Kahi Puru, has had many titles in his life, Father, Husband, Paralympian and now advocate for work health and safety.

At age 29 Kahi was working as a driver when he was injured in an accident involving a forklift. Kahi lost his leg in the accident and his life was changed forever.

Today, Kahi has taken on the mission of creating awareness in of safety in the workplace. Kahi, uses the mentality that safety doesn’t stop until you leave the shop.

The following is an interview with Kahi discussing Work Safety and the impact that a momentary laps in judgment has had on him.

Can you tell us about your job prior to the accident?
I was driver/operator of an industrial vacuum truck that collected and transported 14000 meters of toxic waste. I had been on the job for 8 months, our shifts started at 12am and went to 1:30pm. We worked for 13 and half hours in a shift

Were you well-educated on safety back then – what was the industry like regarding safety in the 90’s? Coming from a military background

Given my military background I had extensive safety education but back then things weren’t monitored to same standards as they are today. In most cases, there was a lot of initial safety training and educating when first starting a job but once you were out in the workforce things got very relaxed, this can still be a danger in workplace safety today.

How did the accident happen?
I was coming towards the end of his shift and trying to put away all of the vacuum hoses. I was shutting down the machinery and stepped off of the back of the truck. I didn’t see that there was a forklift operator driving in my direction, obviously, he didn’t see me either. I was caught by the forklift and dragged under it for several meters. I can’t recall specifics of the accident as I was knocked unconscious.

Explain the effect it had on your life initially
I woke up in the hospital in the intensive care unit. I had several injuries to my body including a fractured skull and my left leg had been removed at my hip. At first, I think I went through what most amputees go through. I was afraid and unsure if I wanted to live. How could I provide for my family now? I had a wife a 4-year-old daughter and a 2 and half-month-old baby boy. I was so unclear of what my life would be like?

Once I saw my wife and children, I knew that the answer was just to move forward. There was still much to live for and things would be different. But, I knew that I could adjust and overcome. I didn’t have a choice really, life has to continue on and so did I.

Long-term, how did it affect you – what have you achieved because of it?

At the end of the day, this whole experience made me a better person. I really began living for others first and not just for myself. I began to understand that things happen in life but it really does depend on how you choose to react to them that determines how you’re going to feel. I began to understand that taking care of my family first and then helping others was a better way to live.

This has served to motivate me. First, I began working on myself. I became an athlete and began to compete in powerlifting where I represented Australia in the 2000 Paralympic games. I also have competed in various hand-cycling events and completed the NY marathon. I still compete in various sports today and love the challenge that sport presents. I became a better father and husband and enjoy taking time out to spend with my family. I take every opportunity to teach my children and be involved in their lives. I also live to educate others; I enjoy my life as an ambassador for SafeWork NSW, and as a motivational speaker for workplace safety and for others with disabilities. I try to take every opportunity to encourage everyone to live positive and to increase awareness in the workplace. Safety is something that is everyone’s responsibility.

There’s nothing funny about an accident like this, but has anything ever happened to you because of your loss that was totally hilarious?

I laugh about this all the time, it is interesting when you have an obvious disability to see how people react. Most people will stare, while others will try to ignore you. My favorite thought is the children, they will run right up to me in the middle of a mall and shout “hey, what happened to you?” this cracks me up. At first it makes all the adults uncomfortable as their parents cringe and try to scold their child for asking but I look at it as an opportunity to educate and raise awareness, so I respond to the child by telling them a story about not looking both ways before crossing the road or not listening to my parents. I try to bring the idea of safety to terms they can understand. This is great because it usually opens up a dialog with the parents as well and that good. The more that people are aware and feel free to talk about these things the better we all become.

How do you think the industry could improve safety now?
I think that the industry can continue to improve by being more proactive. We need to encourage everyone from the CEO to the new guy to have discussions around safety and look for opportunities to apply safety procedures and protocols. Safety is an everyone issue and it would be great to see that approach come across.

Another thing that I always advocate for is to record near misses. Most people only record actual incidents but by reporting near misses you create an awareness before there is an accident.

If you could say one thing to our Tradies, what would it be?

Be vigilant and protective record your near misses in order to create awareness. Be the most aware during your first and last 10 minutes of the day. Accidents happen when people aren’t paying full attention and so just make sure that it is something that is always in your mind.

Safety doesn’t stop till you leave the shop!!

The first moments after an accident, injury or medical event are critical.

The more that can be done to stabilise a person, as soon as possible, can help save their life. This is why first aid was developed. If people know the basics to provide assistance to injured or ill people until proper medical care can be provided, they can improve the chances of a proper recovery. If somebody was hurt or collapsed in front of you, would you know what to do? If you answered no, maybe it’s time you considered signing up for Ace’s first aid and CPR training course.

There are several benefits to being first aid trained.

The first and most obvious benefit is that you could save a life. If an incident occurs, and you are the first respondent, having first aid training will make a difference. Training will help you recognize what to do and how to do it helping the patient until medical assistance arrives. More importantly, it gives you the knowledge of what not to do. First respondents that don’t have first aid training, while doing what they assume to be right, may make the situation worse.

Having been trained in first aid and CPR

can give people more confidence in everyday situations as well as in emergencies. A first aid course will provide skills to make you slow down and assess the condition of the patient. This will take the panic out of the equation and gives you the confidence to approach the incident calmly and take the necessary steps to control the circumstances as best you can. This calm assessment of the state of affairs around you is a skill that transfers to other environments and may make you more self-assured.

As well as the peace of mind of being a capable first responder, knowledge of first aid and CPR may help your career prospects to. Having qualified through training can be an attractive attribute to a potential employer. Workplaces require a number of people to be first aiders to be workplace health and safety compliant. If you already have the training, they don’t have to provide it.
Finally, first aid training will give you a better understanding of the human body and how it works. Outside of an emergency, it allows you to identify risks and unhealthy habits that you may not have seen before. This means a healthy and safer workplace and home for you, your colleagues and your loved ones.

Interested in learning first aid?

As well as first aid, CPR training is a part of the first aid course that Ace provides. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a well know technique for maintaining partial blood flow through the body after the cardiac arrest. This blood flow decrease damage to tissue throughout the body and studies have shown that immediate CPR increases the chances of survival.

Even if you have learned how to administer first aid before, it’s important to keep up to date. FIRST AID is informed by medical science and as such will be updated when new advances and discoveries occur. Signing up for a first aid training course is a great way to make sure you have the most recent first aid and CPR information, preparing you for an emergency situation.
If you want to be a confident first responder, with the skills to stabilise an incident until proper medical staff are on hand, check out the Ace Forklift first aid and CPR training course. Our Sydney training centre has many scheduling options for first aid training. Call us today and sign up. It could save a life.

Driving A Forklift Requires a Licence but that Licence Has Some Requirements Of Its Own

Whether you use a forklift every day or just occasionally, you are required by law to be properly licensed with a HRW (High Risk Work) Licence, which we will call a forklift licence for simplicity. For those drivers who have an up to date forklift licence, you will be able to use it without renewing for five years; however, for those who have almost reached their licence expiry date or want to reobtain their licence after it has been expired, a forklift refresher course is the way to go!

What if my forklift licence expired?

If you have allowed your forklift licence to expire and it has been less than 12 months from the expiry date, you can contact SafeWork NSW (or the equivalent organisation in your state), who will help you renew it. If it has been more than 12 months though, you will have to complete the forklift course again. It is also important to update your licence if you haven’t done so since HRW legislation changed on 1st January 2013.

What does the refresher course consist of?

The goal of this refresher course is to assess your skills to ensure you are still competent to operate a forklift. Your course will begin with some pre-study assessment and training, which will allow the course providers to see what level you’re at. This is followed by some theory work and some practical lessons, where you’ll get hands-on experience in the forklift. After your training, you’ll be assessed for your skills and knowledge to ensure you are competent.

At ACE Forklift Training, a refresher course generally runs for about three to four hours, so you can learn what you need to know in a simple, half day session. ACE courses are completely up to date and cover all current regulations and legislation, ensuring that you or your employees are operating machinery with the most updated training and knowledge.
How do I receive my licence?

After completing your forklift refresher course and passing the test, you just need to order your licence card through Australia Post. This incurs a forklift licence fee of $67. The all-inclusive forklift refresher courses at ACE Forklift Training are also very affordable at $121 per person (or $100 per person when you organise a group of five or more) but when you consider that this fee renews your licence for five years at a cost of only $24.20 per year, it is well worth it.

If you are interested in more information on this refresher course please click here.

Are you looking for a new career? Or perhaps you need to upskill for your current industry?

90.6% of Forklift drivers are in full-time work

Gaining a forklift licence can open doors to new, rewarding job prospects. With some 61,000 people employed as Forklift drivers around Australia, the prospects for full-time and long-term employment are high; in fact 90.6% of drivers are in full-time work according to Australian Job Outlook.

NSW, Australia’s most populated state, and home to a large portion of the country’s industry and trade, has one of the highest employment rates for Forklift drivers (30.7%.) Forklift drivers find employment in a number of different areas, but transport, postal and warehousing employs the highest percentage, 35.7% of all qualified Forklift drivers. In this industry, Forklift drivers can find work with postal companies and couriers, in shipping terminals and even at airports. Manufacturing, which includes the large housing development industry, auto and furniture sectors, employs 28.4% of Forklift drivers, wholesale trade employs 14.9%, and retail trade employs 8.8% of drivers. From this, it is clear that while Forklift drivers require a fairly standard set of skills, including excellent judgment and logic, there are career possibilities in a number of different industries and areas.

Forklift drivers can earn up to a $75,000 salary

For Forklift drivers starting their career, wages are fairly low, but steady. The average Forklift driver earns $21 per hour in Australia, according to PayScale, however with time and experience, some can earn up to $36 an hour or $75,000 annually.

Opportunities for career progression from a Forklift licence are numerous.

From simple Forklift operation, employees showing responsibility, efficiency, and leadership skills can be promoted to shift or floor supervisor or even team leader. For those showing interest in mechanics and maintenance, further training may provide opportunities as a maintenance engineer or equipment specialist. Leadership and management skills, patience and an interest in education could also lead to further training and progression to positions such as construction yard operator or manager, and even Forklift training instructor with a company like ACE.

Currently, the highest portion of Forklift licence holders are between 25 and 34 years old. However because Forklift operation is a very stable occupation, with generally long-term employment, there is a high percentage of workers aged between 35 and 54, with a smaller, but still significant number up to 64 years old.

Combine these long-term job prospects with nationwide growth in the building industry, and the increasingly large transport and logistics industries, and there is consistent demand for Forklift licence holders. So regardless of your age, or different industries you’re interested in, gaining a Forklift licence is a solid starting point for a long-term career.

ACE Forklift training offers a number of different Forklift licence courses

From Advanced training courses for first-timers, through to refresher courses and first aid courses for those returning to work or a new industry. Kick start your career today, find the training course that’s right for you.