Gypsum Board Manufacturers of Australasia (GBMA) is a collection of five plasterboard companies across Australia and New Zealand (Boral, CSR, Lafarge, Winstone Wallboards and BGC).  They meet every month to look at ways to improve safety within their industry.  And despite being competitors, they actually collaborate and work towards lifting safety standards together.

One example is the Forklift Challenge.

Every year workers at all five companies are given the opportunity to test their forklift skills by entering the Forklift Challenge.  Throughout the year extra forklift training is undertaken and competitive trials.  Three of the best forklift drivers from each company then compete in the national competition (or 15 competitors in total).

The challenge involves drivers driving product through several difficult courses.  It also includes a pre-operational check and a theory test.  They are also judged on their safety knowledge and operational ability.

It’s a great way to get forklift drivers involved in improving their driving skills and being more aware of safety procedures.  It also lifts the standard of forklift drivers across the industry.

And the competitors all want to get involved, in order to be a part of the challenge that is usually held at an interstate (or even international) location.

GBMA is a great example of competing companies working together to improve the safety and training standards in plasterboard companies.

How can you look at working together with your competitors to improve the safety standards in your industry?