Ensuring safety in the packaging of containers

Earlier this year, 83 government, employer and worker representatives met at the Global Dialogue Forum on Safety in the Supply Chain in Relation to Packing of Containers, organized by the International Labour Organization.

The purpose of the Forum is ‘to reach a better understanding of the reasons that lead to the application of poor practices in packing of containers that result in industrial accidents as well as to reach consensus on a common approach throughout the supply chain for the correct application and enforcement of the appropriate standards for packing containers.’

Points of consensus
The Forum adopted a set of ‘Points of Consensus’,
which included the following:

• Many accidents and problems in the transport sector are attributed to poor practices in relation to packing of containers, including overloading or misdeclaration of contents.
• Lack of training and knowledge of available standards is a signifi cant reason amongst others for poor practices in the packing of containers.
• Inadequate dissemination of existing standards and guidance, and lack of awareness of this information, not only among workers and their employers, but other stakeholders and authorities, such as police, occupational safety and health (OSH) inspectors, OSH doctors, etc.
• In many cases, there is a lack of development of appropriate plans for the consolidation, distribution,
  segregation and securing of cargo in containers.
• Suitable risk assessments are not always carried out in the supply chain so that the levels of risks would be identifi ed, and particular problems would be targeted.
• Those responsible for packing containers are not reached by the existing guidance on good practices for packing containers. 
• There is a need for a system for the inspection of containers for proper packing at the point of origin.
• Misdeclaration and the lack of adequate information on container contents and weight.
• Different consignments are packed in the same container and unpacked without the appropriate planning and coordination.
• It is agreed that safety in the supply chain can be improved by implementing good practice through international standards on the packing of containers.
• It is agreed that an IMO–ILO –UNECE* code of practice on the packing of cargo transport units (CTUs) is necessary. The three organizations are requested to proceed with the revision of the existing guidelines for packing of CTUs which would form the code of practice.
• Awareness of and training on consistent standards for the whole supply chain are necessary.
• It is important to ensure that training is more focused and simple.
• Once the code of practice emanating from the revised IMO –ILO–UNECE guidelines for packing CTUs is adopted, it will be important to ensure it is followed up with user-friendly
  publications (training material, tool kits, etc.) and that the code, and the accompanying publications, are made free and easily accessible and are widely disseminated.
• There is a need to improve the collection and publication of data on accidents related to the improper packing of containers. In this regard, consideration should be given to
  reviewing the standard classifi cation of accidents in order to identify road and other accidents that are related to improper packing of containers.

Sources
* International Maritime organization (IMO)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
United Nations economic Commission for europe (uneCe)