Union criticises port safety process

Following two fatalities within a month late last year and a recent incident whereby a forklift driver was injured by a falling container, the port has apparently worked closely with WorkSafe New Zealand.

However, Mr Butson says safety should have been improved well before the recent serious incidents: “ … all of the issues identified by WorkSafe had been identified by members and raised in health and safety committee meetings in the weeks and in some cases, months, leading up to this incident,” he said.

LPC chief executive Peter Davie counters that safety is a priority for his business and says the involvement of WorkSafe has provided a “new set of eyes to look over the operation”.

He added that the majority of improvement notices issued by the safety regulator had no connection to the most recent incident and instead were related to more minor issues such as dust.