Birmingham, United Kingdom (25th October, 2012) - Trucks Direct UK Ltd, one of the UK's largest suppliers of quality used forklift trucks for sale and hire, comment as it is announced that the representatives of the UK's four main accrediting bodies covering forklift operator training have agreed to form the Accrediting Bodies Association (ABA).

In 2010, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) held a conference to address the role of the accrediting bodies responsible for helping employers select training organisations that offered quality training. After a period of consultation, representatives of AITT, ITSSAR, NPORS and RTITB agreed to form the ABA.

Established in early 2012, ABA aims to contribute to the reduction of workplace transport accidents, and to improve workplace transport safety through training.

Criteria have been formulated to qualify accrediting bodies based on the HSE proposal and widely used national and international standards for certification and awarding bodies.

The main areas the agreement covers are the standards to which the training providers will have to adhere, the methods of monitoring to be applied by the relevant bodies, and the future registration of operators by the training providers.

The standards each of the accrediting bodies will have to attain and adhere to will be regularly audited by an independent, external auditing body. Subject to final HSE board approval, the HSE Workplace Transport Team will continue working with the ABA in an advisory role.

The newly formed association expects the agreement to bring clarification for future training and testing of all workplace transport and materials handling equipment operators.

Employers will also have assurance that the accredited training provider will perform to the standards in ACoP (L117).

Simon Watkins of Trucks Direct commented: "We are delighted to hear about the formation of the ABA, as we are strong believers that uniformity in the form of a specific criteria and framework is a great thing for forklift training, helping to maintain a high level of quality tuition throughout the industry.

"We look forward to observing how the ASA will contribute to the improvement of forklift health and safety training standards in the coming years."

For more information on Trucks Direct UK's products and services, please visit http://www.trucksdirectuk.co.uk or call 0121 344 4744.

About Trucks Direct UK Ltd:
Centrally-located in the West Midlands, Trucks Direct is one of the country's largest suppliers of quality used forklift trucks, with many years of trading and thousands of satisfied customers throughout the UK and overseas. The company's long history and extensive contacts in the industry enable us to offer the highest-quality vehicles at the lowest prices. Trucks Direct's customers range from small businesses acquiring their first forklift, up to some of the country's largest plc companies, and they employ qualified engineers to ensure that each vehicle sold is thoroughly checked and delivered with 12 months L.O.L.E.R. certification.

Contact:
Simon Watkins
Trucks Direct, Gailey Park
Three Acre House, Walsall Road
Perry Barr, Birmingham, UK
Zip: B42 1TP
Tel: 0121 344 4744
Email: [email protected]