George Allan

Accomplished and highly motivated engineering professional with expertise in maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of heavy-duty mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems. Demonstrates strong stakeholder management and safety leadership skills, ensuring effective risk assessment and mitigation as part of a safety representative role. Committed to continuous learning and agility in adapting to new challenges.

I would like to express my interest in the Team Leader position at DP World Southampton. With a strong background and experiences in engineering, health and safety management, and risk analysis, I believe I possess the necessary skills and experience to contribute to the continued success of your team. During my time as an Electrical Technician and more recently as a Health and Safety Representative, I have developed a keen understanding of the key skills outlined in the advertisement and have applied them regularly to deliver consistent results. I am excited about the opportunity to bring this experience to the Team Leader role, where I can help drive engineering excellence and promote a culture of safety.

One of the key skills required for this role is a detailed understanding of cost-benefit and risk analysis—a skill I have applied extensively in my current position. I routinely assess various health and safety issues, carefully evaluating the costs, risks, and benefits of competing options to ensure the implementation of the most effective solutions. I am currently in the process of implementing a low-cost safety solution that will allow engineering technicians to work safely around live spreaders and crane headblocks. This solution will require minimal labour and parts, but it will eliminate one of the greatest risks that technicians face in their day-to-day activities.

My experience in identifying, classifying, and analysing risks aligns closely with the role's requirements. As a Health and Safety Representative, I regularly assess risks, identify the potential impacts, and prioritise these risks based on their severity. I take a systematic approach to risk management, ensuring that control measures are appropriately implemented and that high-priority risks are addressed swiftly. An example of this is the implementation of a load test on our scaffold supported ‘Niko Rail’ every time it is erected in order for the installation to comply with the manufacturer's specification. This process also ensures the health and safety of technicians as any issues with the structure can be identified prior to its full use. I understand that, in a dynamic operational environment like DP World Southampton, it is crucial to anticipate and manage risks to maintain safe and efficient operations.

In addition to risk analysis, my role has required me to specify functional and technical requirements for health and safety modifications. This experience has helped me develop a strong understanding of how to create systems that support both operational needs and safety objectives. A key example of this was rectifying a design issue with the Liebherr Quay Cranes involving the wiring of the shore supply and auxiliary supply switches. I prepared a comprehensive plan addressing the issue, which included an implementation strategy, cost analysis, and a thorough risk assessment. This plan received approval from both DP World management and Liebherr, demonstrating my ability to drive safety improvements through meticulous analysis and well-structured proposals.

Furthermore, I understand the importance of interrelationships between different business processes, recognising that safety, operational performance, and customer satisfaction are closely connected. In 2023, I travelled to DP World London Gateway to get an insight into some of their working practices which link closely to DP World Southampton. The experience of liaising with colleagues in a different port, who complete the same and / or similar roles was incredibly beneficial, and furthermore enabled us to secure a resolution around suitable and effective overalls for DP World Southampton.

I also bring with me a strong customer focus, which is crucial for a Team Leader role. As part of my health and safety responsibilities, I frequently communicate with colleagues at all levels, ensuring that safety protocols are understood and followed. This has provided me with valuable experience in engaging with individuals across the organisation, from operational teams to senior management. My ability to communicate clearly and effectively has allowed me to build trust and collaboration, ensuring that health and safety remains a collective priority. As a safety representative, I regularly take part in engineering safety meetings with senior engineering managers, as well as terminal safety meetings which include senior management from all departments.

My experience in planning, organising, and prioritising has been critical in my current role, particularly in high-pressure situations. Whether responding to emergency breakdowns or carrying out unplanned repairs on operationally critical assets, I am able to stay calm and organised, ensuring that all tasks are completed efficiently and in compliance with company safety policies. I understand the importance of balancing competing priorities and meeting deadlines, which all serve me well in the fast-paced environment at DP World Southampton.

As a leader in safety, I see myself as someone who sets the tone and who has high expectations of those around me. As a Safety Rep, I have worked to ensure that the health and safety culture is embedded throughout the engineering team. I believe that leadership is about leading by example, demonstrating integrity, fairness, and consistency in all actions. I would bring these same values to the Team Leader role, creating an environment where employees feel supported, skilled and motivated to achieve their best. I also recognise that I am part of a team, both within 206 workshop, but also DP World Southampton and across the wider company, and that these interrelationships are key to success. I recently represented engineering at the DP World European Safety Culture Workshop in Poland, working alongside global representatives to discuss and enhance safety practices across business units. Here I delivered a presentation to senior executives, including Andrew Rushmer (Group Vice President for Health, Safety, Security, and Environment) and Jason Pratt (Executive Vice President of Group Health, Safety, Security, and Environment), outlining my breakout groups DP World Safety dream.

I also have a strong understanding of Asset Management principles, and I am familiar with the need to contribute to the development of Asset Management plans. In my current role, I have collaborated with the 206 asset engineer to design and establish robust maintenance protocols and procedures which aim to improve asset reliability and technician efficiency.

I am confident that my combination of leadership experience, risk management expertise, and commitment to continuous improvement make me an ideal candidate for the Team Leader position at DP World Southampton. I believe that I have both the professional and personal attributes to be a success in this role and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this further. Thank you for considering my application and I look forward to hearing from you.