Ports must pay more than lip service to safety


A worringly low percentage of port owners, operators and contractors are willing to invest in safety measures, despite acknowledging that a safer port environment directly contributes to reducing costs, according to a new survey from Trelleborg.

The company's barometer survey found that 81% of respondents believed that having a safer port environment directly helps to save money, but only 9% of respondents actually felt that investment should be spent on port safety measures.

Richard Hepworth, managing director at Trelleborg, said to Port Strategy: “The industry is reluctant to invest because of a need for a direct return – it’s much easier to invest in terms of development where there is a clear return.”

The report makes clear that buying cheap is not always the more cost effective option over the lifetime of the job and that the port industry needs to take a longer term view on the issue of safety - rather than on a purely reactive basis.

Trelleborg’s latest barometer report aims to help raise awareness of port owners’, operators’ and contractors’ apparent willingness to cut corners in safety in favour of low cost procurement.
Richard Hepworth, managing director at Trelleborg, said to Port Strategy: “By producing this report, Trelleborg are aiming towards a holistic understanding of our customers’ needs.” But beyond this, there is the greater aim of “improving safety standards across the industry.”

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