Safety That Delivers for Customers: Spotlight on Americold APAC

Operating a modern cold chain in Australia and New Zealand means balancing speed, precision, and reliability in some of the industry’s most demanding environments. Serving high‑velocity sectors, including food manufacturing, retail, quick‑service restaurants, and convenience, requires uncompromising standards – both for protecting product integrity and for safeguarding the people who keep operations running every day.

Working in sub‑zero environments presents unique risks, from cold exposure to fatigue and equipment interaction. At Americold, safety is foundational to how we operate, how we lead, and how we deliver consistent performance across our network.

Protecting the People Behind the Cold Chain

Across Australia and New Zealand, safety expectations are shaped by rigorous regulatory frameworks, including Australia’s Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act and New Zealand’s Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA). In cold storage environments, these standards are brought to life through disciplined processes and practical protections.

Key focus areas include:

• Thermal risk management: Exposure to temperatures as low as ‑25°C requires specialized personal protective equipment. Americold deploys multi‑layered, moisture‑wicking thermal gear designed to reduce cold stress while preserving the dexterity needed for complex warehouse tasks.
• Air quality and respiratory protection: Updated Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL), coming into effect in Australia in December 2026, reinforce the importance of ventilation and airborne‑risk management in enclosed warehouses and loading docks. Americold’s facilities are designed and maintained to support safe air quality across cold‑chain operations.
• Fatigue and cold‑exposure controls: Prolonged work in cold environments can accelerate fatigue. Modern ANZ safety protocols include structured warm‑up rotations, monitored break schedules, and active supervision to help maintain safe core body temperatures throughout each shift.

A Global Safety Framework, Delivered Locally

Across Americold’s APAC network, global safety standards are implemented through locally informed execution. At its 20 sites across Australia and New Zealand, safety systems are reinforced by strong site leadership and a deeply embedded culture of care.

Key elements include:

• Dedicated safety leadership: Regional Health and Safety specialists conduct routine safety walks, audits, and reviews across the ANZ network. Safety principles are embedded into facility design, from major expansions to net new builds and redevelopments.
• The Americold Operating System (AOS): AOS drives consistent safety execution across regions through standardized best practices. In 2024 and 2025 alone, ANZ associates completed more than 800 hours of specialized digital safety training. By 2026, that training will expand to include simulated hazard recognition and behavior‑based coaching.
• Advanced safety intelligence: Americold is expanding the use of AI‑enabled computer vision technology to identify potential hazards in real time, including proximity risks between associates and material‑handling equipment or missing high‑visibility PPE. These tools support preventative action, coaching, and continuous improvement.
• Cold‑ready equipment investments: From 2025 through 2027, Americold is rolling out a new fleet of cold‑ready material‑handling equipment across Australian facilities. Designed for operators wearing thermal gear, these machines feature ergonomic controls and heated cabins to reduce fatigue and cold‑related stress.
• Technology‑enabled operations: Voice‑picking technology allows warehouse associates to keep their eyes up and hands free, reducing slips, trips, and collisions in icy conditions, an example of how operational efficiency and safety reinforce one another.

Recognizing 2025 Safety Milestones in APAC

Strong safety performance is the result of daily discipline and shared accountability. In 2025, four Americold APAC teams reached notable safety milestones:

• Laverton (Melbourne, Australia): Five years with no lost‑time incidents and no recordable injuries
• Murarrie (Queensland, Australia): Five years with no lost‑time incidents and no recordable injuries
• Paisley (New Zealand): 2,000 days with no lost‑time incidents and no recordable injuries
• Diversey (New Zealand): 3,000 days with no lost‑time incidents and no recordable injuries

As Tim McDowall, Vice President of Operations, APAC, shared, “these achievements reflect the strength of Americold’s safety culture across APAC and our broader global network. We thank and congratulate our teams for their discipline, teamwork, and shared commitment to protecting one another—every shift, every day.”

Safety as a Global Commitment

Across Americold’s global operations, safety performance is tracked, benchmarked, and transparently reported as part of the company’s broader sustainability and operational‑resilience strategy. In 2025, Americold continued to reinforce consistent safety standards across regions while investing in technology, training, and leadership capability.

Safety, health, and well‑being are integral to how Americold builds resilient facilities, develops leaders, and delivers reliable service to customers worldwide. More detail on Americold’s global safety approach and performance can be found in the company’s 2025 Sustainability Report.