Swindon & Wiltshire News
Training centre trials alcohol-testing technology
A national training centre is trialling technology that will prevent drunk drivers getting behind the wheel of a forklift truck.
If the trials are successful, Swindon-based Forklift Training Engineering Centre (F-TEC) hopes the technology will be rolled out across the warehousing, logistics, and material handling industries industry to operators of forklift trucks, aerial platforms, and cranes.
F-TEC are working with Lion Laboratories world-renowned experts in alcohol in breath analysis Lion Laboratories.
The Lion DS-25RS breath alcohol Interlock is a breathalyser that requires a negative breath test to start up the vehicle.
Managing director Karl Baum said: “This is a hugely important to F-TEC as we continue to develop and work in synergy with new and emerging technology applications such as these.”
According to the Trade Unions Congress, 8,000 workplace accidents involving forklift trucks – some of which are fatal – are reported every year.
F-TEC was established by the British Industrial Truck Association and the Fork Lift Truck Association to meet the training needs of the industry.
