Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has commenced Safety Week 2022 at a ceremony held in Male’ Commercial Harbour.
MPL stated that Safety Week 2022 includes Port Safety Week, which is a week of safety-related activities aimed at promoting a safety culture and safety awareness in all areas of operations conducted by MPL.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shahid Ali noted the risks involved in handling containers at the harbour, highlighting that accidents can cause severe harm or damaged goods. As such, he said port workers are required to be more focused on safety compared to other employees in other sectors.
At the ceremony, MPL handed over helmets to clearance agents at Male’ Commercial Harbour and Chairman of the Board Captain Mohamed Shareef presented the publication of the first Official Health and Safety Policy at MPL. Commemorative plaques were also presented to workers who were involved in saving lives and preventing damage to goods during dangerous incidents and a moment of silence was observed for those who lost their lives while working at the harbour.
Furthermore, a safety workshop was held for port users and staff of MPL. The workshop focused on areas such as traffic control, disaster management, occupational health and safety and hazardous material awareness. MPL also carried out a safety awareness programme for Port Security staff and Health and Safety Department which focused on self-defence mechanisms and basic fire safety awareness. A free health screening was also conducted for port workers and employees of MPL at the Medhope Medical Centre.