NZFIA News

THE GOOD PRAcTIcE Guideline (GPG) draft is nearly ready to be distributed to the wider industry for feedback. We are working on the final few sections, then it will be time to format the document and work on any illustrations that may be required. The panel has been doing great work within this space and they have proposed some positive and much needed changes to our industry. I have been encouraging the panel to think big and to provide solutions to issues that have plagued us all within the forklift industry for some time. The GPG has been drafted with the betterment of our industry at the forefront and has been no small task. The GPG has been a “from the ground up” project and is not a revised ACOP by any means. I have been in communications with Worksafe NZ, NZQA and Hanga-Aro-Rau so that we can hit the ground running as we progress this document. Once this document is complete, a review of the forklift related Unit Standards will commence. We have included proposals for how this may look, and we look forward to receiving feedback from the wider industry when we distribute the draft GPG for industry feedback in the near future. I am sure there will be those who approve the proposals. We also expect that there will be those that feel that we may have missed the mark. Fortunately, the Forklift community won’t need any encouragement to give feedback… And this is a good thing! This document needs to best serve the industry. By best serve, I mean Keep our people, our mobile plant and our operations safe. To ensure that everyone is aware of their duty of care, obligations, and responsibilities regardless of if you are a Supplier, Trainer, Employer, Fleet Manager, Service Provider or Forklift Operator. This is our opportunity to produce a “by industry, for industry” document. If there are those that feel we have missed the mark, this will at least start the discussion as to what would best serve us. A lot of work has been underway producing, developing and moderating training packages for our members wishing to deliver Silvercard Forklift training. Two training packages have been moderated and approved to report the following unit standards: 1. 10851 – Operate a powered industrial lift truck (forklift) 2. 10852 – Operate a powered industrial lift truck (forklift) fitted with attachments 3. 18409 – Use a forklift mounted safety platform in the workplace. MENTORING cOURSES will be underway shortly for those who wish to deliver the above training packages. These mentoring courses are aimed to familiarise the trainer with the course content as well as learn the back of house systems designed to load learners and report the appropriate units. As many of you will be aware, the calibre of Forklift training being delivered in NZ is inconsistent. Silvercard Forklift will be delivered to the same standard regardless of where you attend the course. We aim to achieve this by adopting the model currently being used by the Silvercard MEWP programme. This consists of courses such as the mentoring course, but in addition we moderate and support our trainers as best we can to achieve this consistency.

PLANNING fOR THE New Zealand Forklift Operator Championships 2022 is underway! The intention is to hold regional heats throughout NZ and for the winner of each region to compete at the finals in Christchurch on the 25th and 26th of November at the Trucking Industry Show. The NZFIA along with other suppliers will be there, so save the date. Come and introduce yourself, tell us your thoughts on the draft GPG, talk Forklifts and watch the championships to see who takes the trophy and the bragging rights home. More details on this to follow. ■