Two UK organisations devoted to materials handling safety have reported record growth in 2022.

Training accreditation body AITT experienced more than 10% growth in membership, according to managing director Liam Knight.

“At the same time, and in spite of an acute shortage of operators and instructors in the workplace transport sector, we have seen the number of AITT-accredited operator registrations increase by a massive 68% in the past two years.

“Looking ahead, (this) year promises to be one of our busiest, with a number of initiatives designed to help our providers work more easily, more efficiently and more cost-effectively than ever,” he adds.

“At the same time, as part of the ABA, we will be rolling out a series of important changes to the categories of materials handling equipment and are already working on ways to minimise disruption for everyone involved in the training process.”

Meanwhile, year-end results demonstrate continued growth in demand for CFTS-accredited Thorough Examinations, with over 95,000 CFTS inspections conducted in 2022.

CFTS chairman Geoff Martin attributes much of the growth to increasing recognition of the CFTS Quality Mark.

“The Quality Mark is our guarantee that a CFTS-accredited examiner visiting your site has at least five years' practical experience, has undergone a demanding Thorough Examination course, and attends regular refresher training,” he explains. “Because CFTS examiners are trained, working engineers, they have not only the knowledge and competence to carry out a Thorough Examination and report any faults, but also the skills and equipment to repair the truck. As a result, any unplanned downtime is either minimised or eliminated altogether.”

Martin adds that there are now more than 750 CFTS-accredited depots covering every part of the UK and serving sectors as diverse as materials handling, construction and agriculture.

CFTS is part of UKMHA.