APM Terminals to commence new global truck safety procedures

As part of its effort to ensure safe port operation, APM Terminals, one of the world’s leading terminal operators, has announced the commencement of a new truck safety programme featuring carefully researched and tested standard operating procedures for outside truck drivers delivering or picking up containers.

The pilot-programme of the procedure, which will be put into effect by the end of 2016 throughout the company’s Global Terminal Network, has been successfully completed in five terminals.

“Our goal is to ensure we have safe operations.  The basic concept here is to eliminate the risk of accident or injury to the thousands of truck drivers who enter our facilities daily, by strictly enforcing a “Stay in the Cab” mandate for external truckers, with clearly identified Designated Safe Zones in non-operational areas specified for those occasions when leaving the truck is necessary,” said Kevin Furniss, APM Terminals’ vice president for Health, Safety, Security & Environment.

According to him, the safety programme reflects the tremendous teamwork from various terminal functions collaborating to develop a systematic approach to safety.

The pilot programme was conducted at APM Terminals facilities in Rotterdam, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Callao (Peru), and Apapa (Nigeria), including 100 hours of safety observations and 160 identified risk situations was performed and the data analysed to review existing procedures and risks.

“Reasons for drivers leaving their truck cabs, and thus, increasing the risk of accidents with container handling equipment or other trucks, included document handling, looking for containers, asking for directions, inspecting chassis, guiding equipment operators, and securing loads while in the yard.”

The company further states that the implementation of the programme, requires all APM Terminals’ facilities to provide specially designated, physically protected areas for drivers conducting operational activities outside of their truck cabs, by the end of the year, and offer safety instructions specific to each facility’s layout and traffic flow.

“What the project really does is to put in place much more structure and with specifics regarding expectations; this is a call to action,” stated Jack Craig, APM Terminals vice president and global head of operations.