The 2015 Oregon Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health (GOSH) Conference in Portland attracted 1,700 attendees and showcased national speakers. The four day March event – the largest of its kind in the Northwest, featured 160 workshops and sessions, an awards luncheon, and safety and health exhibits from more than 140 organizations.
Skilled forklift operators competed for cash prizes in the Columbia Forklift Challenge, held in conjunction with GOSH on March 11. Drivers were tested on their ability to operate a forklift safely during an obstacle course.
Top finishers in the Columbia Forklift Challenge are as follows:
Individuals
- Neil Caylor (Americold)
- Andrew Ibbotson (Americold)
- Randy Langwell (Americold)
Team winner
Americold – Lynden, WA
The course offered a variety of challenges, such as tight slalom runs, precise loading/unloading using pallets, and the task of rolling a bowling ball off a pallet toward pins. All drivers competing were required to have employer-certified training and attended an orientation the morning of the event.
The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA), a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, partners with the Columbia-Willamette Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers to sponsor the Oregon GOSH conference. The GOSH 2017 event is slated for March 6-9.