Media Releases
National Forklift Driving Finals
Thursday 22 November 2001
Thirteen of New Zealand’s top forklift drivers will be competing to be the king of forklift driving in Auckland today and tomorrow.
This event, which is in its tenth year, comes after 320 competitors went through five months of eight regional finals throughout the country.
The competition, which is sponsored by Nissan Forklifts, raises awareness of forklift safety and training and at the same time allows forklift drivers to demonstrate their skills and focus their attention on safety.
"There’s been a substantial increase in the number of entrants this year, and also in the number of female entrants," said chief judge, Maurice Flood from the Occupational Safety and Health Service.
"In the late eighties, industry saw there was a problem with forklift safety and took the initiative to set up the competition, in partnership with OSH, as one of the measures to address the problem.
"I am pleased to say that in the last year, no forklift operators have been killed at work.
"This competition, in conjunction with other initiatives, has played an important part in lowering the number of forklift related deaths and injuries.
"It is also an excellent example of industry working in partnership with OSH."
The entrants are competing for more than $7,500 in cash and prizes.
The live final starts at 4.00pm on Thursday afternoon at 9-13 Sims Road, Penrose and will be followed by a prize giving.
