12 containers a


Issue 4 2019 - Freight Business Journal Reaching the places other pharma shippers can’t


‘Passive’ shipping products which do not need an external power source to regulate temperature, are having an impact on the pharma supply chain, writes Dominic Hyde, vice-president of Peli BioThermal’s Crēdo on Demand arm. Deploying high performance


passive cold chain shippers means you can get into more difficult- to-reach places – for example, because of a lack of roads or air infrastructure or an unreliable power


grid - whereby ‘active’ require


constant,


reliable power supply. Our products are increasingly


being used as solutions for some of these more remote region requirements, although our main business is from Western Europe to the US and back. We are getting into Africa and


more remote parts of Asia, where our high performing cold chain packaging is being deployed. These utilise the latest developments in temperature controlled packaging to ensure pharmaceuticals are transported within established temperature bands.


Insurance


Confined spaces can be killers


Mike Yarwood from international


freight transport insurer, TT Club looks at the very real dangers of working in the confined spaces inherent in cargo transport.


Confined spaces present risks throughout the global supply chain, ranging from ship holds and passageways through to silos and all types of enclosed cargo transport units an


people attempting to


(CTUs). There are estimated 15 confined


space fatalities each year in the UK alone, 60% of them of


rescue colleagues who are already trapped or injured. Confined spaces present real risks in our industry and should demand managers’ attention. Awareness training and robust procedures will prevent serious injuries and save lives. A confined space is a place


which has limited openings for


entry and egress,


inadequate ventilation and is not designed for continuous worker occupation, and


where serious injury may occur from hazardous substances or conditions (generally resulting from asphyxia). Tank CTUs used to transport bulk cargoes, including road tank trailers, tank railcars and ISO tanks are prime examples of confined space risks. The air we usually breathe


contains 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. Once the oxygen content of the air decreases or increases, the associated risks change.


Oxygen-enriched


atmospheres increase the risk of fire and explosion. But if oxygen content is reduced, judgement becomes impaired and ultimately life can no longer be supported. Clearly, there is also risk that the atmosphere contains toxic or flammable gas concentrations.


Indeed, industry-wide our


advanced passive technology is gaining more traction. So many companies are trying to emulate us at bringing systems forward with vacuum panel


insulation


and phase change materials; however we are at the epicentre at the moment. We have seen our pioneering packaging being


is superior to ice- or water-based systems.


This has helped revolutionise


the global supply chain by providing the ability to


get


pharmaceuticals further into difficult to reach places because of the shipper’s extended time duration capabilities, alongside the technology’s ability to withstand


We’re also seeing accelerated replacement of water-based systems with those using phase change materials where, through a combination of materials, the melting point of the coolants is designed to the ideal temperature range (e.g. 2-8o ice at 0o


C), rather than water C. These systems provide far


more temperature stability inside the payload space and use less material. Packaging developments are


delivering significant payload benefits, as there’s less liquid in the system and the insulation is much thinner


through more effective


deployed into areas that were not necessarily our marketplace in the past. High-end packaging, incor-


porating vacuum insulated panels and phase change materials for coolants, offer longer duration, robust,


reliable performance in pharma payload protection, which


the ambient temperature and oſten extremely hot or cold, challenging climate conditions. Advances over recent years


have seen the introduction of better insulation by using vacuum insulated panels, reducing the thickness of the insulation required and increasing performance.


Lack of oxygen is a silent


killer; there are no obvious warning signs such as coughing or feeling breathless. Where oxygen is sufficiently depleted the first sign is often that the individual becomes unconscious. This can happen so quickly that there may be no opportunity to raise the alarm. Where there are pockets of atmosphere lacking sufficient oxygen, an individual will start to feel very weak and confused, unable to undertake the simplest of tasks such as reaching the exit of the confined space. If not rescued quickly they will likely fall into unconsciousness. Rescue operations are therefore time critical. Where it is essential for


a worker to enter a tank CTU, atmosphere testing in advance is necessary, but critically oxygen levels should be adequately monitored throughout the activity. Even where the tank is certified to be clean and the atmosphere adequate to support life, undertaking any work within the tank, such as cleaning, polishing or grinding may change the atmospheric content of the confined space. The key issue is whether


vacuum insulated panels. The payload efficiency in terms of weight and physical volume of these newer systems can be more than double the traditional water based and foam insulated options, saving significant expense on logistics services. In 2018, we increased our


temperature-controlled container fleet size by 90%, while increasing our revenue by 90% and we are well positioned to further


the atmosphere is suitable to sustain life. A competent person should carry out initial and monitoring testing of the atmosphere inside the tank using appropriate calibrated instruments to ascertain acceptable levels of oxygen and acceptable levels of toxic and flammable vapours. A competent ‘watcher’


should be physically present throughout the work, to provide an immediate response in emergency. The watcher should monitor each stage of the work to ensure compliance with the defined safe system of work. Annex 8 of the ILO, IMO and


UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code) focuses on the risk assessment process covering items such as competence, working at height and emergency preparedness. A risk assessment should


consider as a minimum: the task; the working environment; working materials and tools; the competence of those undertaking the work; and arrangements for emergency response/rescue. Access should only be


allowed under a safe system (permit) of work and the


accelerate our growth in 2019 and expand our global network. Our network of stations and drop points is planned to exceed 100 sites in 2019. We have been busy signing up forwarders and


multiple freight


///NEWS


integrators worldwide, increasing our convenience and flexibility for customers by selecting the best


locations and organisations


to speed the journey of their temperature controlled shipments around the globe.


Hammering home the safety message in Hamburg


The TT Club took its safer shipping message to the Global Liner Shipping Conference in Hamburg on 14-15 May. The Club’s risk management


director, Peregrine Storrs-Fox joined with global law firm HFW partner Craig Neame to suggest a path to improved safety, at a time when a serious ship fire takes place every 60 days, on average. “A lack of understanding of


regulations and good practices in the classification, packing and declaration, handling and transport, of dangerous goods pervades all stakeholders within the multimodal environment,” commented Storrs-Fox. “Increasing awareness of the risks involved, strengthening training in good practices and engendering


supervision of a responsible person. A permit to work assists in


ensuring that a formal check is undertaken, confirming that all elements of the safe system of work are in place ahead of a worker being allowed to enter the confined space. Such a system should provide clear identification of the person(s) who may authorise entry into the confined space and those who hold responsibility for specifying the necessary precautions. It should also


include training and


instruction in the issue of permits, training and instruction for confined space working and monitoring and auditing to make sure that the system continues to work as intended. Additional training,


instruction and signage should be considered. Are workers aware of what is considered to be a confined space and are they sufficiently trained to recognise them? Do they have experience of this type of work? Are the workers physically capable of entering and exiting the tank container? Consideration whether the person may


compliance through enforcement will not be achieved quickly but are tasks that must be faced.” At the conference Craig Neame


outlined some of the incendiary incidents that have occurred around the world, including in the port of Hamburg. Storrs-Fox suggested some


solutions that are already being employed including the Hazcheck Portal, which brings information on transport restrictions and regulations together in one place; Cargo Patrol, an attempt to identify undeclared and misdeclared dangerous goods before they are shipped on board; and the potential of blockchain technology to eliminate errors in


data transmission interpretation.


suffer from claustrophobia or if they are fit to wear and operate breathing gear. It is vital to develop an


established method of communication between workers inside the confined space and those outside - the first step in emergency response. Develop and communicate


an emergency rescue plan. Carry out regular checks to ensure that the plan is effective and familiarise the workforce with procedures. The


arrangements of the


emergency rescue plan should be sufficiently communicated to the entire workforce who may ultimately need to rely on it. Where things go wrong,


the worker in the confined space is likely to be exposed to


serious and immediate


danger. It is essential to have


effective and quick


arrangements to raise the alarm and trigger rescue. The watcher should never enter the


confined space before


securing assistance and taking additional precautions. Consideration should be given to the equipment available and the capabilities of the nominated rescuers.


and


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