Zero tolerance for fork lift drivers

There was an outstanding display of driving skills at the Fork Lift Truck competition held in ESB Dublin Supply Stores in Ballycoolin, Dublin, on the 28th of October. The event, which was being run as a grand finale to the 2005 Safety Week, was just one of a number of local initiatives, including quizzes, training, vehicle audits and even a healthy eating fruit stall. With 28 Fork Lift Truck operators in the Dublin stores alone, the competition had a very strong following and was the end result of a two-week-long refresher training exercise. A total of eight operators, Hugh Scanlon, Tony Feighery, Frank Blake, Kurt Scott, Joe Regan, Martin Thompson, Darren Manning and Syl Walsh were selected to go forward to the competition, with the top three (Darren, Martin and Syl) making it to the final.

Due to the already high standard of driving displayed during the refresher training, a penalty marking system was chosen by Fork Lift Truck Instructor Benny Talt to test the competitors on the purpose-built assault course. Manoeuvring, safety awareness, vehicle control, loading, unloading and driving were all part of the scoring system.

In the end it was Darren Manning from the Goods In (outdoor) operation with a penalty score of just 17 who came top of the class. Darren also managed to complete the course in a time of 20 minutes, 54 seconds. "The competition has been a real success," commented Kieran McAuley, Safety Officer, Supply Chain. "It gives the lads a chance to display their high level of skill. Meticulous manoeuvring, precision loading and high safety alertness are what's required of staff who work in very confined environments like the Dublin Supply Stores. The skill shown by the operators here today is no different to what they show in a normal day's work!"