Finnsteve presented on 8.10 a case example of handling a leaking IBC container using the “Stop, Evacuate, Inform” operating model.
The contact person is Mikko Kangas. Sari Turkkila compiled the event report.
The day’s exercise begins from the meeting room where the responsible persons have gathered. Mikko Kangas goes through the exercise story: A stevedore calls: “The tank is leaking” – and something should be done, but what? The answer is found quite quickly: stop the work, evacuate people and inform the ship.
Key personnel have received a printed copy of the form located in the intranet, which facilitates handling the matter. The form has a “step-by-step” model, by following which everything necessary gets done.
“Could we get this in a larger font?”, comes the question. And rightly so, as even in the well-lit meeting room the form is difficult to read, let alone outside in the dusk in a real situation.
The “Dangerous substance leak situation operating instructions and event log” guides the exercise. Next, it is necessary to determine what substance is involved, i.e., what is the IMDG class, UN number and the quantity of the substance. The company’s and port’s systems as well as Traficom’s IBC search help with this, revealing that the exercise substance is turpentine. The discussion notes that the rescue department must always be notified when it concerns IBC transport.
The most important thing is the flow of information about the situation to one’s own personnel, the port, the shipping company, and other port operators. The port’s Port Info guides the Rescue Department’s emergency vehicles to the danger area. All actions taken should also be remembered to be recorded. Hazardous situations are reported immediately to the customer. The discussion notes that reaching stevedores located in the port area is a challenge. Displays can be used indoors, but outdoor area communication must be considered.
Then it’s time for real action! The IBC container must be lifted into a separate “basin” so that the leaking substance, i.e., turpentine in the exercise, does not spread. The basin is a narrow trough, so it will be interesting to see how this project succeeds.
The basin’s red cover is first lifted off so that the turpentine-leaking container can be placed into the basin.
Alright, there goes the cover! For the exercise, it is good that there are plenty of stevedores on site who see the measures in practice.
Now the exercise’s leaking container is on the container spreader and above the basin. Next, it needs to be safely positioned into the basin.
Well now, it slipped right in! One can only admire the work of a professional.
Very precise work, there’s no room to slip by many centimeters. Great job.
At this stage, in a real situation, the Rescue Department handles its own tasks and depending on the substance involved, it is rendered harmless. The container in the basin can also now be safely moved elsewhere within the port area.
Since it was an exercise, the fictitiously leaking container is lifted out of the basin and the basin cover is put back on. That’s another positioning exercise!
And the cover snaps into place. A report is made from the exercise and observations are shared with the responsible persons. It is also important that those who participated share the information they saw with other stevedores.
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