Diploma in Port Management

Course Code: LR0085

Student Number: 2606960

Assignment of Module 9:

Ensuring a Safe and Secure Port

Student Name: CHAU LE

A Port is having following facilities,

1. Container

2. RO-RO Freight

3. Oil and Chemical products

4. Timber

5. Bulk Grain

6. Passenger

7. Recreational water sports

The following paragraphs discusses the possible hazards with respect to Health and Safety involved in a

port having aforementioned facilities. Hazards involved with respect to Dangerous substances would be

present in only Oil and Chemical products, on few occasions with Containers. Such hazards will be

discussed under respective items. The security aspect is more related to passenger terminals.

Health and Safety

1. Container Handling

The main hazards to personnel involved in the loading and unloading of containers to / from

ship include:

• being struck by mobile equipment on the quay

• being crushed against a fixed object, such as the ship’s structure or containers

• onboard and suspended containers, or closing twin lift container spreaders

• slips, trips and falls whilst working on surfaces which may be uneven, unstable or

slippery due to the presence of substances such as leaking cargo residues, oils, ice or

water

• falls from height when working or passing near to unprotected edges

• falls from height due to a failure to provide and maintain a safe means of access /egress

to, from and onboard the ship, or between adjacent cargo bays

• falls from height when working from personnel carrying cages, gondolas or using fall

protection equipment

• contact / entrapment with container stows when working from personnel carrying cages

or gondolas

• collisions between mobile plant / equipment on the quay

• being struck by falling objects (debris, twistlocks etc. from containers)

• electrical hazards from damaged power cables to temperature controlled containers •

pinches, cuts and skin abrasions

Mitigation Measures

The most of the hazards are related to Lifting and Slinging Operations. To reduce the hazards

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations shall be followed,

The lifting equipment provided for use at work should be:

• strong and stable enough for the particular use and marked to indicate safe working

loads

• positioned and installed to minimise any risks

• used safely, i.e. the work is planned, organised and performed by competent people

• subject to ongoing thorough examination and, where appropriate, inspection by

competent people

The Slinging accessories shall be thoroughly examined. All lifting equipment and lifting

accessories are within the correct inspection period by use of colour tags.

2. RO-RO Freight

The RO-RO freight is where in the vessels are loaded with cars or other types of vehicles. The

following hazards are associated with these activities,

a. trapping and crushing from the lowering and lifting of cargo such as between trestles

and trailers or tractor units and the deck.

b. being struck by lashings that may spring back when being applied, tightened, released or

loosened.

c. noise and vibration from operating plant and equipment onboard the vessel.

d. fumes from vehicles operating within the vessel and generated by the vessel.

Mitigation Measures

• Ro-Ro and Sto-Ro operations should be planned and executed in a way that minimises

risks to those involved in the operation. Edge protection should be erected around lift

and ramp openings where there is a risk of persons or vehicles falling.

• Persons on foot should be prohibited from using a ship’s cargo lift, unless there is no

alternative safe means of access and a suitable and sufficient risk assessment has been

undertaken.

• If drivers are required to stay with their vehicles on cargo lifts then they must remain in

their cab with the handbrake applied.

• All operatives involved in loading and discharging of Ro-Ro vessels must wear high

visibility clothing, safety footwear and other items of approved personal protective

clothing and equipment as required.

• Noise levels on freight decks may be excessive, therefore a noise assessment should be

carried out in order to determine noise levels and any appropriate control measure.

Care should be taken, where personal hearing protection is used to ensure that

communications, such as whistle signals, vehicle horns etc are not blocked out.

• A system must be in place to safely manage the movement of vehicles on freight decks,

taking into consideration speed, restricted driver visibility, safe stowage or positioning

and any other activities being carried out at the same time.

3. Oil and Chemical products

The oil and chemical products are dangerous liquids and classified under bulk liquid cargo.

For the majority of installations handling bulk dangerous liquids or gases there are five main

events which individually or jointly have the potential to cause significant harm or damage:

• fire

o ignition following a spill or release

o hazardous activities – welding , smoking etc

o external events – Non intrinsically safe equipment , impact, adjacent fires etc

• explosion

o ignition following a spill or release

• release of a toxic substance

o containment Failure

o impact

o Human error

• release of a corrosive substance:

o containment Failure o

o impact

o human error

• release of an environmental pollutant

o containment Failure

o impact

o human error

• generic hazards associated with operations e.g.:

o manual Handling issues due to the nature of the transfer equipment used

o slips trips and falls due to the potentially congested working area

o drowning due to working adjacent to unguarded water edges

Mitigation Measures

• For the safe handling of the bulk liquids International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and

Terminals should be used.

• All items lying within the responsibility of the ship should be personally checked by the

ships Master or representative and similarly all items within the terminals responsibility

should be checked by a representative of the terminal.

• Oil, petro-chemical and gas terminal sites will also be required to be assessed and where

appropriate, zoned as required by National Law.

• Equipment such as electrical systems, cranes, vehicles, pumps, portable equipment etc

will all need to be designed and approved to work in the environment concerned.

• Means of access must be suitable and consideration to means of access for emergency

services must be taken into account. Means of escape must also be considered as well

as the possibility of providing safe refuges where appropriate.

• Portable hoses, fixed loading arms and any other device connecting to ships manifolds

must be fit for purposes, inspected at appropriate intervals and safe for use in the

hazardous environment.

• Liquid and gas transfer operations should be carried out in accordance with industry

standard practice

4. Timber Handling

The timber cargo is not uniform and generally varies in length and weights. The cargo may be

packed or loose.

The main hazards involved in the loading and unloading of timber and board/sheet materials to

and from ships are:

• being struck or crushed by a load or equipment during mechanical handling (for

example when using a crane or forklift truck)

• slips, trips or falls while working on an uneven surface, unstable, wet or icy load

• access/egress to and from deck cargo

• falls from height

• collapse or movement of stow

• voids formed in the cargo especially by truck bundles (this problem is further

complicated as wrapped cargo can give a false impression of a solid surface)

• atmospheric conditions, for example fumes from machinery and treated timber, oxygen

deficiency, solvents

• dust (both a respiratory and explosive hazard)

Mitigation Measures

• The shipping operator and the port handling company should agree on the equipment

and systems that will be used to ensure the load is handled safely.

• A written record should be made for each ship visit including: the ship stowage plan;

landside stowage arrangements; personnel, plant and equipment involved.

• Properly maintained safe means of access to cargo should be provided.

• The way in which deck cargo is stowed and secured greatly affects the loading and

discharging method and the safety of operatives, especially when deck cargoes of

timber tend to be very high and extend across the full width of the deck.

• The load should be inspected by the supervisor in control of the operation from a safe

vantage position before handling operations commence.

• Other safety measures associated with lifting and slinging operations.

5. Bulk Grain Handling

Bulk Grain are considered under Dry Bulk Cargoes. Typical hazards to personnel when engaged

in loading and unloading ships carrying dry bulk cargoes include:

• the conditions under which the cargo is carried, a ship’s hold can be a confined space

• cargoes are often carried whilst under fumigation

• access/egress to and from cargo may present a problem

• sudden collapse/sliding of grain stock

• moving vehicles (road, rail) plant and equipment and the risk of collisions with

pedestrians, fixed objects (structure of shed, grid covering etc) or other moving vehicles

• operation of bagging plants, screening equipment, grading or processing plants and

associated hazards

• items of cargo falling from lifting equipment

• working at height on top of stacks of bulk cargo

• forwarding & receiving cargo to road, rail or barge transport

• insects, rodents, pigeons and any other vermin which may be present

Mitigation Measures

• Prior to loading or unloading operations commencing the cargo should where possible

be inspected.

• The condition and location of the site chosen for cargo storage on port premises must

be fit for purpose.

• Procedures must be provided and maintained to ensure that loads (grabs) are not lifted

over the heads of personnel.

• The personnel should not walk on cargo while unloading operations are in progress.

6. Passenger Terminals

The possible hazards involved in Passenger Terminals are,

• Fall during access/exit of ferry

• Stampede

• Collapse of access platform

• Passengers getting hit by other vehicular movement on port

• Passenger Terminals have potential hazards with respect to Port Security,

Mitigation Measures

• Passenger route shall be clearly marked

• Emergency exits shall be clearly marked

• The gangways/trestle for entry and exit shall have warning for max load.

• With respect to port security, the terminal shall have sufficient baggage scanners,

custom controls and immigration control.

7. Recreational Water Sports

The following are hazards in recreational water sports,

• Drowning during play

• Skin diseases

• Malfunctioning of any ride

• Any visitor getting stuck in ride due his/her loose fabric

• Injury due to broken floor in water pool

• Fire in the campus

Mitigation Measures

• All the equipment of the rides shall be maintained as per their preventive maintenance

schedule

• Life bouys shall be available at required places

• Life guards shall be present at every pool.

• No visitor shall be allowed with loose ornaments on his body ( like chains, long flowing

fabrics etc.)

• Emergency exits shall be clearly marked.