Safety engineer receives top honour

Safety engineer receives top honour

After playing a vital role in raising public safety in workplace machinery and funfair rides, Jack Mains been recognised by New Zealand’s professional engineering body. Jack has been named a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) at this year’s Fellows’ and Achievers’ Dinner in Wellington. The honour is made for Jack’s major contribution to advancing engineering practice and leadership in the profession.

Jack helped lead the development of IPENZ’s Recreation Safety Engineering group, which is now recognised by WorkSafe New Zealand as the representative body for certifying and administering the safety of amusement rides and devices like rollercoasters and bouncy castles. The little known area of engineering in which Jack specialises and has made such an important contribution is critical for public safety – the recent collapse of an inflatable slide in Masterton that injured six children illustrates what can happen when standards aren’t adhered to.

Jack has advocated for continuous improvements to not just amusement rides but also logging machinery and cranes. He was instrumental in WorkSafe’s decision to redefine container handlers as cranes, a change that will improve safety at ports.

“The Fellows’ and Achievers’ Dinner is a very special occasion for IPENZ as we honour and celebrate the outstanding individuals who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of the engineering profession. It is an opportunity to highlight the great work our engineers do and the positive benefits brought to New Zealand,” said IPENZ Chief Executive, Susan Freeman-Greene.

Jack was presented with his Fellowship at the IPENZ Awards Dinner held at The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, on Friday 13 March 2015.

ENDS

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