Weather or natural events are much less likely to lead to insurance claims than poor maintenance and operational failures, according to research from TT Club.
The analysis of a total of over 9,500 insurance claims, showed that over 80% are the result of operational shortcomings or poor equipment maintenance and just 5% were caused by weather or similar natural causes.
“It is clear that many of these incidents are avoidable if operators were to pay greater attention to some basic safety related processes and give a higher standard of training to this employees,” said Andrew Kemp, regional director EMEA, TT Club.
Over half of incidents involved the internal systems and processes of the operator and another quarter were due to theft – claims that are “most assuredly to be placed in the category of preventable”.
TT Club has also highlighted how a lack of traffic flow systems and speed limits, allowing people into operational areas and use of inferior spare parts on lifting equipment, also regularly cause damage and injury.
Now, TT Club is calling for increased efforts to reduce accidents in ports and cargo handling facilities. Effective monitoring and checking procedures are among the steps to be taken by operators, along with regular training regimes and maintaining best industry practice for safety and security.
“Prevention can be successfully achieved via a combination of safe and physically secure facilities and equipment, rigorous checks and double-checks on safety procedures, combined with well-trained, well-motivated employees and trusted partners,” added Mr Kemp.
