Health and safety changes at NZ ports
Friday 16 Aug 2024
On 1 July 2024, Maritime NZ became the primary
regulator for health and safety across New
Zealand’s 13 major ports. Maritime NZ already
regulated the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) on ships, and ship to
shore operations. This has been extended to include the landside of port
operations at the 13 major ports in New Zealand.
Maritime NZ's goal is to support the many businesses on ports that carry
out high-risk activities to improve safety culture, embed new health and
safety practices, and ultimately help reduce harm to the people employed
at ports.
This will impact all logging truck deliveries and ship
loading/unloading.
What does this mean for the port sector?
- Notify incidents online at: maritimenz.govt.nz -
Report any event, incident or situation to us as soon as
possible.
- In life-threatening situations that require
immediate emergency services, dial 111 or radio MAYDAY.
- After-hours serious incidents: Dial 0508 22 55 22
from 4:30pm to 9am, on weekends and public holidays to report loss of
life, serious injury, significant damage to a vessel or port, serious
pollution, or the potential for such events.
- WorkSafe continues to regulate major hazard
facilities, New Zealand’s inland ports, manage HSWA authorisations
and exemptions, and enforce specific laws like the Electricity and Gas
acts (1992).
- View maps of the regulated areas - Maps have been
developed for ports to clearly show the areas covered by Maritime NZ.
- Dedicated Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) team specialists are
based in five locations, and work alongside Maritime Officers, Maritime
Inspectors and Investigations teams.
New guidance and policies for ports are available on the website,
including information on Worker Engagement, Participation and
Representation (WEPR). More details will be released in the coming
months, so you know what to expect, including New Zealand’s
first approved code of practice for stevedoring, which has now been
approved by Ministers.
Click here to find more about the Safer Ports
Programme.
Source and image credit: Maritime NZ
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