The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) alerted companies across Northern Ireland of an imminent health and safety campaign beginning today.

The campaign will focus on workplace transport and especially the segregation of vehicles and pedestrians, training of drivers and the operation and maintenance of forklift trucks and other vehicles.

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Malcolm Downey of the HSENI, said: "Workplace transport remains one of the main causes of fatal accidents in workplaces across Northern Ireland.

"Twenty one people have been killed in workplaces in the last five years due to incidents involving reversing vehicles, forklift trucks, vehicles overturning and poor segregation of vehicles and workers."

He continued: "During this initiative HSENI will have over 20 inspectors checking for unsafe vehicle movement, poorly maintained vehicles and untrained drivers."

Inspectors are expected to take appropriate enforcement action where statutory requirements are not being met. This will include the issuing of Prohibition and Improvement Notices if necessary.

(JM/KMcA)