Health and safety

Sharon James, dockers’ section secretary, International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), told Port Strategy that the report was needed because the most important national level study to date, a longitudinal case study of the Port of Genoa, found there was no evidence to support the common assumption that containerisation has improved safety levels.

“There are no other comparable national level studies, let alone comparative international studies of occupational health and safety in ports,” she said.

The report called Managing the health and safety of workers in globalised container terminals, was commissioned by ITF and conducted by the UK’s Cardiff University in cooperation with three terminal operators – PSA International, APM Terminals and one, which has asked not to be named. It examines six GNT ports and features a worldwide study of ITF member unions.

The results revealed that, despite the major changes associated with containerisation, such as privatisation, container terminals remain a high risk environment for dock workers.

It says more attention needs to be given to ensuring that OHS provisions and outcomes are equal for sub-contracted workers, and more attention needs to be paid to health issues such as musculoskeletal disorders and fatigue.

Ms James added: “ITF affiliated unions felt the level of fatalities and serious injuries in container terminals was completely unacceptable, and that much stronger action is needed. The study lays the basis for an ‘open-source’ best practice model.”

The federation has recommended that standards be raised by focusing on strengthening occupational health and safety (OHS) through worker participation systems, which can address underlying causes of problems.