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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Container
RO-RO Freight
Oil and Chemical products
Timber
Bulk Grain
Passenger
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 ships 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 ships 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 ships 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.