PACIFIC TOWING (PNG) LTD :: Pt. Moresby, Papua New Guinea

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) POLICY

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT POLICY

Pacific Towing (PNG) Limited has identified safety and the environment as two key areas in its sphere of operations that are of paramount importance and need to be effectively controlled to prevent unnecessary injuries, loss of life, damage to health, property and degradation of the environment.

To meet this requirement the Company will ensure that its activities are sufficiently controlled to protect personnel, property and the environment from all risks and hazards that can be reasonably expected.

The Company recognizes that an effective safety and environmental protection programme makes for a more profitable operation thereby ensuring the welfare of all involved in the business.

Safety is the concern of all and has no rank. However, to be effective it has to be the Management led.

To this end, Management is committed to:

Making all personnel more safety conscious by encouraging all to become actively involved in identifying possible hazards,
Implementing corrective action, and
Constantly monitoring all facets of their working environment to ensure safety conditions prevail.

An accident is indicative of a failure in the operating system. The Company is committed to fully investigating all accidents. The results of such investigations and any necessary corrective action will be brought to the attention of all concerned so that lessons may be learnt from the incident.

Learning is an never-ending journey on the road to excellence. Effective training is fundamental to the Company’s business and its safety culture. As our standards improve, new goals and targets will be set to which all personnel shall strive to attain.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) POLICY

Pacific Towing (PNG) Limited is committed to protecting the health and safety of all employees and visitors to Company worksites by a systematic process of risk management. Where it is not possible to completely eliminate risk, this organization is committed to the effective selection, use, care and maintenance of suitably personal protective equipment (PPE).

Pacific Towing (PNG) Limited will ensure that:

the needs for PPE are assessed by persons who are competent to judge the most appropriate method of protection;
professional advice is obtained, where necessary, to identify the most suitable types of PPE for the tasks to be carried out;
training is provided to supervisors to enable them to ensure the proper selection, fit , use cleaning and maintenance of PPE;
training and information in the fit, use the maintenance of PPE is provided to all employees who are required to use PPE and testing is carried out to ensure the adequacy of the protection;
evaluation of the effectiveness of the PPE program is carried out on a regular basis.

Managers and supervisors are responsible for ensuring that:

the objectives of this policy are integrated into work practices;
effective supervision is provided to ensure that PPE is selected, used and maintained in an appropriate manner.

Employees are responsible for carrying out their duties in a safe manner, using correctly any PPE that has been provided.

PPE includes, but is not limited, to the following:

Work vests
Hard Hats
Footwear and Clothing
Hearing Protection
Eye Protection

This policy applies to Pacific Towing personnel and visitors to Company vessels. Compliance is mandatory.

DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY

It is the policy of Pacific Towing (PNG) Limited to safeguard its employees, customers, assets, business reputation and the environment from damage or accidents resulting from drug and alcohol misuse in the workplace.

Pacific Towing has a duty of care to its employees, contractors and visitors, and as such is committed to providing a safe, healthy and productive workplace for all. Employees too, have an obligation to take reasonable care of the safety of themselves and others and co-operate in efforts to comply with occupational health and safety requirements.

The objective of this policy is to eliminate the hazards associated with drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace.

Alcohol or other drug abuse including the chewing of betelnut, will cause short-term or long-term impairment to an employee’s work performance jeopardising a safe working environment. In the interest of all employees, no person is permitted to enter the workplace while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs including betelnut, that impair judgement or performance. An employee must remain capable at all times of performing any duty that may properly be required of him/her.

While at work or on a rostered period or duty, including the second tug roster, all employees are required to meet the legislative requirements and Company’s ZERO IMPAIRMENT criteria:

No one is permitted to enter the workplace or board a company vessel while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs including betelnut, that impair his/her judgement or performance.
ZERO IMPAIRMENT to work performance means that there should be no observable change in an employee’s work performance due to the use of alcohol or other drugs including betelnut.

All Pacific Towing vessels are to be free of alcohol and prohibited substances, including betelnut, The possession, consumption, distribution or sale of alcohol, or drugs including betelnut on Company work premises or vessels is prohibited.

This policy applies to all Pacific Towing employees and visitors on the Company’s vessels. Pacific Towing reserves the right to discipline any employee found to be in breach of this Policy.

HIV & AIDS POLICY

Pacific Towing (PNG) Limited does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants living with or affected by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Pacific Towing recognizes that HIV infection and AIDS, the most serious stage of disease progression resulting from HIV infection, pose significant and delicate issues for the workplace. Accordingly, we have established the following guidelines and principles to serve as the basis for handling employee situations and concerns related to HIV infection and AIDS.

Pacific Towing (PNG) Limited is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for all employees. This commitment stands on the recognition that HIV, and therefore AIDS, is not transmitted through any casual contact.

Recognizing the need for all employees to be accurately informed about HIV infection and AIDS, Pacific Towing will make information and educational materials and seminars available. Coworkers are expected to continue working relationships with any employee who has HIV infection or AIDS. Co-workers who refuse to work with, withhold services from, harass or otherwise discriminate against an employee with HIV infection or AIDS will be subject to the same disciplinary procedures that apply to other policy violations. Information about an employee’s medical condition is private and must be treated in a confidential manner.

Pacific Towing (PNG) Limited maintains an “open-door” policy. Employees living with or affected by HIV infection and AIDS, and those who have any related concerns, are encouraged to contact their supervisor or line manager to discuss their concerns and obtain information.

If you have questions about this policy, its interpretation, or the information upon which it is based, please contact the your immediate supervisor or manager for assistance.

NON-SMOKING POLICY

Pacific Towing (PNG) Limited supports the principle of a smoke-free environment for its employees, contractors and visitors to our facilities.

The objective of this policy is to provide a safe and healthy working environment for all persons.

Smoking is banned in all internal common areas of all our working locations during normal business hours and any area which has been deemed to be hazardous or is a designated Non Smoking area.

Support and assistance will be provided to those employees who wish to quit smoking.

This policy has been adopted in the interest of protecting the health and well-being of all persons.

Managers shall be responsible for the implementation and the effectiveness of this policy.

This policy applies to all Pacific Towing employees and visitors to the Company officers and vessels.