Raising concerns, lifting the standard of responsibility

APM Terminals has a strict ‘person/machine separation’ policy, and where it is not implemented, we’re quick to address it. But to detect all the issues that can come up in our 64 terminals around the world, we rely on colleagues in every discipline and location, as well as our designated Health & Safety officers.  

Such was the case when Olayinka Adebanjo spoke up, and led the change when he witnessed sub-par behaviour at APM Terminals in Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria. 

Predictive powers 

An electronics and automation specialist, specializing in predictive and condition-based maintenance, Olayinka has worked at APM Terminals for over 13 years, starting out as a crane electrician. It was during a regular day at the terminal that he spotted something that didn’t sit well with him. 

“I noticed that when the terminal trucks were coming in for service in the maintenance workshop, some well-meaning colleagues chose to physically direct the drivers, to prevent them from accidentally driving into the inspection pit,” said Olayinka. 

As any mechanic will know, ensuring that the vehicle is positioned securely above the maintenance pit is crucial. Getting that vehicle correctly into position isn’t always easy – especially when the vehicles concerned can be twice the size of a regular car.  

So, it was perhaps understandable that colleagues, in their efforts to reinforce driver safety felt the need to physically direct the truck manoeuvring over the 1.5-meter-deep pit. But from his training and experience, Olayinka knew this was exactly the kind of seemingly harmless activity that could lead to damage, injury or worse, particularly as flooring in the maintenance section can occasionally be slippery. This behaviour exposed colleagues to the danger of being struck by a vehicle, slipping, and falling into the pit. 

Sizing up and speaking up 

“We are encouraged to speak up if we see something that’s not right. Sure, I could have shrugged and assumed this was a ‘standard procedure’ for maintenance colleagues, or that my co-workers knew what they were doing. I could have felt embarrassed to confront them, but that’s not my style,” he says. “I couldn’t just walk away and ignore it.”  

Instead, Olayinka called for a Kaizen – from the Japanese business practice employed in APM Terminals. “With a Kaizen, we aim for continuous improvement, and we inspect and question things. It means that you notice details you might otherwise overlook,” says Olayinka. 

“To start with, I gathered the team around me – from Lean coaches and our ‘Way of Working (WoW) experts, the facility department, mobile equipment supervisors, the truck supervisor and manager. I wanted to do it right. If I’d called out one person, I’d have helped them avoid an accident on that day. But what about the next day, and what about the next colleague?” 

Rethinking safety procedures 

The Kaizen resulted in a revisit of preventive maintenance procedures so that only designated personnel may park the trucks over the maintenance pit. But Olayinka didn’t stop there. 

Using Training Within Industry methodology, skill variances within the team were addressed. Now colleagues are properly qualified, and regularly retrained in safely parking trucks over the maintenance pits. 

“I am grateful that the training I was offered in my own onboarding and throughout my time with APM Terminals has allowed me to look out for issues, but also to know how to resolve them,” says Olayinka. 

“We’re not taking anything for granted. We’ve shared our learnings with WOW managers so that – even if it serves purely as a reminder – separating persons from machines is something we adhere to every day”. 

Global Safety Award 

This example is the winner of our Africa & Europe category in the APM Terminals Global Safety Awards. The ultimate winner will be announced on September 13.  

However, as Olayinka says with a smile: “I have already won. I get my reward every time I pass the maintenance pit and see drivers in their vehicles, and colleagues keeping a safe distance. I can’t ask for more than that. “ 

Find out more about how we are lifting the standards of global safety here.