Safe Port – the Port prepared for emergencies

Öljyntorjuntaharjoitus Vuosaaren satamassa.

The Port of Helsinki prepared for possible security threats and emergencies by actions such as practising how to respond to various crisis situations together with the authorities.

The Port is a reliable employer and cooperation partner that provides a safe working environment to its staff and everyone else operating in the port area alike.

The ports of Helsinki are shared worksites where the Port of Helsinki Ltd is the employer with primary authority.

Occupational safety

The Port of Helsinki’s occupational safety objectives included zero occupational accidents, reducing absences due to sickness or accidents, a good level of occupational well-being and developing the company’s safety culture.

Read more about the Port as an employer and the Port’s occupational well-being and instances of sick leave in chapter 6.

The occupational safety objectives are connected to the Port of Helsinki’s performance bonus system, in which objectives related to occupational safety have also been set in for issues such as making safety observations and the frequency of occupational accidents.

The Port of Helsinki followed the health authorities’ recommendations for protection against the coronavirus, and daily work was made safe through means such as risk assessments, systematic safety walks, safety observations and personal protective equipment. Safety qualifications were kept up to date.

  • Only one accident resulting in sick leave occurred among the employees of the Port of Helsinki. Frequency of occupational accidents* decreased to 8 (2021: 8.4).
  • Frequency of occupational accidents = the number of occupational accidents that have led to at least one day of sick leave per one million working hours.
    • The average sick leave percentage among the Port’s employees was 3.8 (2021: 2.1).

Preventive action was highlighted in the safety work

The Port of Helsinki is prepared for situations such as various accidents, disturbances and emergencies and maintains a safe work environment.

  • Regular safety meetings and safety working groups with cooperation partners and authorities were continued. In Vuosaari Harbour, a cooperation group of occupational health and safety representatives of the operators in the area was set up.
  • The company’s management and occupational safety committee held regular safety walks at all harbours. In October, the ports celebrated a shared occupational safety week, which included organising shared safety walks with operators in the port area.
  • In 2022, the Port launched management safety forums, where safety issues were addressed in a holistic way throughout all operations.
  • The Port of Helsinki and the port communities in the different harbours implemented a critical communication and alarm service. The service will improve the information flow and management of emergency situations.
  • Rescue plans were uploaded to a digital platform, and the safety induction was also published digitally in late summer. The safety induction introduces everyone working in the port area to safe working practices and the rules of the area. The induction is mandatory for all persons working in Helsinki’s central harbours.
  • Each harbour carried out safety exercises in accordance with the ISPS Code. Evacuation exercises were carried out at all passenger terminals in the city centre harbours and the company’s head office, Satamatalo.
  • In addition to these, the Port participated in numerous joint exercises organised by the authorities, including an oil spill exercise, a road tunnel emergency exercise, exercises on security of supply in emergency situations and an electricity outage exercise.
  • The development of the new notification and monitoring system for dangerous goods progressed to the deployment phase towards the end of the year. The new system will become fully operational in 2023.
  • Traficom updated the security assessments of Vuosaari Harbour, Katajanokka Terminal, Katajanokka Quay and South Harbour. Based on the assessments, the ISPS security plans for port structures were updated and approved by Traficom.