Port injuries are down but a union says more work is needed on safety

Port of Auckland says lost-time injuries have fallen by a third in the past year. Photo / Michael Craig

Auckland’s port company says injuries have sharply dropped under new national standards, but a workers’ union says some employers still aren’t getting the message on port safety.

The Approved Code of Practice for Loading and Unloading Cargo at Ports and on Ships was introduced by the Government last November to create unified standards across the country instead of individual ports setting their own rules.

At the time, Workplace Health and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden said the standards would reduce harm and fatalities on ports by setting consistent safety practices.

Port of Auckland general manager health, safety and wellbeing, Rob Mair, said the standards have been good for the industry, with lost-time injuries falling by a third in the past 12 months.

“It’s really helped us create a consistent set of work practices, which improve outcomes for safety.”

Port of Auckland general manager health, safety and wellbeing, Rob Mair, says the standards have been good for the industry. Photo / Michael Craig

Maritime Union national secretary Carl Findlay said some companies are implementing the standards better than others.

“There are employers who think it’s okay to work 60 to 70 hours and week and have 12-hour shifts with only two half-hour breaks,” he said.

“It’s my belief that there are companies out there that could do a lot better, and there are companies that are doing everything they can.”

Findlay said the standards are a welcome starting point and delivered a great standard for workers.

“All the stats are heading in the right direction. Overall, good progress but there’s still some work to do. We will be pushing hard to make sure that work’s done.”

Maritime Union national secretary Carl Findlay says some companies are implementing workplace standards better than others. Photo / Janna Dixon

Mair said injuries are still occurring and there is always a need to keep on top of such problems.

“They tend not to be very serious ones, things like finger and hand injuries and twisted or strained backs, which our teams fortunately recover from very quickly.

“There’s still more to do in that space, and we’ve partnered with our union colleagues to investigate things like improving PPE and designing how particular tasks can be done.”

Mair said work on safety can’t stand still and the port will continue to work with the regulator and staff on improvements.

Jacob Jones is a Newstalk ZB reporter working out of the Auckland newsroom. He has an interest in council and local government issues.