As the first step toward plans to provide its Auction Safety Certification and Lane Safety Training programs globally, the National Auto Auction Associations recently took the message of the “Safe T. Sam” program to its counterparts in the United Kingdom.

NAAA president Mike Browning, executive president Jay Cadigan and AutoTec president Chuck Redden met with officials from Britain’s National Association of Motor Auctions this month in Marbella, Spain as part of the latter’s 2016 conference.

They shared NAAA’s recent safety initiatives while also detailing the safety certification program and discussing how it could be launched the U.K.

In a news release about the trip, NAAA chief executive officer Frank Hackett points out that although there are differences between how U.S. and U.K. auctions operate, safety is paramount at both.

“Due to the U.K.’s limited size and higher land costs, U.K. auctions tend to be more compact than in America, and typically have enclosed lanes with people seated stadium- or theater-style, whereas here we encourage buyers to move around amongst the open lanes,” Hackett said. “But they run three or four sales days per week, which increases the risk of accidents, and we know busy auctions always have the potential for danger — especially with auction activity confined to a
small space.”

Browning added: “One major point we all agree on is that a proactive approach to improving safety conditions is the best way to reduce accidents, control costs due to workplace injury or property damage and save lives to make auctions a safer, happier place to work and do business.”