The RTITB Operator of the Year competition was established in 2008 with the aim to recognise and reward safe and productive forklift truck driving. As a strong promoter of improving safety in the workplace, Toyota has supported this event since the start. The bi-annual competition represents a key opportunity for employers and RTITB accredited training organisations to prove their commitment to safe, efficient, and correctly trained forklift truck operators. The prestigious event takes place on 20th September 2013 at RTITB head office in Telford, Shropshire.
As well as sponsoring an industry respected national competition, Toyota shall also be supplying a number of Toyota electric counterbalance forklift trucks that will be used for a variety of tests including both driving challenges as well as visual inspections. The 80 volt trucks, which are the latest addition to the Toyota short-term hire fleet, will compliment an already impressive fleet of over 3,000 trucks.
The Toyota forklifts feature Toyota’s System of Active Stability (SAS). Using five unique features, Toyota SAS helps keep the forklift stable, protecting the driver, goods as well as the truck.
Toyota also supported two of the regional finalists who participated in the regional finals at IMHX 2013 earlier in the year, were trained directly by Toyota Material Handling UK’s Training Academy. Simon Lucas of Gaza Timber and Ali Sajub of R S Components were trained by Operator Training Manager Marc Paxford and Senior Training Instructor, Ann Rowley.
Similar to RTITB, Toyota Material Handling UK has always set the standard in relation to safety in the workplace, not only by providing innovative products, but also through its added value services like operator training and its share of best practice through ‘Taking Care with Toyota’, a dedicated safety campaign to support companies to reduce injury and accidents in the workplace.
Tony Wallis, Sales and Marketing Director for Toyota Material Handling UK comments: “I believe that investing in quality operator training can help customers improve safety in the workplace, but also work more productively and efficiency”.
Wallis also comments: “Toyota is committed to reducing workplace accidents, and competitions like this go a long way to raising the profile of safe operating practices and the fact that two of the regional finalists were trained by us only reinforces our commitment to providing high quality training to ensure a safe working environment for all those working within a materials handling environment”.
The Toyota Training Academy can provide operators with the training they need to perform their tasks, but also help them to work more productively, cause less damage to their trucks and goods, and even show them how they can use less fuel, saving money and the environment. Toyota offers a range of training courses from novice, re-fresher to train-the-trainer at both customers’ premises, or at one of their UK sites. Courses include: manual handling, safety for supervisors as well as product specific courses for both Toyota and BT equipment as well as other brands of material handling equipment.
In addition to this year’s sponsorship, Toyota are providing a number of free safety resources available from their website www.toyota-forklifts.co.uk , including forklift safety guides, manual handling guides and safety posters.
For more information about Toyota Material Handling’s range of product and services visit www.toyota-forklifts.co.uk or call 0870 850 1409.
