National Forklift Drivers Competition

Associate Labour Minister Ruth Dyson
Address National Forklift Drivers’ Competition Awards
9-13 Sims Road, Penrose, Auckland
4.15pm, Thursday, 14 October

Rau rangatira maa,
tenei te mihi ki a koutou i runga i te kaupapa o te ra.
Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.
[Distinguished guests, greetings to you gathered here for this purpose today. Greetings once, twice, three times to you all.]

Thank you for inviting me to present the awards for the 2004 National Forklift Drivers’ Competition.
This competition, which has now been going for 12 years, is something of a trialthlon event – involving written theory exams, practical driving and operating assessments over four courses, and a machine pre-check.

The competition – and prizes – are important, but there is also a higher vision here: lifting the driving skills of forklift operators around New Zealand.

In the 70s and 80s, forklift injuries were killing five or six operators a year. The industry took the initiative and worked with Government to put some guidelines in place. The result was the Approved Code of Practice that all forklift operators use today.

Despite a rise in the number of forklifts being used, their have been fewer deaths in recent times – five of the last 12 years have seen a perfect score of zero fatalities.

Injuries are still occurring (you probably all saw the headlines about a recent forklift fatality in Greymouth) but the improvement has been marked.

I’m sure that this contest has been a big part of raising the standard of driving and reducing the death toll.
An estimated 5,000 to 6,000 have competed in this competition since its beginnings in 1992. It’s great to see the wide range of companies encouraging their staff to compete. And it’s great to see, for the first time, a female finalist this year.

Of course, only one person can win each year, but every person who enters is helping lift safety standards across the wide range of industries where forklifts are used.

So with congratulations to all the finalists for your achievement, it’s my great pleasure to present the prizes to the top three in the 2004 National Forklift Driver’s Competition…

In third place, winning a prize of $250: ________________________

In second place, winning a prize of $500: ______________________

And the winner, who receives the very handsome trophy and a trip for two to this year’s Melbourne Grand Prix: ___________________
Congratulations and I hope you and your partner enjoy Melbourne – I can highly recommend the shopping.

Congratulations again to everyone involved – to all the competitors, and to all the supportive employers and to the competition sponsors (OSH, Loadlift, Mainfrieght and Timpak). This competition provides a great example of industry and government getting together for a safety event that’s also a lot of fun.

Thank you.