Tower safety plans

Press, 18 April 1979, Page 16

Tower safety plans

The lighting tower at the Cashin Quay container terminal, which is accidentprone, was designed as a collapsible light standard, said the chief engineer of the Lyttelton Harbour Board (Mr J. B. Bushell).

He was answering questions at a meeting of the board. Mr M. J. Dobson had asked about a recent report of the tower’s being knocked over a second time.

The manager of the container terminal (Mr P. G. Morgan) said that the circumstances of the recent incident differed from those of the first occasion, but both involved straddle carriers.

On the recent occasion, he said, the driver entered the area from the correct direction but left a different way. Mr Morgan outlined further precautions to be taken after the replacement of the lighting tower. A slot will be left clear on either side and painted yellow, and straddle-carrier drivers will be issued with stickers to remind them of the tower’s presence. Mr Bushell said that a proposed barricade of Australian hardwoods had been rejected after investigation. He was answering Mr L. W. Laing, who asked if buffetihg around the tower had been considered.

“You cannot have lighting without lighting standards,” said Mr Bushell. “The repair costs on the first, occasion were $9OOO, and the recent incident will cost about $5OOO. It also has to be remembered that straddle carriers are worth about $750,000 and they were not damaged.”