| 55 CONTRACTING Downer PROUDLY SUPPORTING DOWNER GROUP Bridgestone provides Downer Group with market-leading products, expert advice, and nationwide support to help deliver infrastructure projects across the Waikato region. bridgestone.co.nz T T Russell Fredric Making his mark on road marking methods Working alongside live traffic presents the greatest hazard for road marking crews, making every improvement that reduces exposure significant. “We’ve done a lot of tweaks to our business to increase our safety performance, and I think it was just an amalgamation of all those tweaks that put us in a really good spot from where we were maybe five years ago.” Leading a programme of safety improvements in Downer’s New Zealand road marking business has earned national road marking manager Mike Moore the 2026 HammerTech Safety Leadership Award. Presented at the Site Safe New Zealand Evening of Celebration, the award recognises visible leadership that improves Health & Safety outcomes across the construction sector. Mike was acknowledged for driving a range of initiatives within Downer’s road marking business, including introducing line-marking robots, upgrading specialist marking trucks, reducing the pressure of paint machine systems, and leading the transition from solvent-based paints to waterborne alternatives. The judges also recognised his work with road regulators to improve safety for the wider community during adverse weather conditions. The award reflects years of continuous improvement rather than one standout project, Mike says. “We’ve done a lot of tweaks to our business to increase our safety performance, and I think it was just an amalgamation of all those tweaks that put us in a really good spot from where we were maybe five years ago.” The success is down to the collaborative approach between Downer’s Zero Harm team and the road marking department, both investing the time and knowledge needed. This is then supported by the wider business with investment in technology and machinery. Working alongside live traffic presents the greatest hazard for road marking crews, making every improvement that reduces exposure significant. In addition, changes to New Zealand Transport Agency’s guide to temporary traffic management requirements (NZGTTM) have also helped, by replacing more prescriptive systems with risk-based approaches that allow safer work methods. Downer reviews every incident and near miss in detail, using the findings to engineer risks out of the job, rather than relying solely on procedures. One example involved redesigning work methods and materials so crews no longer need to ride on the back of trucks placing cones to protect fresh paint, reducing both manual handling injuries and the risk of falls. Technology continues to play an increasingly important role. Road marking robots have dramatically reduced the time required to set out markings, while eliminating many of the physical tasks previously performed by hand. Downer has introduced a dot matrix-style road marking printer that allows arrows and other markings to be applied from inside the truck, reducing the need for workers to stand in live traffic. The company is investing in thermoplastic road markings, which can last four to eight times longer than conventional paint, reducing how often crews need to return to the road. “If we can use technology, the client gets a better deal, the public get a better outcome, and no one loses in those situations,” says Mike. Building the right culture has been equally important to achieving safety gains; crews are encouraged to openly report mistakes and near misses without fear of blame, allowing the business to learn before serious incidents occur. ‘Tailgate briefings’ have also been redesigned to encourage crews to actively think through each job, rather than complete pre-filled checklists. Mike’s own road marking career began unexpectedly after the 1987 share market crash ended a career in stockbroking. Having worked in road marking during university holidays, he returned to the industry and started at the very bottom, despite holding two university degrees. “There isn’t one job in our business that I haven’t done,” he says. “I know how hard a lot of it is and I can sympathise with the guys when they’re out there doing the work.” From there, he progressed through operational management and national leadership roles before becoming Downer’s national road marking manager, bringing nearly four decades of hands-on industry experience to one of the country’s most safety-critical transport sectors. Proudly supporting Downer with smarter safety supply. For over 20 years, our SmartSystems have been helping businesses take the hassle out of PPE management by improving stock control, simplifying ordering, tracking staff allocations and reducing time spent on administration. Ready to gain control over your PPE? 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