06


House to House July 2010


Keep safety handy in your pocket


In a joint venture between TT Club and ICHCA International, a series of safety guides have been revised, updated and published in a handy format for operational use. Each pocket guide has been produced on durable and recyclable polypropylene, and gel-stuck to a carrier folder that provides further information on each topic.


As previously highlighted by TT Club, the latest amendment to the IMDG Code includes a mandatory provision for the training of shore-side workers, critically for personnel working for ship- pers, agents, forwarders, consolidators and oth- ers dealing with the goods and documents prior to entering the supply chain. TTClub and ICHCA International have both advised theirMembers to inform their shipper customers of this require- ment and have highlighted the Exis Technologies e-learning package as being oneway of support- ing appropriate function-specific training.


Entry into enclosed spaces – ships’ cargo spaces & freight containers


Tragically a regular cause of fatalities amongst shore-side labour working on board bulk cargo vessels is asphyxiation. Similar incidents are known to occur when workers enter freight containerswhether on-board ship, on terminal or during any point on its onward journey.


The guides come both in printed and PDF form. The latter is downloadable from the publicationsmenuon theHomepageof the TTClubwebsiteatwww.ttclub.com. It isalso possibletorequest theprintedversionfreeof charge,however,acontributiontoproduction costs may be required for larger orders. Pleasefollowtheinstructionsonthewebsite fororderingprintedcopies.Theguideisalso available from ICHCA International Ltd at www.ichca.com.


An outline of each topic is provided here: IMDGCode Requirements (amendment 34-08)


The Club has repeatedly advised that the impor- tanceofcomplianceinthehandlingofpackageddan- gerousgoodsfor international transitcannotbeover- emphasised. This guide provides a quick reference to themarking and summary documentary require- ments based on Amendment 34-08 of the IMDG Code,whichbecamemandatoryon1January2010.


A high proportion of international packaged car- goes are deemed to have the potential to be dan- gerous to those who work in the supply chain. Despite this,millions of tonnes of such goods are safely transported every year. This is primarily due to international standards specifying how these commodities, whose properties vary widely, can safely be handled during packing, loading and unloading and in transit via different modes of transport. Codes have been developed for indi- vidual modes under an overall United Nations


umbrella and the IMDG Code is the applicable publication for sea carriage.Compliancewith the IMDG Code by all the parties concerned is cru- cial to the safe receipt, handling, stowage and conveying of packaged dangerous goods.


These two pocket guides deal, firstly, with docu- mentation and specify what detailed description mustbe includedindeclarationsmadeby the ship- per, and, secondly all the various labels/placards, signs andmarks that are appropriate in each case.


These two pocket guides warn those who are actively involved in or the supervising of cargo loading or discharge operations of the dangers of atmospheric contamination in both on-board sit- uations and containers. The guides also contain advice on the precautions to be taken. The fun- damentalmessage is ‘Before entering, stop and think’.


Fatalities can occur under certain circumstances within the enclosed spaces of cargo holds on bulk cargo vessels aswell as in containerswhen the cargo emits either noxious gases or even inert ones in such a quantity that they replace the oxygen available in a tightly packed and restricted environment.


A number of commonly transported cargoes can affect the atmosphere in enclosed spaces to such an extent that it can no longer sustain life.Human beings breathe a natural atmosphere which con- sists of 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. As the oxygen level decreases, so do the chances of survival until at 16% concentration, asphyxiation occurs. This is the case even though the remain- der of the atmospheremight consist of an entirely harmless gas or gases. Anybody in an enclosed space, approaching such cargoes, even in a ves- sel’s access-way leading to a hold, could be in danger. Perhaps more obviously, if the atmos- phere contains harmful, toxic gas, and there are cargoes which can give off such gases, then workers are clearly in danger.


There is another hazard that specifically concerns containers. A number of cargoes require fumiga-


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