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18.
July
2016.
Could your forklift drivers be the best in the world?
Dear Editor,
Could your forklift drivers be the best in the world? RTITB seeks top lift truck drivers for international award
Please find below the latest press release from RTITB.
July 2016
Could your forklift drivers be the best in the world? RTITB seeks top lift truck drivers for international award
Entries for the International Forklift Operator of the Year 2016 competition, hosted by RTITB, are now open. Employers from all around the world are encouraged to enter their forklift drivers now for a chance to win international acclaim.
The popular Forklift Operator of the Year competition, which takes place every three years, is a truly international event. Open to employers across the globe, any forklift truck driver who has been trained on a counterbalance truck within the past five years can enter the 2016 contest.
The winner of the recent India Forklift Operator of the Year 2015, Srinvasa N D of Toyota Kirloskar Motor, has already been confirmed as competing in the live heats of the international 2016 contest. Other international entrants have also completed the first stage of testing and are hoping for a chance to take part in the next round of the competition, including Chuck Long of US company Boise Cascade, winner of the Blue Mountain Forklift Round Up.
“Forklift trucks play an important role in so many companies around the world, regardless of size or industry,” says Laura Nelson, Managing Director of RTITB, the preferred global standards setting body for workplace transport training. “This competition celebrates the skills and knowledge of forklift drivers while promoting safety and encouraging all operators to achieve accuracy, control and efficiency.”
“It is a great opportunity for employers to shows that they have achieved excellence in MHE operations and it also helps prove to potential customers that the company has a competitive operational edge. If they make it through to the Finals, operators will be displaying their driving skills in front of an international audience, developing their abilities while bringing great acclaim for their companies,” continues Laura.
The first stage of the International Forklift Operator of the Year competition is an online test taking a maximum of 45 minutes to complete. The test is accessible around the clock and is designed to assess a lift truck operator’s understanding of the different skills which help prevent workplace incidents and damage, with questions covering pre-shift checks, practical operation, safety, attitude and efficiency. The online test needs to be completed by 30th June, so employers are urged to enter their drivers soon.
Only the 40 top scoring entrants from the online test will be invited to compete at a series of action-packed live heats. Taking place from 13th – 16th September 2016 at IMHX 2016 (International Materials Handling Exhibition) at the NEC in Birmingham, UK (travel and accommodation provided by RTITB for international finalists), the successful international forklift truck operators will complete one theory test, one pre-shift test and two practical driving tests, all specially designed to test the skills and knowledge that drivers need for safe and efficient operation.
The 10 best operators from the IMHX heats will qualify for the Grand Final of the competition where the finest operators in the world will compete in a series of live challenges in a bid to be crowned ‘International Forklift Operator of the Year 2016’. The date and full details for the exciting Grand Final will be announced later this year.
“Entering operators into the competition helps employers to show drivers just how valued they are in the business, and this helps companies attract and retain the operators with the highest safety standards and the best professional skills,” says Laura. “As an added benefit for employers, this year we will also be providing them with detailed, personalized test reports for each of their operators.”
After drivers have completed the first online test employers will receive a detailed assessment of their operators’ skill level. Employers will also receive a unique benchmarking report showing how their employees compare to other operators around the world. These reports will help employers identify any knowledge gaps or potential issues with their operators so that training needs can be addressed in the most targeted and cost-efficient way.
To be recognized as ‘the best of the best in the world’, employers from all over the world should enter their forklift operators before 5th August 2016.
To request a competition entry pack, please contact Amy Southall at RTITB - fltcompetition@rtitb.co.uk - +44 (0)1952 520218.
Organizers of other forklift competitions around the world are also encouraged to contact Amy Southall at RTITB to discuss partnership opportunities and fast-track entry for winners of existing forklift truck driver competitions.
For more information on RTITB’s International Forklift Operator of the Year 2016 visit www.opofyear.com or follow the competition on Twitter @opofyear.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
RTITB sets industry leading training standards specifically designed to change behaviour and make measurable improvements to efficiency, risk and safety.
As the preferred regulatory body for workplace transport training, our accreditation, audit, certification and instructor training services are reliable, robust and developed by a team dedicated to the common goal of keeping people safe.
We set training standards for goods vehicle driver licence acquisition training, driver assessment, Driver CPC Periodic Training, yardshunter training, banksman training, and all types of materials handling equipment: making us the only company able to provide absolute assurance for a full range of workplace transport training.
Our training standards are used extensively in the UK, Ireland, India and the Middle East, across a number of sectors: supply chain, freight forwarding, warehousing, road haulage distribution, oil and gas, food and drink manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, construction, cold chain, ports, and airports and public sector organizations such as councils and prisons.
Established in 1965 and with over 50 years' experience, RTITB is the regulatory body of choice for businesses committed to safety and efficiency. Since inception well over 1 million people have attended RTITB courses. Since 2014, more than 268,000 delegates have been trained to RTITB standards.
Visit www.rtitb.co.uk for further information.
If you require any further information please contact me
Hannah Patterson
+44 (0) 1903 207408
hannah@molokini.co.uk
MOLOKINI MARKETING LTD