Port scoops safety prizes

Ports of Auckland Ltd (POAL) bosses are celebrating after the company came away with two prizes from the Safeguard New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards.

The company took out the collaboration award, which recognises the collaboration between POAL, the Maritime Union of NZ (MUNZ) and stevedoring companies C3 Limited and Wallace Investments to develop a stevedoring code of practice.

“We are honoured to receive this award,” says Roger Gray, POAL’s chief executive officer. “It’s a testament to the hard work and collaboration of these organisations over the past year. 

“The code of practice is another step forward as we become a safer port. It’s wonderful to celebrate the progress we’ve made.”

Grant Williams, of the MUNZ, says collaboration such as this wouldn’t have been possible 18 months ago.

“Our members at Ports of Auckland are now working closely with POAL in decision-making processes around health and safety,” adds Williams.

“The open and collaborative approach by POAL’s management team has been extended to others who operate on the port. The result is a sense of inclusion and shared ownership in the stevedoring code of practice, which I think is important and something all parties can be proud of achieving.

“This award acknowledges that everyone’s contribution to safety has value and we can get better results when we work together.”

The second success of the event came when POAL’s general manager of safety and wellbeing, Vanessa Matakatea, won the award for health and safety practitioner of the year.

Pictured above, from left, are Grant Williams, Roger Gray, Gavin Hudson, CEO of C3 Ltd, Vanessa Matakatea, and John Van Aalst, managing director of Wallace Investments.