New "Look Up and Live" signs boosting safety
Bright yellow figures are now familiar faces at our new Rerewhakaaitu nursery, standing as silent guardians against one of the workplace's most overlooked hazards – overhead power lines.
The distinctive "Look Up and Live" safety markers have been installed under the supervision of Fran Edmunds, our OHS Operations Specialist, who brings the safety practice from her extensive experiences in Australia where the initiative has saved lives.
"We want people to go home safe," explains Fran. "These yellow markers are designed to stand out and prompt that '360-degree look' before operating machinery or vehicles near power lines."
The human-shaped yellow signs will be positioned strategically around three power lines located just inside the nursery gate, with additional poles and flagging on each side to ensure maximum visibility from all directions. The distinctive yellow colour and clear "Look Up and Live" message serve as critical visual reminders for operators of tractors, trucks with hoists, and other machinery.
"I've been in situations where people have hit power lines, and they're lucky they're still alive," Fran says. "It's about changing that 'she'll be right' mentality. We're serious about everyone returning home safely at the end of each workday."
What sets these markers apart from conventional safety signage is their attention-grabbing design. Unlike standard warning signs that often blend into the background of busy work environments, these life-sized yellow figures command attention and create a memorable visual cue for all site visitors and staff.
The signs feature the "Look Up and Live" message on both sides, ensuring the warning is visible regardless of approach direction. This detail-oriented approach demonstrates our commitment to comprehensive safety protocols that leave nothing to chance.
While initially focusing on the nursery site, Fran is identifying additional locations across our operations where similar markers could prove beneficial. "Coming along one of the forest roads yesterday, I noticed several other places where we should consider installing them," she says.
The concept has proven highly effective throughout Australia's construction and utility sectors, where they've become standard practice near transmission lines and other overhead hazards.
The "Look Up and Live" initiative demonstrates our proactive approach to workplace safety – identifying potential hazards before they become incidents and implementing simple yet effective visual reminders that could ultimately save lives.