Global Safety Day 2024: Celebrating Curiosity and Innovation

Sharing innovations, modernisation, technology, training and best practices all add up in the pursuit of our goal to become the Best Terminal Company in the World. But all these efforts depend on one important keystone – our commitment to safety.

Our Global Safety Day in November provided an opportunity to share the initiatives that foster a safer work environment for all. Under the theme Curious because we care colleagues and stakeholders were encouraged to ask questions, challenge assumptions and hold honest conversations about the potential critical risks which are a reality in our industry.

The events also celebrated our safety heroes in our terminals and the initiatives and teams that are making positive contributions to our safety culture. Here are just a few examples of our worldwide focus on keeping everyone in our terminals safe.

Winning project

In Costa Rica, APM Terminals Moín was awarded the Global Safety Award 2024 for its innovative project on remote tyre pressure monitoring for rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes. This groundbreaking system enhances safety by eliminating the need for manual tyre pressure checks in operational areas, reducing technician exposure from 174 hours to just 39 annually.

"The project exemplifies how curiosity and continuous improvement can lead to safer, more efficient operations," noted José Rueda, General Manager of APM Terminals Moín.

New milestones

West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) in Onne Port, Rivers State in Nigeria marked the safety event by commissioning state-of-the-art safety equipment, including firefighting and recovery trucks. Stakeholders – including representatives from the Nigerian Ports Authority and Nigeria Customs Service – participated as well.

"We want safety to be a shared responsibility," said Adeboye Ogunpolu, HSE Manager at WACT. "Curiosity drives improvement, and safety is not just an annual focus but our daily license to operate."

Similarly, terminals in Poti in Georgia and Salalah in Oman incorporated digital tools such as hazard-reporting apps and leadership Gembas, reflecting a commitment to learning from daily work conditions and improving safety measures.

Honouring safety champions

At APM Terminals Apapa in Nigeria, the local event highlighted the importance of individual contributions to workplace safety. Stakeholders – including representatives from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NIMASA) and the Lagos Port Complex Apapa Police Division – commended employees for their outstanding dedication to safety with awards for outstanding, safety-focused colleagues.

An every-day value

At the global level, APM Terminals headquarters in the Hague hosted interactive activities such as CPR training, driving simulators and knowledge games to reinforce safety awareness. In Egypt, teams at the Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT) explored risk areas such as fire hazards, dropped objects and operator errors, implementing measures to mitigate them.

Looking ahead

Global Safety Day 2024 served as a reminder of the power of curiosity in driving safety improvements. Whether through innovative technologies, stakeholder collaboration or individual commitment, APM Terminals continues to lead by example, ensuring that everyone goes home safely every day.