Site Safe Award 2018

APS nominated Sione Lolohea for the Contribution to Safety Award at Site Safe’s 2018 Awards Night. We were thrilled for Sione to be named a finalist and even more excited when he won the award.

A builder by trade, Sione was recruited into the heights team eight years ago. After an early mistake, where he was seen wearing an unattached harness, Sione was quick to reform his ways and adopt the APS approach to safety.

“It was a change in attitude that probably saved his life,” says David Karam, APS General Manager.

“About 12 months later, Sione was installing a fall-arrest system on a brittle roof when the sheet gave way and he fell eight to ten metres towards the concrete floor. Thankfully, he had installed a temporary fall-arrest system, which stopped his fall mid-air. He was then able to abseil safely to the ground without a scratch.”

His lucky escape made him an overnight hero within the company, David says. The near-miss experience also gave Sione a unique advantage in the role of senior heights trainer, which he later took on.

“Having had that experience gives his training a real level of authenticity. He’s become an invaluable team member and has driven a significant cultural shift, both for himself and for those around him.”

Sione now works with all new abseilers as a coach and mentor, and he inducts new employees into the heights team. In his role as both site supervisor and trainer, Sione has become an “incredible role m

odel” for the rest of the team.

“For us, being able to utilise his skills and mana is a huge advantage. We can stand up and talk about safety, but nothing brings it home like Sione sharing his near‑miss experience — and how, if he hadn’t learned from it, he could have been dead or seriously injured. There are so many people who think they’re bulletproof, and Sione has a powerful story to tell them.”

Encouraging and promoting leaders like Sione is a central part of APS’ safety philosophy.

“The thing that truly changes safety in a company is people like Sione,” David says.

“At APS, we’ve developed and raised the profile of our leading hands — increasing their mana, respect, and pay. The leaders of safety at APS are the Siones of the world.”

For Sione, winning the Site Safe Award was a great honour, but his focus remains on supporting his teammates.

“I like to share the knowledge and skills I’ve gained in health and safety, and what I’ve learned so far at APS,” says Sione.

Every time we’re up on a roof, we’re putting ourselves on the line, so we need to trust each other and know that everyone is taking safety seriously.