ILA - USMX Joint Saf ety Committee
Working Together For The Benefit Of All
ILA - USMX OSH Circulars are devised to reflect the best possible information and guidance, and are products of diligent research
and the most up to date subject matter knowledge . Consequently, while the information contained herein is believed to be accurate,
owing to a host of factors ILA - USMX can convey no direct or implied warranty relative to the reliance of parties upon content.
OSH Circular 2015 - 01 (23 January 2015 )
Spotting Industry Accident Trends
and Alerting You About Them
At man y container terminals of late , there have been very high populations of empty
boxes waiting for their next disposi tion . It happens… They're often stacked high, wide
and tight, and that circumstance brings with it safety issues worth mentioning.
The photograph above was taken this morning (23 January 2015 ) at an Atlantic Coast
terminal and shows an over the road tractor that was crushed by a couple of empty
containers that were knocked out of stack by (we are made to understand) an unladen
empty handler with its lifting attachment u nnecessarily extended . We are told that t he
motor vehicle operator was not seriously injured, but fully appreciate that outcome easily
could have been much different.
The ILA~USMX Joint Safety Committee urges terminal operators and terminal workers
to do all that is possible in keeping container s tacks well managed, safe and fully
accessible to the types and numbers of container handling equipment assets that are
actively working them. Take the ti me you need to do it right. E quipment operators:
Plea s e k eep your container handling attachments contracted when travelling without a
box .