Cargo handling has always been an issue, but in recent years it has become a major concern. It is easy to see why – according to research by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology*, a third of all deliveries are damaged or delayed.
And it is estimated by the International union of Marine Insurance (IuMI) that 60% of marine claims losses during transit are caused by inappropriate handling, packaging and/or securing of goods.*
Frequency losses from rough handling
Zurich became aware that something needed to be done about the issue of correct handling of goods in transit as a result of its work with a major customer a couple of years ago.
In the course of a claims analysis study, Zurich discovered that the main problem was not major damage to cargo but more a question of frequency losses. And the majority of these losses were caused by rough or inappropriate handling, problems with packaging and securing of goods, wrong handling of commodities, or the wrong choice of container. Although the average loss was only around USD 22,000, frequency was the problem.
Lack of training
Further analysis revealed that many of the workers lacked basic knowledge about the correct handling of goods and had very little or no training. Zurich found that in the transport sector generally there was very little attention paid to training and tuition of employees. Training opportunities in the open market were either
unavailable, unsatisfactory or too expensive.
Zurich saw that the training issue needed to be addressed and created a multi-lingual tool for Zurich customers to provide online training on correct cargo handling, from choosing the right packaging and the right container to loss prevention advice for cargo handlers.
An industry problem
It soon became clear when Zurich looked at other customers that rough handling was a major problem for the sector as a whole, largely driven by cost factors and a lack of training options. Zurich saw an opportunity to help customers by providing a global tool to share best practices in cargo handling.
The solution: an e-learning platform / blended learning Zurich’s answer is to launch the Zurich Cargo Risk Academy,** a simple online tool offering employees training on cargo handling, organized into different modules. For example, there is a module on handling dangerous goods, another on packaging, as well as international trade regulations and terms. Zurich customers can benefi t from these complimentary courses, which are
accessible anywhere in the world.
Where more detailed or specialized knowledge is required, a blended learning system is being developed which also involves face-to-face training.
The training focuses on:
- employee and asset protection
- compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
- how to reduce frequency losses
- how to maintain business continuity
- how to manage costs of risks
- balance sheet protection
- sharing of knowledge and best practice.
Overall, the Zurich Cargo Risk Academy aims to help global corporations reduce their frequency losses in this area, and to comply with their duty of employee education in a cost-effective, geographically independent way.
To learn more about the Zurich Cargo Risk academy visit
www.zurichcargoriskacademy.com
