Exclusion Zones Front And Centre

Keeping workers safe while building New Zealand’s largest infrastructure project is paramount, so this month City Rail Link (CRL) held a special health and safety initiative to reiterate vital safety practices around heavy machinery.  

The theme of this month’s Health and Safety Week “Mahia te mahi” was machine and people exclusion zones.

Rob Mair, General Manager for Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainability, said the project is close to having the highest numbers of mobile machines on site - and working around machinery is a critical risk that must be well controlled.

The week involved workers discussing the use of exclusion zones, a short video featuring machine operators and workers talking about how they keep themselves safe, as well as a friendly competition for the best site set up.

“The bi-annual health and safety week is a great opportunity for the crew to pause and consider the importance of looking out for one another. The response to the revised people and plant exclusion zones has been great and it is fantastic to see the workforce engage with these vital control measures,” said Mair.

CRL’s health and safety week translates to “Mahia te mahi” or ‘Mahia te mahi, hei painga hei oranga mo tātou katoa’ - ‘To do the work, for the good of everyone’.

This health and safety vision has been suggested by our Mana Whenua Forum, it is a Māori proverb accredited to Te Puea Herangi.