-forklifts.co.uk/improve-safety-in-your-material-handling-operation#main-content) [Go to toyota-forklifts.co.uk](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/) [| Blog](https://blog.toyota-forklifts.co.uk/) [Covid-19 Update](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/about-toyota/news-and-editorials/our-commitment-to-supporting-the-logistics-of-vital-supplies/) [Brexit Statement](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/about-toyota/news-and-editorials/brexit-impact-statement/) Customer Service [Customer Service](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/customer-support/customer-service/) [Contact local Sales office](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/customer-support/contact-us/) [FAQ](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/customer-support/faqs/) **Call us** New & used trucks: 0370 850 1409 Service support: 0370 850 1402 Rental: 0370 850 1403 Parts support: 0370 850 1404 Operator training: 0370 850 1405 **Open Hours** Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm [Send us an e-mail](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/customer-support/contact-us/), we will get back to you. 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[\< Back to blog](https://blog.toyota-forklifts.co.uk/blog) January 30, 2025 # 5 things to consider to improve safety in your material handling operation 4 minutes to read [Blogs](https://blog.toyota-forklifts.co.uk/tag/blogs), [Health and Safety](https://blog.toyota-forklifts.co.uk/tag/health-and-safety) ![Safety considerations when using material handling equipment](https://blog.toyota-forklifts.co.uk/hubfs/Blog%20Featured%20Image%20(3).jpg) At Toyota, safety is our top priority, and we understand how important it is to our customers. That is why we are dedicated to helping you ensure the safest material handling operation for your business. # How to enhance safety in your material handling operations: A safe material handling operation not only protects your employees, but also boosts efficiency and productivity. Incorporating effective safety practices into your daily operations can significantly reduce accidents, injuries, and equipment damage, creating a safer and more streamlined workplace. ## 1. Reduce manual handling: Manual handling is one of the main causes of injuries amongst employees in material handling environments. That’s why it’s crucial to minimise manual handling to reduce the risk of injury to your workforce. Introducing equipment to aid manual handling should be a key consideration. Assisted handling pallet trucks such as the [BT Pro Lifter](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/our-products/hand-pallet-trucks/low-lifting/bt-pro-lifter/) requires 67% less starting force than standard lifters, reducing physical strain on operators. It is also worth considering powered pallet trucks, such as the [BT Tyro](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/our-products/powered-pallet-trucks/pedestrian/), which takes away all the heavy lifting with no manual handling required.  ## 2. Ensure equipment is regularly services & maintained: Ensuring all equipment is regularly serviced and maintained is important to not only ensure minimum downtime, but to make sure that trucks are working how they should be, and do not have any faults that could potentially lead to an accident. Making sure you have a [service package](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/toyota-service/), and a [thorough examination](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/toyota-service/thorough-examination/) booked for every piece of machinery periodically is essential to ensure the safety of all operators. ## 3. Ensure operators are fully trained: Ensuring your operators are fully trained is not only a legal requirement, but is essential to provide a safe material handling environment. All operators should undergo [forklift operator training](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/solutions/operator-training/) and hold a license before operating equipment. They should also ensure they undertake regular refresher training. At Toyota, offer the highest level of forklift and supervisor training courses, accredited by the AITT. Delivered nationwide or on-site, our training equips drivers with the skills they need to operate forklifts safely and efficiently. ## 4. Look at forklift safety features: The Toyota [System of Active Stability (SAS)](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/trucks/system-of-active-stability/) has delivered unmatched safety to operators and operations for over 20 years. SAS is standard on every Toyota counterbalance forklift. By intervening before any unsafe operations can occur, the system ensures all driving and stacking actions remain stable and controlled. This reduces the risk of accidents while increasing productivity. Operator assistance systems such as [SEnS+](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/trucks/operator-assist-system-sens/) are designed to significantly reduce the risk of collisions by using sensors to detect potential hazards and prevent incidents when reversing, protecting the operator and pedestrians. ## 5. Fleet management software & technology: Adding telematics to your forklift fleet is also an important consideration, through fleet management systems such as [I\_Site](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/solutions/i_site-fleet-management/) you can improve safety through: - Truck speed management - Shock monitoring to track and analyse collisions - Pre-operational checks to ensure the truck is safe and operational before being operated. - Pin or smart pass access to ensure only authorised personnel have the ability to operate trucks ### Looking to enhance safety in your forklift operations? We're committed to promoting best practices in safety across the industry. That's why we've created a collection of [free safety resources](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/customer-support/free-resources/) to help you protect your workforce and optimise your operations.   [Request free safety resources](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/customer-support/free-resources/) ### About Toyota - [Who we are](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/about-toyota/who-we-are/) - [Why buy a Toyota](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/about-toyota/why-buy-toyota/) - [Design Centre](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/about-toyota/design/) - [Logistic Solution Centre](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/about-toyota/logistics-solutions-centre/) - [Work at Toyota Material Handling](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/join-the-team/) - [PR and News](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/about-toyota/news-and-editorials/) - [Pension Scheme Governance](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/pension-scheme-governance/) - [Compliance Documents](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/about-toyota/compliance_documents/) ### Toyota values - [The Toyota Way](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/toyota-lean-academy/the-toyota-way/) - [Toyota Production Systems (TPS)](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/about-toyota/toyota-production-system/) - [Sustainability](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/about-toyota/sustainability/) - [Code of conduct](https://media.toyota-forklifts.eu/published/21528_Original%20document_toyota%20mh.pdf) ### Partners - [Our dealer network](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/about-toyota/our-dealer-network/) ### Customer service - [Contact us](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/customer-support/contact-us/) - [Delivery](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/customer-support/shipping--delivery/) - [Warranty & Return policy](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/customer-support/warranty/) - [How to buy online](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/customer-support/how-to-buy-online/) - [FAQs](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/customer-support/faqs/) - [Terms & Conditions](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/legal/terms-and-conditions/) - [Privacy policy](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/legal/privacy/) - [Cookie policy](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/legal/cookie-policy/) - [Cookie settings](https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/legal/cookie-settings/) Follow us on [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/ToyotaMHUK/) [Twitter](http://twitter.com/intent/follow?source=followbutton&variant=1.0&screen_name=ToyotaMH_UK) [LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/company/toyota-material-handling-uk) [YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/user/toyotamhuk?sub_confirmation=1) [Pinterest](http://www.pinterest.com/toyotaMHEurope/) Prices valid for Online orders only. Copyright © 2026 Toyota Material Handling UK - Stirling Road, Trading Estate, Slough, SL1 4SY - 0370 850 1409 - VAT Number GB 669 2842 89 ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Toyota Material Handling", "url" : "https://blog.toyota-forklifts.co.uk/author/toyota-material-handling" }, "dateModified" : "2025-01-30T16:22:33.955Z", "datePublished" : "2025-01-30T06:15:00.000Z", "headline" : "5 things to consider to improve safety in your material handling operation", "image" : [ "https://blog.toyota-forklifts.co.uk/hubfs/Blog%20Featured%20Image%20(3).jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.toyota-forklifts.co.uk/improve-safety-in-your-material-handling-operation", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.toyota-forklifts.co.uk/hubfs/toyota-material-handling-logo.png" }, "name" : "Toyota Material Handling UK" } } ```