| NEWS |
 |
|
posted hazcheck.com 21st February 2006 UK P&I Club publishes dangerous goods guide books  The UK P&I Club has launched an initiative to address the increasing problem of mis-stowed and mis-declared dangerous goods in freight containers.Haznews will be reporting further, but readers will want to know about the excellent set of guidebooks and CD published as part of the initiative. The four Book it Right and Pack it Tight guidebooks provide basic safety guidance for those engaged in all the stages of preparing dangerous goods for carriage by sea----from booking the cargo to packing the containers. The training materials reflect the requirements of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and have direct references to the Code's text. The guides are in two parts. In each, the first section covers operational requirements affecting shippers and forwarders; shipping lines and freight sales agencies; consolidators and shipping container packers, including managers and supervisors; and fork lift operators and cargo handlers. The second part, standard to all guides, provides a comprehensive reference to the classification of dangerous goods. It explains the basic principles of UN classification, the identification system for various dangerous goods, how to describe them in documentation and when making sea freight bookings, and the terms used in the operational section. Book 1: Shippers and forwarders Dangerous Goods operational procedures for shippers and forwarders encompass security; information for cargo booking and shippers declaration; the declaration itself and its legal context; the packing certificate; additional certification including weathering and exemption certificates, letters of indemnity and competent authority approval; appropriate packaging, including UN packaging code requirements; marking and labelling; limited quantities; segregation of multi-hazard loads; shipper's declarations for cargo consolidators; mixed load procedures and cargo consolidators' duties; cargo inspections and the consequences of not declaring dangerous goods. Chemicals that react dangerously to heat illustrate the vital importance of segregation and stowage. A shipper wants his cargo to arrive intact at the customer's door and needs to choose a shipping container packer who is competent and understands the IMDG Code. When placing dangerous goods with a consolidator to pack shipping containers, shippers and forwarders should visit the premises, inspect the work and form views of care and attention standards. Good consolidators will welcome this interest. The cheapest consolidator may not be the best performer and a small sum saved by not securing cargo may lead to an expensive loss later if cargo is placed on stop or damaged in transit. This guidebook helps shippers understand the factors concerned with documentation, marking and labelling of packages to enable third parties to pack dangerous goods into containers for carriage by sea. When packing their own shipping containers, shippers and forwarders are legally bound and responsible for documentation, segregation and proper securing. They should ensure those packing the container are properly trained and aware of the rigorous standards of securing and bracing required for sea transport. Book 2: Shipping lines and freight sales agencies Dangerous Goods operational procedures for shipping lines and freight sales agencies encompass security; information required for cargo booking and shipper's declaration, the shipper's declaration itself and its legal context; the packing certificate; additional certification including weathering and exemption certificates, letters of indemnity and competent authority approval; limited quantities; and the segregation of multi-hazard loads. Dangerous goods that must be segregated are prohibited in the same shipping container. The Code has strict rules for keeping apart incompatible classes of goods that might interact. A person accepting a booking for the shipping line should ensure that the information he receives about the final load is comprehensive and accurate. Book 3: Consolidators and freight container packers Dangerous Goods operational procedures for consolidators and shipping container packers cover security; receiving packaged goods for packing into shipping containers, including dealing with damaged goods; booking cargo with the shipping line; goods details from the shipper; shipper's declaration document; packing certificate; additional certification, including weathering and exemption certificates, letters of indemnity and competent authority approval; UN-approved packaging; marking and labelling of packages; prohibitions on mixed loading of dangerous goods; packing limited quantities into containers; preparations for loading into containers; loading various consignments; drums in containers; solid frame intermediate bulk containers; loading on pallets; adding fumigant tablets during loading; securing cargo; placarding and full declaration to the shipping line. Damage resulting from poor packing is illustrated with graphic photographs. Unskilled or inexperienced cargo handlers need to work under instruction until they gain the requisite knowledge. Load plans prepared by experienced and responsible people can be particularly helpful for inexperienced personnel. Deliberate negligence in handling and packing amounts to a breach of international maritime agreements, bad business and poor customer care that may lead to criminal prosecution. Packers who cause dangerous goods incidents by bad packing or by loading incompatible dangerous goods in the same container may cause their own and other cargo to be destroyed, producing delay and extra expense for clean up spillage and re-packing containers. They may have their cargo confiscated by enforcement agencies and face prosecution, fines and claims for compensation. International maritime transport's aim of offering better schedules and more efficient services is set back every time a container leaks, catches fire or otherwise disrupts smooth and reliable transportation. The aim is to eliminate the problems and expense caused by bad container packing. Book 4: Fork lift operators and cargo handlers Dangerous Goods operational procedures for fork lift operators and cargo handlers encompass receiving goods for packing and shipping into shipping containers, including dealing with damaged goods; marking and labelling packages; UN approved packaging; an outline of the segregation rules; preparations for loading containers; drums in containers; loading solid-frame intermediate bulk containers; loading on pallets; securing cargo; packing limited quantities into cargo transport units; adding fumigant generating solids such units; placarding and packing certificates. Photographs and visuals show what can go wrong. Unskilled or inexperienced employees should work under instruction until they gain the knowledge they need. A load plan prepared by an experienced and responsible person can be particularly helpful. Deliberate negligence in handling and packing dangerous goods is a breach of all international maritime agreements and may lead to criminal prosecution. Shipping lines appreciate the skill and hard work needed to load dangerous goods safely into shipping containers. However, there are still too many cases where dangerous goods have been loaded unsafely, leading to incidents. Reference and classification Part B on Reference and Classification of Dangerous Goods is common to all guidebooks. It describes, classifies and lists dangerous substances and articles in line with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and links with the operational Part A in each guidebook to explain how the main operational terms and provisions affect all the functions in the transport chain. The section describes dangerous goods as "substances and articles that have the potential to kill or injure people, cause damage to ships, trucks, aircraft and transport equipment, damage the environment and severely disrupt logistic systems. Some workers who handle dangerous goods cannot recognise them because they have not been trained to do so." IMDG has seven main parts: general and legal; classification; Dangerous Goods list and limited quantities; packing and tank provisions; consignment procedures; construction and testing of packagings, IBCs and tanks; and stowage, segregation and other transport operations. The main classified categories are explosives, gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids and self-reactive substances oxidising agents and organic peroxides, toxic and infectious substances, radioactive materials, corrosives and miscellaneous dangerous items. There is a summary of the rationale, advantages, rule changes, general criteria, packaging, marking and labelling regulations and documentation required for limited quantities; and also the hazards, rationale, operational requirements, marking and labelling, documentation and stowage requirements associated with fumigated units. Other subjects include flashpoints, marine pollutants, emergency schedule numbers, empty tank containers, control and emergency temperatures and compatibility groups for explosives. There are also special provisions relating to aerosols, dangerous goods safety advisers and segregation groups. Dangerous goods checklists for shippers, consolidators and packers are provided. There is a complimentary CD on container packing methods. The guide books are available as a boxed set for GBP £75. For more information contact: Karl Lumbers / Nick Whitear Thomas Miller P&I Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7283 4646 Email: karl.lumbers@thomasmiller.com nick.whitear@thomasmiller.com  | |
| Next Prev News Index |
