Proactive safety: linking communication and risk management for hauliers

Effective communication with hauliers is critical for ensuring safety and efficiency in busy port environments. The Port of Felixstowe’s comprehensive haulier safety programme offers a clear example of how ports can address the risks and challenges associated with workplace transport. By combining multilingual induction videos, personalised ID systems, and designated safety zones, Felixstowe has set a benchmark for managing high-traffic areas while improving driver compliance. This initiative not only mitigates risks but also exemplifies best practices in port-to-haulier communication and operational safety.

As part of Port Skills and Safety’s Maritime Safety Week campaign in July 2024, members across the sector submitted award nominations to showcase initiatives aimed at improving safety standards. Among the nominations, Hutchison Ports highlighted the Port of Felixstowe’s comprehensive programme focused on safe haulier operations within a busy container port environment. Their initiative, designed to keep visiting drivers secure, emphasizes clear communication, compliance checks, and designated safety zones — showcasing Felixstowe as a model of proactive risk management in high-traffic areas, with a commitment to continuous safety innovation.

The Port of Felixstowe has a comprehensive programme aimed at enhancing haulier safety through strategic communication, stringent control measures, and practical innovations. Felixstowe, the UK’s largest container port, sees up to 4,000 haulier visits daily in a challenging environment shared with heavy machinery like gantry cranes and terminal tractors. Ensuring hauliers stay in their cabs while in high-risk areas is central to their policy, addressing both operational safety and traffic management.

To support this initiative, Hutchison Ports developed multilingual induction videos with a driver test. These videos visually guide drivers through the port’s layout, emphasizing crucial protocols for safe transit. Drivers must watch these videos and pass a test before receiving a personalised ID card for entry. This test must be periodically retaken, especially where a driver has been involved in an incident on the port. The card is carried while the haulier is on site and verifies that they have understood and acknowledged the port’s safety rules,

Felixstowe also set up mobile signage, designated ‘haulier bays’ with clear markings and protective barriers where drivers can safely secure trailers. Additional steps include communicating policies through meetings with local haulage associations, issuing leaflets, and creating a digital app for supervisors to record and monitor noncompliance. Persistent violations result in port exclusion, and senior management reviews incidents of noncompliance to address any recurring issues.

Globally, Hutchison Ports operates in 50 locations and Felixstowe’s programme has been used as a model for other ports within the network. The Felixstowe safety plan, with its comprehensive traffic management and pedestrian safety protocols, has notably reduced the number of hauliers exiting their cabs in restricted areas.

This initiative is a long-term strategy to control workplace transport risks, continually evolving with new measures like the upcoming cab-height check-in for Ro-Ro drivers. Though not without challenges, such as drivers’ previous reliance on in-cab supervision, the programme signifies a substantial commitment to creating safer, more regulated port environments across Hutchison Ports’ global operations.

Full details of the PSS Safety Award 2024 nomination can be seen here:

Best Safety Moment Awards Entry: Hutchison – Port Skills & Safety

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