The safety of containers was initially addressed when there were tens of thousands of units. Now, some 45 years later, there are tens of millions in circulation. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has been reviewing the processes associated with the Convention for Safe Containers - are you ready for the changes?
On a particularly frosty morning when ice has seized a car door shut we would never consider using a crow bar. Conditions may be more extreme in container operations, but is it reasonable to use mechanical force to open or close container doors? Experience suggests that it is not - and often ends with someone being hurt.
The lithium ion battery fires which have grounded the new Boeing 787 Dreamliners are a salutary warning to all in the supply chain not only about the problems of batteries but all forms of cargoes which have a propensity to self heat given the appropriate conditions. While particular concerns apply to air and sea transport, similar risks apply on land, especially in storage.
Causes of warehouse fires are many and varied. A startling statistic is that up to half of all warehouse fires are started deliberately. Of course, it is not just the warehouses themselves that are destroyed; it is also necessary to consider potential injuries or death and the contents (both stored cargo and handling equipment).
TT Club places high value on its own expertise and those with whom it collaborates, across the insurance and transport industries. This symbiotic approach has proven over the years to be mutually beneficial in fostering supply chain efficiency and safety.
Many container terminals will be familiar with the potential problem of lifting two 20' containers from a ship's hold whilst the spreader is in 40' mode. The TT Club has seen many accidents over the years of this nature and advised operators to consider procedures or technology to assist in their prevention.
Don't disregard the complete business case for evaluating safety innovations. Long-term sustainability of an operation may be best served by investing in proven and effective devices and procedures. Many have found that good health and safety management can deliver savings and improved performance.
Statistics continue to demonstrate that working in terminal facilities presents huge risks to people, despite massive expenditure on mobile handling equipment in relation to containerisation and the development of personal protective gear over the recent decades.
