Source: New Zealand Government
Good morning, everyone. It’s great to be with you all here as we formally launch the Approved Code of Practice for loading and unloading of cargo at ports and on ships.
Thank you to Kirstie and the members of the Port Health and Safety Leadership Group.
As Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, I want to create an environment where businesses and organisations can confidently address the things that cause workers harm. New Zealanders should be able to return home safe and healthy at the end of each workday.
Businesses, on the other hand, deserve clear work health and safety legislation that is cost- effective and easy to comply with. They should not be tripped up by unnecessary steps or trying to interpret and navigate complex or confusing rules and regulations.
Sadly, the current system is not achieving the results most New Zealanders would expect.
This is why the Coalition Government is committed to reforming health and safety law and regulations. As you know, I recently concluded a 4-month consultation on how we can improve our approach to health and safety. MBIE officials are currently going through the feedback, and I’ll have further updates on this process in the new year.
Ports are complex, high-risk and dynamic environments with several drivers of harm.
Loading and unloading cargo, in particular, is the most the dangerous operation in ports. Workers in stevedoring have higher numbers of injury and fatal injury claims between 2021 and 2023 compared with other comparable subsectors. Each injury or death creates a ripple effect on workers, their families and communities.
Changes and improvements to safety in New Zealand’s ports were clearly needed following two fatal stevedoring accidents that happened within days of each other in April 2022.
The Port Insights Picture and Action Plan outlines initiatives to address the issue of serious harm on ports. One of the actions was delivered on July 1 this year, with the transfer of regulatory responsibility from WorkSafe to Maritime NZ.
Having one main regulator responsible for the port environment helps to avoid confusion especially when incidents occur on major ports, such as when loading and unloading cargo.
Another key recommendation is the development of an Approved Code of Practice on loading and unloading cargo, which I’m pleased to launch here today.
The ACOP seeks to reduce incidents and injuries by setting consistent safety practices in our ports.
It provides clear, practical standards for businesses to identify and control health and safety risks related to the challenges of loading and unloading cargo at ports and on ships.
It simplifies compliance and reduces administrative burdens. It ensures workers have the right tools and environment to work safely and allows flexibility for those wanting to innovate.
The ACOP ensures the actions businesses and workers take to protect health and safety are appropriate and meaningful, rather than just another tick-box exercise.
The Approved Code of Practice has the sector’s seal of approval, having been co-designed through a collaborative leadership and partnership approach by the Port Health and Safety Leadership, led by Maritime NZ.
The ACOP has been based on insights and data from ports, stevedoring and marshalling companies, workers and regulators on where, when, how and why harm is happening.
It’s great to see how this collaborative, data-driven approach resulted into a pragmatic and practicable Code of Practice which focuses on key risks that harm people.
The ACOP shifts the focus from mere compliance to addressing the root causes of workplace harm. By identifying and mitigating these causes, we get to the heart of what is hurting people and have a better chance of preventing harm.
By focusing on preventive measures, setting consistent safety practices, and reducing costs and uncertainty for businesses, the ACOP takes a step further in promoting a strong health and safety culture in our ports sector.
I would like to acknowledge and thank the businesses, organisations and individuals who have been involved in the ACOP’s development over 15 months.
I look forward to seeing its positive impact on health and safety in New Zealand ports.
