The Brisbane Market hosts the Forklift Operator of the Year event each year, with this year’s grand final event to be held in October as part of the Brisbane Markets Safe Work Month activities.
Over 4,500 people working or doing business at the Brisbane Markets site daily, with the Brisbane Markets having the highest concentration of forklift operators in Queensland, so promoting a positive safety culture is one of our main priorities.
Nobody likes to be constantly pulled up for doing the wrong thing. To promote safe work of this this, we have implemented the Forklift Operator of the Year event as a way to reward forklift operators who do the right thing and take a proactive approach to managing safety in the way they conduct their daily work activities.
The event runs over several weeks. Forklift operators are nominated and then enter into an observation round where their safe work practices are assessed. The observation period runs over several weeks, the event works to influence safety culture over an extended period, rather than just on the grand final day.
The results of the observation round are tallied and the top ten finalists then compete over a competency course which tests their skills under safety, time and procedural requirements.
How it works
Round 1: Thursday, 20 August to Wednesday, 9 September 2026
The event is open to all Tenants and Tenant employees who hold a valid Brisbane Markets Forklift Operator Permit (FOP).
It is a condition of entry that FOP holders have not received any safety compliance notices from BML in the last 12 months.
Round 2: Thursday, 10 September to Thursday, 8 October 2026
All registered contestants are provided with forklift magnets for the observation period. Each entrant will be allocated a number for identification purposes.
Market Officers and unidentified judges will observe and score the contestants during the observation period.
Contestants will lose or gain points depending on how well they comply with the Forklift Operating Rules as detailed in the Brisbane Markets Regulations.
Finalists Announced: Thursday, 15 October 2026
Round 3: GRAND FINAL: Tuesday, 27 October from 8am
The contestants with the top 10 highest scores from the observation round will be invited to participate in a timed, practical course designed to test their forklift operating skills. Contestants will be assessed by a panel of judges.
PRIZES
FIRST Prize – Trophy and $3,000 CASH*
SECOND Prize – Trophy and $1,500 CASH*
THIRD Prize – Trophy and $500 CASH*
*This amount will be transferred into a bank account of the winner’s choice.
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