Report finds 'major safety issues' after 2 port workers died in same week

There are calls to overhaul the New Zealand stevedoring industry after the death of two port workers in the same week last year.

Father-of-two Atiroa Tuaiti, 26, died after being crushed by a container at the Ports of Auckland on 19 April 2022. He was helping unload the Capitaine Tasman.

Donald Grant, a father in his 70s, died after being buried under coal at Lyttelton Port while helping unload the bulk carrier ETG Aquarius just six days later.

The accidents were separately investigated by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC), which released its findings in a joint report today, due to "commonalities" between the two incidents.

The Chief Investigator of Accidents, Naveen Kozhuppakalam, said the report identified broad safety issues for the whole stevedoring sector. In particular, Kozhuppakalam highlighted three areas – regulatory activity, cohesion in the stevedoring sector, and individual employers’ management of safety.

Tuaiti was employed by independent company Wallace Investments Ltd (WIL), and Grant had been employed by the Lyttelton Port Company Ltd. TAIC said both operations were working to improve their safety systems, but they were weak in terms of risk identification and mitigation, communication and supervisory oversight.

"We need to move on from stevedoring organisations deciding for themselves how they will meet safety requirements," Kozhuppakalam said.

"They receive insufficient regulatory oversight, lack industry-wide safety standards, and lack the formal safety management oversight and monitoring required of other industries.

"There is minimal proactive gathering and sharing of safety information, and too few appreciate the benefits of a good safety culture."

The investigation found at the time of the Auckland accident, Tuaiti was not in sight of either the crane operator controlling a 40-foot (12.2m) container, nor a second hold operator who had been nearby. He had unexpectedly moved under the suspended load to fix an issue with a twist lock on the container.

The TAIC report found WIL procedures for container loading included "unclear, contradictory, and ambiguous descriptions of role responsibilities".

At Lyttelton, it was found that Grant had not had his helmet chinstrap properly fastened, which "almost certainly contributed to the seriousness of [his] head injury."

"Neither the safety management system, nor staff, recognised the need to wear PPE helmets correctly with chinstraps securely fastened," the report said.

"The routine lack of chinstrap use by stevedores is likely due to the lack of minimum common standards and training for stevedores."

Kozhuppakalam added that neither company monitored how well its employees were using rules and guidelines to manage workplace risks.

"People become desensitised to risk, they take shortcuts or drift away from following rules, some of which are thought to be impracticable. Administrative risk controls only work with ongoing active safety leadership, good supervision, and a culture of safe working behaviour."

TAIC Chief Commissioner Jane Meares said stevedoring has the second highest rate of fatalities of any industry in New Zealand.

Speaking to reporters this afternoon, she acknowledged the sorrow and trauma suffered by the whanāu of Tuaiti and Grant.

She added she was "heartened" by the safety actions taken by Lyttelton Port Company since Grant's death.

TAIC also called on regulators Maritime NZ and WorkSafe to do more to promote future safety across the sector.

"They need to take a 'just culture' approach, provide insight, promote information sharing and maturity in risk management, and encourage continuous learning," Kozhuppakalam said.

"The Commission is recommending that Maritime NZ work with the stevedoring industry to develop and implement a risk management code of practice, minimum training standards, and ongoing improvements such as sharing of safety information amongst industry players."

"Everyone has the right to be safe when they go to work," said Maritime NZ director Kirstie Hewlett.

"Any incident on a port is one too many, and everyone at Maritime NZ extends their thoughts to those who have been injured at ports, as well as to the friends and families who have lost loved ones."

Maritime NZ and WorkSafe share designation overseeing health and safety at ports but Maritime NZ will take over as sole regulator on ports from July 1, 2024.

"We agree that there is always more opportunity to work proactively and we welcome the additional funding that comes with our designation extension from 1 July 2024, so we can carry out more proactive monitoring on ports," Hewlett said.