Blog Post

Lifesaving Upgrade: We’ve Installed a Defibrillator Outside Our Training Centre

Posted on by Shane Richardson

We’re excited to share some great news from our training centre — we’ve now installed a public access defibrillator (AED) right outside our premises!

Why is this important? 

In a cardiac emergency, every second counts. Having a defibrillator nearby can dramatically increase survival rates. It’s a powerful tool that anyone can use, and it’s available 24/7 for the community.

As a business dedicated to safety and training, this felt like a natural step in supporting our staff, visitors, and the wider local area. Whether you’re here for forklift training or just passing by, this AED could one day save a life — and that means everything to us.

We’d like to thank everyone who contributed to making this happen.

If you’re local, feel free to pop by and take note of the location — you never know when that awareness could make a difference.

Here’s to a safer community, together! 💛

If you have questions about how defibrillators work or would like to learn basic first aid, get in touch — we’re always happy to help spread safety knowledge.

Important Update: Minimum Age for Lift Truck Training in Ireland Now 18

Posted on by Shane Richardson

We’d like to make our customers aware of an important regulatory update that affects anyone booking or undertaking forklift (lift truck) training in Ireland.

Effective immediately, all candidates must now be at least 18 years old to attend lift truck training in Ireland.

THIS DOES NOT AFFECT TRAINING THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE UK
(England, Scotland or Wales – which remains “minimum school leaving age”)

This change follows updated guidance from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), which is working on a revised Code of Practice expected later this year. The HSA has advised that individuals under the age of 18 should not be trained on materials handling equipment (MHE), in order to better align with the intent of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. The existing Code of Practice is now considered outdated and this new position reflects modern expectations for workplace safety and responsibility.

What This Means for You

If you’re planning or booking lift truck training in Ireland – whether at your premises or at a designated training center – please ensure all candidates are 18 or over. This is vital to ensure full compliance and to avoid any disruption to your training plans.

If you have any questions about this change or how it might affect your upcoming training, feel free to contact us directly. We’re here to help you stay compliant and ensure safe, effective training for all your staff.

East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood

Posted on by Shane Richardson

CHARGES APPLY FOR BUS GATES FROM 14th JULY 2025

🚧 REMINDER TO ALL ACCESSING THE TRAINING CENTRE 🚧

Please be aware that the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial area timeline goes to the next stage on 14 July 2025.

This means full enforcement begins.

From this date, only authorised vehicles and those with approved exemptions will be permitted to travel through designated areas. 🚫

Bus Gates Locations: Avonvale Road, Marsh Lane, Pilemarsh

Any unauthorised vehicle driving through a bus gate will be issued a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of up to £70.

Please plan your journey accordingly to avoid penalties.

For full details, visit: https://www.ask.bristol.gov.uk/east-bristol-liveable-neighbourhood-latest-news/news_feed/east-bristol-liveable-neighbourhood-bus-gates-to-go-live-in-june

National Forklift Safety Day 2025 – 10th June

Posted on by Shane Richardson

National Forklift Safety Day is a vital reminder for the entire UK material handling industry about the importance of safe forklift operation.

Every year, this day highlights how proper training, awareness, and responsibility can prevent accidents, protect lives, and improve workplace efficiency.

At HL Training Services, we’re proud to support this initiative. As a trusted forklift training provider, our mission is simple:

Empower operators and employers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to stay safe.

✅ Forklift safety starts with proper training

✅ Regular refresher courses save lives

✅ Safety is everyone’s responsibility

Let’s continue to raise standards, reduce risks, and create safer working environments—today and every day.

Forklift Safety: Learning from the Past, Protecting the Future

In 2024, the focus of National Forklift Safety Day was a structured approach to incident management:

Prepare. Respond. Investigate. Report. Restart. Learn. Prevent.

This campaign highlighted the importance of building robust safety processes—ensuring that when incidents do occur, they are handled swiftly, investigated thoroughly, and used as learning opportunities to prevent future harm. It was a reminder that forklift safety isn’t a one-time tick-box exercise, but an ongoing commitment to improvement.

Now in 2025, the message takes a powerful and more personal turn. This year, the UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) is urging businesses to recognise the emotional impact that serious forklift accidents can have—not just on the individuals involved, but on their families, friends, and colleagues.

The campaign calls on all of us—employers and employees alike—to acknowledge the human cost of preventable accidents. A moment’s lapse in safety can lead to life-changing consequences, affecting mental health, wellbeing, and livelihoods.

At HL Training Services, we stand behind this message. We believe that creating safer workplaces means more than compliance—it means understanding the real people behind every statistic, and working together to ensure they return home safe every day.

👉 Learn more about this year’s campaign: https://nationalforkliftsafetyday.co.uk

Need accredited forklift training at your site or ours?

📩 Contact us: [email protected]

📞 Call: 0117 952 5625

🌐 Or reach us via our contact page: hltraining.co.uk/contact-us

Get in touch today to discuss your needs.

#ForkliftSafetyDay #ForkliftTraining #MaterialHandling #WorkplaceSafety #OperatorTraining #SafetyFirst

National Forklift Safety Day 2025