Health and safety review into Ports of Auckland following deaths of workers
Monday, 14 September 2020
Auckland Council is launching a health and safety review into Ports of Auckland following three deaths in as many years.
Most recently and sparking safety concerns was the death of father-of-seven Pala’amo (Amo) Kalati. Kalati was crushed to death by a container aboard a ship early on August 30.
After his death, Maritime NZ took the rare move of issuing the company with a notice to improve safety.
Transport Minister Phil Twyford also said it’s time for a hard look at the company.
**READ MORE:
* Auckland port deaths: Transport Minister calls for 'hard look' at company
* Auckland port: another serious incident revealed, night-shift culture criticised
* Auckland port death: Raft of safety breaches before man was crushed by container
* Wharfie was crushed to death by container on ship at Ports of Auckland
* Ports of Auckland admits health and safety charge after fatal crane accident
* Ports of Auckland fined $424k after death of ocean swimmer Leslie Gelberger
**
On Monday, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said Kalati’s death was a tragedy Auckland Council didn’t want to see happen again.
“This is why Auckland Council will be launching an independent investigation into health and safety practices at Ports of Auckland.
“While Ports of Auckland is a commercial entity with its own board, and ensuring the health and safety of workers is legally the responsibility of the port’s board, council as the shareholder wants to ensure that health and safety provisions are fit for purpose and that adequate health and safety practices are being followed.”
The port’s board had confirmed to council it supported the review and Ports of Auckland (POAL) would co-operate with all aspects of it.
In a media release, POAL board chairwoman Liz Coutts said Kalati’s death was devastating for his family, friends, and colleagues.
“The wellbeing of our staff is paramount and POAL will co-operate fully with the independent review.”
Goff said because Maritime NZ was responsible for health and safety on water and Worksafe was responsible for it on land, there had been no “across-the-board” look to see if there were systemic problems.
“Incidents in recent years, including the death of two workers and one serious injury are a serious cause for concern to me and other councillors,” he said.
“An independent review to examine the causes of the incidents is necessary to determine whether there is a pattern of failure in the health and safety measures that are in place at the port.”
The cost of the review will be paid for by POAL. It is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Since 2017, there have been three deaths associated with health and safety breaches involving POAL.
Laboom Midnight Dyer, 23, suffered critical injuries after a straddle carrier he was driving tipped to its side on August 27, 2018.
He died in hospital five days later. POAL admitted a health and safety charge in August 2020 at Auckland District Court.
Before Kalati and Dyer’s deaths, a company pilot boat accidentally struck and killed ocean swimmer Leslie Gelberger.
The company was fined $424,000, and skipper Grant More fined $8400, for failing to comply with health and safety duties and exposing an individual to a risk of death or serious injury.
In March 2015, the port was fined $55,000 and ordered to pay $25,000 to stevedore Neil Bower after he broke several bones in a 15-metre fall the previous year.
Bower fell from a container and hit a crane beam and the wharf before landing in the water.
Months after Bower’s injury, in October 2014, a stevedore was injured after falling through an unprotected hatch aboard a ship. The company was fined $50,000 following a prosecution by Maritime New Zealand.
In the past eight years at least 13 workers have died aboard ships or at ports in New Zealand, according to Worksafe data.