Driving safety at Rivergate Marina and Shipyard

Rivergate’s new Workplace Health and Safety Officer has a simple mission – to ensure everyone gets home to their families safely.

Since joining Rivergate Marina and Shipyard, Workplace Health and Safety Officer Jo La Grand has taken a hands-on approach to safety across the yard.

No two days look the same. One morning might start on the dock, assisting the dockmaster, while another is spent reviewing procedures or building out reporting systems.

“I might be helping dock a boat, or I could be working through policies and procedures,” Jo said. “There’s always something different happening.”

That day-to-day variety suits Jo. With a forklift licence and a willingness to help where needed, she supports day-to-day operations while keeping a close eye on safety and compliance.

Her path into the safety and marine sectors was not typical. Jo and her husband are both chefs by trade, before making the shift into the marine sector. Today, he works as a boat builder, while she focuses on safety.

Their connection to the water extends beyond work. The couple own a boat and a jet ski and spend as much time on the water as they can.

Jo’s interest in safety began earlier in her career, after working in an environment where standards fell short.

“That’s what pushed me to start studying safety,” she says. “It made me realise how important it is to make sure everyone goes home safe to their families every day.”

She later worked as a safety officer in manufacturing and previously held a purchasing role at Norman R. Wright & Sons, giving her a strong grounding in marine operations.

That experience, along with her familiarity with the team, made Rivergate a natural move.

“I already knew some of the people here and what the environment was like,” she says. “It’s a great team and a good atmosphere.”

In her time at Rivergate, Jo has helped roll out updated signage across the site and contributed to ongoing improvements in safety systems and procedures. She also enjoys seeing refit projects take shape across the yard.

“You see vessels come in, the work that happens in between, and then how they leave. It’s great to be part of that process.”

Looking ahead, her focus is straightforward.

“It’s about making sure we’re doing everything we need to be doing and maintaining the standards already in place,” she says. “Most importantly, it’s making sure everyone goes home safe every day.”

For those looking to follow a similar path, Jo is honest about the challenge.

“It can take time to get into the industry,” she says. “Keep studying, keep applying and stick with it. It’s worth it in the end.”

At Rivergate, that approach underpins her work each day, helping ensure safety remains front of mind across the shipyard.