LIVERPOOL -- National Grid employees from across the Northeast competed in an inaugural forklift rodeo this morning. The participants were judged on proper operation practices while completing a series of four agility and obstacle courses.

The competition is part of the National Grids ongoing effort to promote safety while using heavy machinery; it demonstrated the importance of proper training for all forklift operators.

According to the National Grid, the majority of forklift accidents are a result of operator error or unfamiliarity with correct forklift operations.

The winner of the forklift rodeo was Cathie Davis, out of the Syracuse warehouse.