on the job with z

Call us on 0800 474 355/ZENERGYNZ /ZENERGYNZ/Z.CO.NZ

MARCH 2013

On the job with Z

Much of this edition of ‘On the Job with Z’ focuses on safety and its many challenges when it comes to doing our work.

A key tool for Z in managing the safety issues we and our contractors face are our Safety Audits. Many of you will have participated in an Audit either directly with one of our Z team or perhaps via City Care, Gilbarco or SKM.

So why do we do Safety Audits and what do we do with the results?

Firstly, it’s about engaging with the people doing the work, getting a good understanding of what they are doing, the risks they face and how they’re addressing those risks.

Secondly, it’s about seeing that people understand their role in safety management and understand the processes they need to follow. We need everyone to know about work clearance forms, to understand a JSA (job safety analysis), to know when they need a work permit, and then there are the Life Saving

Rules - do you know what they are and how they apply to you?

Thirdly, it’s about the paper work. Paperwork provides us with the evidence that safety is being thought about and managed. Better still, when you are filling out those forms it gives you the opportunity to review and think about what you’re doing.

Filling in the paperwork, and taking part in an audit helps you to identify the risks you face and how you can best mitigate these.

Lastly, it’s a chance for Z people and others to get to know the contractors who undertake work that keep our sites safe and operational. We want to put a face to a name, and to personalise the safety message.

At Z we take safety very seriously and we want systems and processes that minimise harm as much as possible so we can all go home at the end of the day in good shape.

Neil.

The serious business of safetyFrom Neil Moon, Engineering Manager, Z Energy

Good neighbourFrom Neil Moon, Engineering Manager, Z Energy

As the Beatles once sang: “Wouldn’t it be nice to get on with your neighbours....”

At Z we want to interact positively with our neighbours; often the work we do on a site can affect them to a greater or lesser degree.

With this in mind we’re in the final stages of developing a flyer that you as contractors can drop into our neighbours’ letter boxes.

Watch out for the final version coming your way soon.


MARCH 2013 | PAGE 2

Safety Audits From Neil Moon, Engineering Manager, Z Energy

Our Audits take three forms:

1. Site safety discussion - this is an opportunity to discuss safety without getting stuck in detailed check lists.

2. Safety inspection checklist – this is, as the name suggests, a detailed checklist where the contractor and the auditor go through a formal list covering such things as showing evacuation plans or evidence of tool box talks. This is particularly useful in more complex projects such as a new site build.

3. Process audit – this is where a particular process is audited. As an example, the process for installation of underground tanks is well documented in the underground tank specification, so a process audit will ensure that all the steps are being followed.

So what happens with our audits?

• Any issues identified at the time are discussed and resolved or agreed actions are put in place.

• If an issue is found that highlights the need to alert others to a situation then contractors are notified directly.

• In this process audit changes may need to be made to documents to reflect new and better ways of doing things.

Finally – we have focussed recently on the use of JSAs and undertaken some extra audits to get an understanding of how the JSAs are being used.

Almost all JSAs are generic ones that take into account most issues that come up with a particular activity. However sometimes they are not a perfect match to the job.

The message here is – make sure the JSA is the right one for the job. Amend it if necessary to reflect what you are actually doing and then work to the JSA.

If things change, stop and reassess.

The incident prompted Clarkson Electrical to share with us its work practices and solution to the safe use of knives.

The retractable utility knife (“Stanley knife”) used in the incident (#235934) is banned by Clarkson, and instead all its technicians use a spring-loaded utility knife known as an “Irwin”.

The Irwin comes with a key safety feature: A knob on the top of the knife which needs to be pressed for the knife to open (pictured). The blade instantly retracts as soon as your thumb is taken off the knob.

Clarkson have also taken the additional safety measure of issuing all staff with safety gloves, Silver Ninjas, which offer a high level of protection from cuts or lacerations.

Clarkson’s view is that although the wearing of gloves is traditionally not considered safety gear for electricians, the risk level from using utility knives is so high that the use of gloves has become mandatoryand is part of their safety training programme which is presented to all new staff, to ensure this cultural change is accepted from day one.

If you haven’t seen this ‘Learning from Incidents’ notification please request it from your manager – this incident management information programme will play a significant role to achieve our aim of Zero Harm.

A recent “Learning from Incidents” notification came with recommendations and actions regarding the need for contractors to review the use of knives when on the job with Z.

Worth SharingFrom Gordon Knowles, H&S Consultant (GOSH Ltd) on behalf of Clarkson Electrical


MARCH 2013 | PAGE 3

As you will no doubt know, Z is committed to learning from incidents, whether it’s a near miss, a potential incident, or the real thing. We believe there is real value in sharing the learnings from many of these with everyone.

We share these in LFIs which are issued to our staff and contractors. We expect, if you don’t receive them directly, that you are copied in on LFIs by your company.

These are the LFIs you should have seen recently:

• Electrical isolation – lockout/tagout requirements.

• Mobile scaffold tags – recommendation that all mobile scaffolds have a scaffold tag to show it has been erected by a competent person.

• Serious Harm Incident – contractor cut himself using a Stanley knife incorrectly (as shared on page two).

If you haven’t – ask your manager.

Beware of reversing vehicles From Barry Brosnahan, Gilbarco Veeder-Root

If vehicles all went in the same direction, life would be easy. But drivers are unpredictable. They suddenly remember they want to grab a snack before they drive off, or use the car wash or pump up their tyres. They’ll back up, often without looking to see what is behind them.

Reversing vehicles are a hazard that need to be considered at all times on forecourts. Last year:

• In the UK, a customer was killed on a forecourt after being struck by a reversing vehicle.

• On a Z site, a reversing vehicle ran into a barricaded work area around the tank manway even though the customer had walked past the work area before getting into his vehicle (pictured, image taken from CCTV). Thankfully nobody was injured.

• In Australia, a customer reversed, with some haste, over a work area that had been barricaded around the fill point ready for fuel to be returned to tank. Luckily the technician was not at the fill point at the time.

There isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ solution to preventing this hazard. Contractors need to work with site managers to agree how to eliminate the risk of reversing vehicles entering a work area and causing harm. That may mean that part or all the forecourt and services are down for a period of time, but the lives of Z staff and its contractors must take priority.

It takes the whole team to create a work environment that achieves Zero Harm, a goal and core value shared by Z and our contractors.

Forecourt site work is never done. On-site staff and technicians are always beavering away. While we work, we have to keep an eye out for traffic. No amount of hi-vis gear will protect us from the impact of a vehicle.

Learning from incidents (LFIs)From Neil Moon, Engineering Manager, Z Energy


MARCH 2013 | PAGE 4

Why do we do the crazy things we do? Well, we’re human…From Dr Kathleen Callaghan, Senior Human Factors Consultant, Z Energy

“I told them not to do that, so why the hell did they do it?”

It’s a question we ask again and again when we see people do things that are dangerous, silly, or self-defeating. Why do people drive drunk? Why don’t they wear protective gear? Why does someone remove a safety guard from a piece of machinery that’s there to protect them from getting a body part chopped off?

Well, that’s just people and if we understand the ‘human factor’ that makes people take crazy risks, we can make our workplaces much safer and more efficient.

There is now a whole ‘Human Factors’ science which aims to help people be more effective, efficient, and safe at work. Interest in Human Factors science is growing in New Zealand workplaces, following events such as the Pike River Mine tragedy.

At Z, we’ve employed Human Factors specialists Dr Kathleen Callaghan and Bridget Mintoft to help us improve our performance. Kathleen and Bridget join us from the Auckland University School of Medicine Human Factors Group.

“A big part of Human Factors is understanding why people break the rules and do things that could hurt them or others,” Bridget says. “New Zealand has an appalling workplace health and safety record. To improve it, we can’t just keep on doing what we’ve always done.

“Human Factors is all about understanding why people do what they do. The more we understand, the more effective, more productive and safe we can make them.”

“Z has taken us on because the company ‘gets’ that if it wants to be a world class Kiwi company, it needs to think differently,” Kathleen says. “We’re enjoying working with Z teams and contractors to work out how we achieve Z’s Zero Harm health and safety goal.”

So the next time ‘they’ do something unsafe, think about what might have driven that risk-taking behaviour. If you understand why someone does something, you’ve taken a big step towards understanding how you can improve their health and safety practice in the future.

Permit to WorkFrom Anna Lukey, Regional Engineer – South, Z Energy

On our website z.co.nz/ptwinfo there is a section for contractors to keep up to date with Z compliance and best practice.

The section includes:

• all up to date Permit to Work documentation• useful contact details• PDF copies of On the job with Z

If there’s something else you’d find useful to have on this page just let us know. Feel free to drop us an email: [email protected].

Dr Kathleen Callaghan - Human Factors’ specialist, previously with the Auckland University School of Medicine Human Factors Group.

Kathleen (and Bridget Mintoft) have come to work in-house with Z. Their task is to help us work towards our commitment to run a Zero Harm business.


MARCH 2013 | PAGE 5

“For me, the road to facilities management was a circuitous one. My first job on leaving school was as a high-voltage tester of oil-filled switchgear for ABB Group. My time with ABB taught me a bunch of ‘hands-on’ skills and enabled me to earn a New Zealand Certificate in Engineering (NZCE).

A break from factory work led to the hospitality industry. I worked in a number of cafés before ending up at Borders Books and Music in central Auckland.

Like many young Kiwis, an OE was on the cards, so I went off to London and got a job with Borders on Charing Cross Road. I later filled in for a site services manager on parental leave, and when the person I was covering for decided not to come back, my role became permanent. Suddenly I was a facilities manager!

If I think about my most memorable moment in facilities management, it’s a toss-up between the sewerage flood at Borders’ flagship store in Oxford Street (a pick-pocket tried to flush the incriminating evidence), or the Christmas Eve bomb threat in Islington that closed the store just an hour before actual closing time. When the police gave us the all clear we went back in, only to find that someone on the second floor had left a tap running, flooding the kitchen, hallway and half the store.

With my background in retail, I understand the unique pressures of the industry, so feel I’m well qualified to balance Z’s long term asset management objectives with the everyday needs of the individual site operators. I enjoy my role at City Care and I’m especially enjoying working so closely with the folk at Z.

On a final note, my pet hobby is raising the profile of sustainability principles within City Care and our contracts. Whether it’s green, social or economic

awareness, I’m keen to apply long term thinking to any decision-making process.”

You can contact Rory anytime to discuss your facilities, or to chew the fat with him on his pet subject of sustainability: [email protected].

On the Job with....Rory ChackoFrom Ricky Shaw, National Facilities Manager, City Care

Rory Chacko is City Care’s northern facility manager. Rory is responsible for the non-fuel related maintenance for Z Energy from Waiouru to Kaitaia, including asset management and Health and Safety.

Getting into action on HSSE: an example from Rory Chacko

This roof had disaster written all over it. Our response? We installed a sign and introduced the line painting around the hard to see skylights.


Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the skipFrom Sam Bridgman, Global SKM

MARCH 2013 | PAGE 6

Our audit of waste produced from the Z Retail Construction Programme continues.

For the audit, we’re monitoring a few key sites to assess:

• the amount of waste sent to landfill• the amount of waste sent for recycling• current waste management practices on site, and• the composition of waste sent to landfill.

The goal is to reduce waste across the programme.

In late December we undertook our second waste audit at the Z Vivian Street site. Vivian Street was undergoing a shop fit-out and the canopy was being lifted.

When a skip is around, it attracts rubbish, and 16% of our skip in Vivian Street was filled with materials that had been dumped by members of the public. This was the same amount dumped by the public as we found in our first waste audit. Of waste that came from our work, 82% was timber. The next highest category was paper and cardboard (5%).


MARCH 2013 | PAGE 7

When we combine the results of our first audit at Vivian Street, timber accounts for 82% of the waste from the site, ferrous metals 7%, and plastics 5%.

We’ll keep auditing our waste and looking for opportunities to reduce it. If you’ve got any ideas on how we can reduce construction waste, email us at [email protected] or talk to your site manager.

Rubber>1%

Paper4%

Plastics5%

Ferrousmetals

7%

Glass>1%

Textiles>1%

Timber82% Non-

ferrousmetals

>1%

Potentiallyhazardous

>1%

Putrescibles>1%

Rubble/concrete etc.

2%

Z Vivian Street Construction. Waste Audit.Composition (kgs, %)

Rubber>1%

Paper4%

Plastics5%

Ferrousmetals

7%

Glass>1%

Textiles>1%

Timber82% Non-

ferrousmetals

>1%

Potentiallyhazardous

>1%

Putrescibles>1%

Rubble/concrete etc.

2%

Z Vivian Street Construction. Waste Audit.Composition (kgs, %)

Late last year we shared the Movember challenge on at Mansfield installations. Here’s how they finished up. The Mansfield team from left: Phil Whittaker, Rena Fifield (Mo Sista/Judge) Neil Grimson, and Lance Payne raised $2,000 to support men’s health research and awareness.

Neil Grimson took out the big prize. Neil had not shaven his mo’ off for 35 years, but on the 1st of Movember 2012, off it came so he could compete in our team competition.

Thanks for your great commitment and team spirit Neil – your honour is well-deserved.

The Magnificent Mansfield Installations Mo-menFrom Glenda Mansfield, Mansfield Installations Ltd


MARCH 2013 | PAGE 8

Gilbarco Veeder-Root’s Southern Men - Mike Keen and Craig Crookshank From John Steentjes, Gilbarco Veeder-Root

During the winter months they look like Michelin men, wrapped up in many layers so they don’t get exposure in blizzard conditions during monthly aviation checks, service calls, and scheduled work. In summer, they’re covered in insect repellent to avoid the legendary sand flies and mozzies. But while Mike and Craig endure rain, wind, snow, ice, and sand flies, they never complain. They just put their heads down a bit further and get on with the work.

They won’t tell you about the times the sun does shine in case the rest of the country moves down into their space.

Unpredictable weather means that at times the guys head off to a job not knowing if they will be able to get home the same day. They keep spare undies, a toothbrush, shaving gear, and other necessities in the service vehicle just in case they get stranded.We hope they remember to rotate the clothing every month or two.

Craig averages around 62,000 km a year in his van, visiting many remote sites. He’s the type of fitter who

if you give him a box of parts and say “can you put this all back together and get it working?”, he gets it done. When you’re in the middle of nowhere, and need to be able to work things out without manuals or Internet access, having Craig’s ability to nut things out is a big advantage.

Mike’s been down there that long – thirty years and counting - that he has become a Southern Legend. Like Craig, he has a MacGyver-like ability to do amazing work with minimal resources. Mike’s known for his passion for his Ford Mustang. He tells me he only takes it out on sunny, windless days so you might not have seen him around in it often.

While Mike and Craig have ‘number 8 wire’ Kiwi ingenuity, they’ve moved with the times. It’s amazing what you can do with duct tape and battery-powered tools.

Next time you see them, give them the Southland greeting as you drive; a single finger raised from your hand on the steering wheel.

Mike and Craig put up with a lot of ribbing about living down amongst the icebergs and penguins. Their area covers Stewart Island and Invercargill, across to Clinton, over to Te Anau and Milford Sound, and across to Queenstown/Cromwell, Tarris, and Wanaka. At times, they work as far North as Haast, Fox and Franz Joseph.

We would love to hear what you think

Whether that’s about this newsletter or issues raised in this edition; what you would like to

see in future editions; Z Energy generally; the fuel industry; doing business with us, or even doing business in New Zealand.

We welcome all letters to the Editor.

If you would like to submit a letter for possible publication in On the job with Z, you can email us on [email protected].

Our next issue will be in June, so send your letters and suggestions to us by 30 April.

Until then, be safe.

We want your feedback and suggestions

on the job with z

Documents