SAJ stevedores sporting neon coloured vests, hard hats and gloves, which are safety gear that all stevedores are required to wear while on the port.
THE SHIPPING Association of Jamaica (SAJ) and the partners of Port Bustamante are intensifying health and safety awareness at the Port of Kingston with a view to fostering a safety culture among stevedores and other categories of workers. The objective of this programme is among other things the safety of all workers and reducing the potential for all accidents on the Port.
"Due to the increased focus on security worldwide many ports around the world have seemingly neglected the area of safety. But, at the Port of Kingston, we are seeking to ensure that there is a balance of focus on both areas," explained Trevor Riley, SAJ's general manager, who is the Chairman for a special committee established to promote safety on the port.
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
One of the primary objectives of the committee is to improve the occupational safety and health conditions on the port. The committee, which was formed in July 2004, is also to oversee the implementation of policies, procedures and strategies designed the collaboration between workers and management in the enhancement of safety at the port.
AWARENESS PROGRAMME
These efforts are to include an effective awareness programme; installation of appropriate signage as well as safety training programmes, among other preventative measures. Focus will also be on conducting a general safety audit to identify areas of concern and determine corrective action.
The committee comprises representatives from the SAJ, the Stevedoring Companies, union officials and delegates, and has the responsibility to ensure that all parties meet their respective obligations toward Occupation Health and Safety on the Port.
Commenting on the overall effort Mr. Riley adds that while the entire team of management, union and workers have always been safety-conscious, there was a renewed thrust in this area so as not to allow safety issues to be side-tracked because of the heightened focus on security.
He said there was a commitment at all levels and the top executives at the port facilities had taken a personal interest in ensuring that a safety culture is intensified and deepened within all systems at the port.
In that regard, he said relevant signs and markers were being erected at the port and the SAJ recruiting centre to help guide workers, who are encourage to don necessary safety gear to prevent accidents.
The Safety Committee Chairman said the renewed effort would draw on best practices from the bauxite and manufacturing sectors and also international standards as well as the industry's own track record to come up with innovative strategies and ensure that "we maintain and improve the systems that will ensure the safety of all persons on the port".
