APM Terminals to Observe 4th Annual Global Safety Day
The Hague, Netherlands – October 12th will be observed as Global Safety Day within the APM Terminals Global Port and Terminal Network, which is currently comprised of over 50 facilities around the world, employing more than 22,000 people. Since the inception of the Global Safety Program in 2005, APM Terminals has achieved significant success in safety performance with individual facilities, and as an overall corporate entity, consistently earning national and industry safety awards and recognition.
2010 YTD metrics show APM Terminals has improved 29% over the same period in 2009 in port injuries. Annual safety benchmarking data recently released by the UK-based International Cargo Handling Association (ICHCA), representing more than 150 million TEUs handled, or approximately 30% of total global port throughput, revealed that APM Terminals consistently outperforms the industry with 0.57 injuries per 100,000 TEUs handled globally in 2009, as compared with an ICHCA membership average of 2.13 for the same period. Between 2008 and 2009, while ICHCA members demonstrated improvement in safety performance of 27%, APM Terminals achieved a 60% reduction in port-related accidents. The London-based TT Club has also taken note of APM Terminals performance when comparing the entire port industry’s safety performance against peers and related industry benchmarks.
“Our policy is to never accept an unsafe condition and proactively engage in making every day a safe day” stated APM Terminals CEO Kim Fejfer, who has made Safety a component of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program for the past five years.
During this year’s Global Safety Day observance each APM Terminals facility will work from a catalog of activities and safety education projects and exercises to be tailored to local needs. This year’s theme is “Safety First, Always do YOU live up to it?” Topics to be covered include Work Processes, Risk Management, Personal Protective Equipment and Tools, Safety Awareness Activities, and External Parties, including all personnel conducting business on any APM Terminals work site, including contract workers, outside truck drivers and visitors.
Safety training for outside drivers will be aggressively pursued as terminals work to reduce accidents and injuries. An analysis of safety APM Terminals’ performance reporting has indicated that nearly half of all port and terminal accident risk (49%) is the result of vehicular traffic violations.
“We strive for zero injuries, and we will not let up until we have attained this goal” said Fejfer.
About ICHCA
ICHCA INTERNATIONAL LIMITED is a membership organization originally established in 1952 and incorporated in 2002. It is dedicated to the promotion of safety and efficiency in the handling and movement of goods by all modes and during all phases of both national and international transport chains.
About APM Terminals
– providing the port infrastructure to drive global commerce
APM Terminals operates a Global Terminal Network of 50 terminals with 22,000 employees in 34 countries that provide the port infrastructure essential to international transportation and global economic growth. The liner shipping industry, served by APM Terminals and other operators, carries $4.6 trillion worth of international trade - approximately one third of the total value of global commerce.
For logistics professionals, the Global Terminal Network plays an important role in supply chain management with location, capacity, flexibility and efficiency clearly linked to supply chain success and port-centric logistics.