Auckland Port Worker Death – Health and Safety Review Announced for Container Tragedy

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has announced an independent health and safety review at Auckland ports following the death of a worker by a container on board a ship.

Father of seven Palaamo Kalati, 31, a flogger, was killed in the incident on a ship at the Fergusson Container Terminal on August 30.

Kalati was affectionately known as Master by his friends and was a member of the Bay Roskill Rugby League Premier team in 2012.

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The club said on its Facebook page that he was a player who “played very hard” and who always “gave everything.”

The death is also being investigated by Maritime NZ instead of WorkSafe because the incident occurred on board a ship.

Today, Goff said that “death is a tragedy that we do not want to repeat itself.”

“This is why the Auckland Council will launch an independent investigation into health and safety practices in Auckland ports.

“While Ports of Auckland is a business entity with its own board, and ensuring the health and safety of workers is legally the responsibility of the port board, the council as a shareholder wants to ensure that health and safety provisions are adequate. for its purpose and health and safety practices are being followed.

“The board has confirmed that it fully supports and Ports of Auckland will cooperate with all aspects of the independent review.”

Ports of Auckland Board Chair Liz Coutts said: “The death of a longshoreman late last month was devastating for his family, friends and co-workers, and for the entire Ports of Auckland team.”

“The welfare of our staff is paramount and POAL will cooperate fully with the independent review.”

Goff said: “While Maritime New Zealand has responsibility for health and safety on the water, Worksafe is responsible for incidents on land. This means that there has not been a general look at health and safety to see if there are systemic problems.

“The incidents of recent years, including the death of two workers and a serious injury, are of great concern to me and other councilors.

“An independent review is necessary to examine the causes of the incidents to determine if there is a pattern of failure in the health and safety measures that exist in the port.”

The Auckland Council is currently finalizing the terms of reference for the review, and the Council will shortly appoint the independent reviewer or panel.

The costs of the review will be borne by Ports of Auckland. The review is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will allow for stakeholder submissions.