HAVING an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) complaince that is of international standard is very critical for the Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd (FPCL). In fact, following the 95 per cent compliance of Fiji’s international ports with the Fiji Maritime (ISPS) Regulations 2014, which gives effect to the ISPS code, FPCLs next step is to work towards introducing OHS IDO 18000 Standards.
This will allow organisations to control their OHS risks and Environmental Management Systems, ISO 14000, meaning organisations will continually improve in minimising any adverse impact on the environment and in complying with all applicable laws and regulations.
According to the FPCL newsletter, these standards are accepted globally as being instrumental in facilitating and enhancing international trade. “Ports meeting these standards are able to advertise this to the rest of the world,” the newsletter stated.
FPCL CEO Vajira Piyasena said that as a large organisation with a diversity of functions, they had first addressed the streamlining of internal processes before beginning the journey to ISO standards.
“Although, Fiji Ships and Heavy Industries Ltd, a subsidiary of FPCL, is leading the way in this initiative by working towards the introduction of ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems,” Mr Piyasena stated in the newsletter.
FPCL is also looking at strengthening its supply chain which have been vulnerable to misuse and abuse, as evidenced by, for example, the global problems of drugs, arms and people smuggling, acts of piracy and cargo theft. “Misuse activities include the falsification of documents to avoid paying import duties or to import banned items. “FPCL is linked to the rest of the world by vast numbers of far-reaching international supply chains. Supply chains are dynamic systems of resources, organisations, processes, people, activities and information.”
All of these standards, according to FPCL will allow international shipping companies, their agents, importers and exporters to demonstrate their continued confidence in Fiji’s ability to provide safe and secure port facilities.
“This is evident as 95 per cent of Fiji’s import/export trade crosses the nation’s borders at our ports, making it essential to the nation’s economy that FPCL ensures that the highest standards of security best practices are in place at the international Ports of Entry in Suva, Levuka and Lautoka.
“In order to meet ISO Standards and be accredited by an independent certifying body, FPCL must continue to meet world-class specifications, ensuring the quality, safety and efficiency of FPCL’s services and systems.”
