NFIR Federation of IndianRailwaymen National ROAD,NEWDELHI- 110055 3, CHELMSFORD Affiliatedto : IndianNationalTradeUnionCongress(INTUC) InternationalTransportWorkers'Federation(lTF) No.IV/ITF/ActionWeek

Dated:0110412015

The GeneralSecretaries& Office Bearersof NFIR DearBrother. Sub:

ITF Container, Safety Campaign - International Workers Memorial Day 28thApril,2015.

dated 27h March 2015 has forwardeda ITF vide its circularNo. 084/Rt 09/RW 0812015 campaigntool-kit to assistunionswith their activitieson ContainerSafety.Being28thApril, 2015, the IntemationalWorkersMemorialDayrtheITF is askingits Rail Unionsto highlightthe issueon the global stageand orgatize activities on ContainerSafetyin particular on fumigation and toxic to observe28"'April, 2015 Accordinglyall the affiliatesof NFIR arerequested gasesin containers. asIntemationalWorkers'MemorialDay. More informationabout ITF ContainerSafetyand action day on 28tr April, 2015 can be Copiesof detailedmaterialsas receivedare found on the weibsite: www.itfcontainersafety.org. may be posted alsobeingforwardedto observethe sameanda reportoVideoclips andphotographs to theFederationto enableus to appriseITF.

YoursfraferfalfV,

Encl: As above

G l r l )sl/ (Dr M. Raghav'aigft) GeneralSecretary

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International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Report on ITF Container Safety Action Day, 9 October 2014

On 9 October, the ITF asked its road, rail, maritime and dockers’ unions to organise activities focusing on workers, the general public and political decision-makers in order to raise awareness around container safety, build support for the issues, and begin national campaigns on container safety. The ITF Container Safety Action Day on 9 October was part of the ITF action week on 6-12 October 2014 (which is organised annually by the ITF Inland Transport Sections). This action day marks the start of a cross-sectional campaign that the ITF is leading on container safety and follows several years of joint work by the ITF Road Transport Workers’, Railway Workers’, Dockers’ and Seafarers’ Sections on this issue. For more information about the ITF campaign on container safety: www.itfcontainersafety.org

Indonesia ITF dockers’ union Trade Union of Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) organised various activities to campaign on container safety, in collaboration with members at the safety department of the company. Actions included drills on fighting fires and first aid, and a seminar on container safety. The union started their activities on 20 September and continued until 10 October. Bulgaria At their meeting with the Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications on 6 October, the Federation of Transport Trade Unions in Bulgaria (FTTUB) submitted ITF information on container safety to the Minister and explained the expected adoption of a Code of Practice on safe packing of cargo transport units by the ILO (International Labour Organization), IMO (International Maritime Organization) and UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe). The FTTUB and the Ministry of Transport agreed to work in partnership on this issue. The issue is going to be discussed at a sub-sectoral Tripartite Council in Executive Agency “Maritime Administration” before the end of November. A meeting has also been scheduled in November at the Exectuive Agency “Automobile Administration” where the problem will also be address. In rail, the ITF position was presented at the social partners’ meeting on 8 October. The meeting shared the option that the issue will become increasingly important with the development of intermodal terminals. On 9 October, trade unionists at the ports of Varna and Bourgas held meetings with management to discuss concerns and demands on container safety. The ITF container safety campaign leaflet was distributed to port workers. Korea During a press conference held by the Korean Federation of Public Services and Transportation Workers’ Unions (KPTU) and its transport affiliates on 6 October to announce its action plans for the ITF Action Week, the strengthening of regulations on overloading and container safety was highlighted as one of the union’s demands for the ITF Action Week.

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Malaysia About 60 members of the Transport Workers Union of Malaysia (TWU) from logistics companies in Northport and Westport held a one hour demonstration at the main gate of Westport in Port Klang on 7 October to highlight health and safety issues for container truck drivers. Drivers on duty supported the event by sounding their horns when passing by. The Westport management was present and made preliminary suggestions to explore possibilities for future cooperation on health and safety issues to reduce risks of accidents. Cameroon Syndicat National des Employés du Secteur des Transports Terrestres (SYNESTER) launched their activities for the ITF Action Week with a press conference in Yaoundé on 7 October to highlight working conditions in the road transport sector and to explain the issues linked to the ITF campaign on container safety. On 8 October, the union held training for its worker representatives and union leaders in the Anglophone zone of the country on the roles and duties of staff representatives. The union completed their programme of activities for the Action Week on 9 October with the distribution of leaflets to workers who transport containers in order to raise awareness on issues related to container safety. In particular, the union highlighted the fact that drivers need to be informed on the content, quality, packing and proper weight of goods inside containers. The union reported that the campaign on container safety was very popular with workers. UK UNITE held their activities for the ITF Container Safety Action Day in Southampton on 7 October. Stewards and activists handed out the campaign leaflet "What's in the box?" in the lorry park at the docks to raise awareness about the campaign. The union also held a workplace meeting to discuss the campaign issues. Finally, more campaign leaflets were handed out by the local dockers in the gatehouse to lorry drivers visiting the port. Netherlands On 7 October, a group of 17 rank and file road transport and dockers members of FNV Bondgenoten handed out more than 5,000 leaflets to truck drivers and dockers in the Port of Rotterdam on container safety and the ITF cross-sectional campaign on the issue. The action received a positive response from truck drivers and dockers. Colleagues from the Romanian trade union STL also participated. The FNV’s port and rail sections called on members to distribute the leaflet. On 8 October, the leaflet was distributed to lashers during the union’s CBA meetings. Barbados A representative from the Barbados Port Inc attended the press conference organised by the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) on 7 October to launch their programme of activities for the ITF Action Week. The representative responded to the union’s concerns regarding container safety, as detailed in the ITF leaflet, “What’s in the Box?”. Philippines On 9 October, the Port Workers’ Union of Philippines (PWUP) organised a march of dock workers at South Habor, Port of Manila to create awareness of safe container transport. The union targeted truck drivers and truck companies servicing the port operator Asian Terminals, Inc. (DP World Company). Members of PWUP distributed leaflets and spoke to truck drivers and helpers about the campaign. The union also created a new Youth Sector of Dock Workers to assist with the campaign activities. India The Madras Port Trust Employees’ Union (MPTEU) organised activities on 9 October, along with its CCTL – Chennai Container Terminal Ltd (DPW) and CITPL – Chennai International Terminals Pvt. Ltd (PSA) members. Activists participated in large numbers. The union displayed banners in different Page 2 of 4

parts of the Chennai port area informing workers about the campaign. Around the port terminals, particularly in the CCTL (DPW) and CITPL (PSA) terminals, union activists distributed leaflets and displayed placards in English and Tamil with information about the ITF campaign and safe handling of containers, and precautions to be taken while operating inside the areas. The Tamilnadu Auto, Taxi and Private Sector Transport Workers’ Federation continued their activities for the ITF Action Week on 9 October by highlighting the problems faced by truck drivers and operators. More than 800 truck drivers and operators participated in a demonstration held at Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR) in Tondiyarpet in Chennai in order to mark the ITF Container Safety Action Day. Representatives from the union addressed the demonstration and spoke in detail about the ITF and the importance of the ITF Action Week, as well as the issues faced by the truck drivers and operators. The Transport & Dock Workers’ Union (TDWU) in Mumbai continued their activities for the ITF Action Week with activities at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). A rally of transport workers in the container terminals of GTI (Gateway Terminals India Pvt Ltd), NSICT-DPW (Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal Pvt Ltd – DP World) and JNPT Port Terminal was held at the GTI ODC Gate. It was staged in two phases with at least 400 transport workers participating on both occasions. The union and the workers decided to take action to stand up against outsourcing attempts by GTI and to put an end to discrimination against contract transport workers and regular port workers. It was also decided that implementation of outstanding terms concluded with GTI and contractors should be secured by 20 October 2014, failing which a joint action would be launched. A core Action Committee was constituted to launch the action. Union leaders addressed the rally, which was preceded by an awareness campaign. The All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) sent a letter to the Minister for Railways on 12 September regarding implementation of global standards on container safety. Nigeria The Nigerian Union of Railway Workers (NUR) marked the ITF Container Safety Action Day at the headquarters of the Nigerian Railway Corporation. The union emphasized the importance of container safety across the intermodal transport chain in Nigeria and expressed concern over the huge danger inherent in poorly regulated and improper handling of containers. The union urged the government to open discussion in the National Assembly on the issue, to take practical steps to implement the global recommendations of the ILO, IMO, UNECE on container safety including enactment of the Code of Practice into national legislation, and adoption of ‘chain of responsibility’ regulations. Egypt The Egyptian General Seafarers’ Union promoted the ITF Container Safety Action Day on its union Facebook page on 9 October. It also used the occasion to announce a seminar on 11 October at the union’s Alex Branch on the benefits of the ITF campaign and safety standards measures to be taken during loading and unloading of containers on board vessels. At the seminar, participants exchanged ideas and experiences on how to avoid accidents on board, prior to loading and during the voyage at sea. Participants also agreed to share the information and ideas discussed on container safety with other crew on vessels. Belgium On 9 October, Belgische Transportarbeidersbond (BTB) and ACV – Transcom (ACV) organised activity targeting transport workers who work with containers on a daily basis. Actions were held in three locations: the inland port of Meerhout and the ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge. 45 members of the union distributed leaflets with information on the risks involved in working with containers to

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several hundred drivers and logistics workers in the three ports. They also distributed a checklist reminder on dealing with fumigated containers and talked to the drivers about the issues. Norway Norsk Transportarbeiderforbund organised action in different ports on 9 October as part of the ITF Container Safety Action Day. Leaflets were handed out to lorry drivers and information was distributed to terminal workers. The lorry drivers were very interested in the campaign and some of them were shocked about how dangerous it is when containers are loaded in the wrong way. The dockers indicated that the campaign is an important one and that the day in Norway was a success. Turkey Birlesik Tasimacilik Çalisanlari Sendikasi (BTS) (United Transport Workers' Union) informed other unions about container safety and the ITF campaign. ITF materials were translated into Turkish and published on the union’s website. The union emphasized that legislation should be amended to provide safety for transport workers who deal with containers as well as to implement safety for the public. Colombia Sindicato Nacional de Rama y Servicios del Transporte de Colombia (SNTT) organised a range of activities during the Action Week. In Cartagena, the union carried out an organising campaign and raised awareness of HIV/AIDS with truck drivers at the entrance to the port and with employees in the port offices. Costa Rica Sindicato de Trabajadores de JAPDEVA (SINTRAJAP) marked the ITF Action Week by displaying the campaign banner with the slogan ‘Transport Workers’ Fighting Back! Organising Globally!’ at the union offices and in the port of Limón. Yemen The Labor Committee For Aden Container Terminal union organised a lecture on occupational health and safety to mark the ITF Action Week. The agenda included a discussion on the definition of occupational health and safety, its goals, workers’ rights and duties. The union also visited the port’s restaurant and checked the health and safety equipment and hygiene. Kenya On 13 October, the Kenya Long Distance Truck Drivers & Allied Workers Union signed a charter on vehicle load control with participation of the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. All stakeholders committed to self regulation of the vehicle axle load limit and suggested to impose penalties and if possible withdraw licences in cases of violations. Truck drivers were advised not to drive an overloaded truck and instead report any incident to the union, who will liaise with the authorities for action to be taken. Under the theme ‘I choose to comply with the vehicle axle load limit’, leaflets with messages on overloading and t-shirts were distributed to truckers and transporters. The union will be following this issue to ensure that everyone complies with their commitments.

11 November 2014 *** Photographs of the Action Week events: https://www.flickr.com/photos/itf/collections/72157648236864966/ For more information about the ITF Action Week: http://www.itfactionweek2014.org Page 4 of 4

ITF Container Safety Campaign International Workers’ Memorial Day 28 April 2015 CONTACT PERSON (* if you wish to nominate more than one person, kindly make extra copies of this sheet and fill in the necessary information separately. Likewise, if you can translate this sheet to include more activists then please do so.) (Please print) Name: Union: Union position: Country: Gender: Male

Female

Spoken language(s): English

French

German

Spanish

Swedish

Other(s): Telephone: Mobile: Email: Skype: www: ITF Section:

Road Transport

Railway

Dockers

Seafarers

Please give a brief description of your planned activities on 28 April

Please return this form to: Inland Transport Sections Fax: + 44 20 7357 7871 Email: [email protected]

International Workers’ Memorial Day 28 April 2015

WHAT’S IN THE BOX? ITF campaign to make containers safe across the transport chain

THE CONTAINER Many of the goods we buy and use make their way to us on boats, trucks and trains packed in a container. The first container was invented in 1957 by Malcom P. McLean. His idea was based on ‘intermodalism’, whereby the same container, with the same cargo, could be transported via different transport modes without its contents being unloaded and repacked. It would replace previous methods of transporting goods in barrels, sacks and wooden crates and meant that cargo could move seamlessly between ships, trucks and trains. Its real genius was the standardised twist-lock mechanism that made it easy to stack and lift. Containers have changed the global face of transport and world trade. There are now around 34.5 million containers in the world and that number is growing year by year.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX? From the sea, containers pass through ports across the globe and are forwarded on by rail, road and inland waterways. One ship could carry cargo that includes everything from baby food to TVs, motorbikes and clothes. They can also carry hazardous chemicals, flammable gases and scrap material. The peculiar thing about containers is that, most of the time, most transport workers and the general public have no way of being sure what’s inside because the contents could have been mis-declared. They also may not know how the cargo has been secured as containers are sealed at the point of packing (commonly called ‘stuffing’) and not opened until they reach their final destination.

RISK AND DANGER Despite its global nature, there are surprisingly few regulations on how containers should be packed, loaded and transported. Incorrect packing, loading, weighing and transportation of containers poses a huge potential risk for the thousands of workers and members of the public who come into contact with them along their journey round the world. Incorrect packing of dangerous goods has the potential to cause leakages, fires and even explosions. Drivers and road users are also at risk due to overloaded containers or shifting cargo as a result of unstable loads, causing trucks to leave the road with disastrous results. A container that is completely filled by cargo, such as scrap material, can present a serious danger to those who are required to inspect or unload it. There have been incidents where the actual weight of the container exceeds the safe working load. This can potentially cause damage to the ship crane and in some cases containers can fall from the gantry crane, posing a significant risk to workers in the port. Rail wagons may be prone to derailments as a result of poor load distribution in the container or overweight cargo falling through the bottom of containers. The misdeclaration of the weight and contents of containers is also a problem causing vessels and trucks to be unevenly loaded. According to the TT Club, leading maritime insurers, as many as two thirds of accidents involving the loss or damage of containerised cargo at

sea are likely to have been caused by improper packing and securing of cargo inside the unit. This could include the sinking of ships which release containers into the sea. Those that do not sink stay just below the surface posing a great danger to other ships. The unknown contents of containers mean that there can be other environmental damage. Thousands of containers are lost overboard each year. The loss from the MOL Comfort alone, which sank in 2013, was 4,293 containers. Fumigation of containers in order to protect contents during transportation or toxic gases

and vapours released from the products packed inside the container affect all workers in the transport chain including drivers and warehouse workers.

Not only is there a lack of regulation on the safe transportation of containers, in many countries, trailer truck drivers are often unaware of the content or weight of the containers they are carrying. They have no way of making sure that the cargo is correctly packed. In the event of an accident, they do not have the information they need to reduce the risk of injury, explosion or other hazard. Yet when accidents happen, the road transport company and the driver are often held fully responsible.

REAL EXAMPLES Many incidents in transport are attributed to poor practices in the packing of cargo transport units, including inadequate securing of the cargo, overloading and misdeclaration of contents. A survey conducted by ITF Japanese affiliate Zenkowan revealed that during a period of ten years starting in 1998, 175 overturn accidents occurred, killing 13 people. More recent research has identified 28 incidents on Japanese roads in four years (2006-09 inclusive)1. Most of these accidents are caused by shifting cargo, overloading, inadequate documentation, or hazardous or dangerous goods. In 2011, three refrigeration mechanics were killed on the dockside in separate incidences in Brazil and Vietnam when the containers they were working on exploded. Overloading and the lack of proper securing of cargo on board the MV Sewol – a South Korean ferry which capsized in April 2014 killing 296 people – have been included in the direct causes for the sinking of the ferry. The vessel is reported to have been carrying three times the cargo weight limit. It is reported that the ship owners ignored the offduty captain’s warnings that the ship should not carry so much cargo because she would not be stable. Investigation into the sinking of the MSC Napoli off the British coast in 2007 found that 20% of its containers were more than 3 tonnes different from their declared weights. The largest was 20 tonnes and the total weight of the 137 containers was 312 tonnes heavier than on the cargo manifest. Of course, these accidents are only those that have been reported to the unions or in the media. There may have been many other unreported cases.

GLOBAL LOBBYING For a number of years, the ITF and its affiliates have been raising awareness of these issues and unions around the world are campaigning on the safety issues and potential dangers of unregulated container transport. There is some movement on the issues, where global attempts are being made to regulate the packing, weighing and checking of containers. The International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Maritime Organization (IMO) and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) adopted guidelines known as a Code of Practice 1

ILO report (2011): Safety in the supply chain in relation to packing of containers

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

on packing of cargo transport units in 2014. This can be used by governments to translate into national legislation. They are also looking at training on packing of containers. At the IMO, tentative measures have been taken to ensure the verification of container weight declarations. However, further work is needed to implement changes to international law and to mitigate the risks involved. The ITF continues to lobby at a global level on this issue.

ILO/IMO/UNECE CODE OF PRACTICE (COP) ON PACKING OF CARGO TRANSPORT UNITS (CTUS) In 2011, the ILO held a global dialogue forum (GDF) on safety in the supply chain in relation to containers. The ITF attended through its delegation of representatives of road, rail, seafarer and dockers’ unions. It was agreed that an ILO/IMO/UNECE COP on the packing of CTUs (to be developed from the revision of the existing 1997 guidelines) was necessary. The COP sets out practical guidelines on the issue, including packing and securing (including for dangerous goods), safe handling, receipt and unpacking. It also addresses training and contains a section on the chain of responsibility. Whilst the COP will be a voluntary instrument, it will be written in a language that governments can adopt as legislation. It will also cover the entire supply chain which will be vital for its successful implementation. The COP was approved in 2014 by the relevant bodies of the IMO, ILO and UNECE. http://www.ilo.org/sector/Resources/codes-of-practice-and-guidelines/ WCMS_356987/lang--en/index.htm

SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA CONVENTION (SOLAS) In May 2014, the IMO Safety Committee approved amendments to the SOLAS convention that will introduce a mandatory requirement for the certification of container weights prior to loading on board an export vessel. They are expected to enter into force in July 2016.

LOCAL CAMPAIGNING ITF unions are also taking a stand locally. In early 2014, as a reaction to four fatal explosions due to counterfeit refrigerant gases being used, the ILWU on the West Coast of the USA secured a local agreement on the testing of reefer containers in their terminals. The union worked with federal and local bodies to establish a process whereby 24 reefer containers per terminal, per month, are subjected to a flame halide test on a sample of the gas. This has led to the isolation of tens of containers in a very short space of time. The union is now working to expand this agreement. In the Netherlands, FNV Bondgenoten has been campaigning on fumigation and toxic gases in containers for a number of years. The union has utilised existing legislation as a tool to focus on the problem, resulting in improvements to existing provisions and development of protocol to address the issues at workplace level. BTB in Belgium has been successful in getting clauses on toxic gases in containers and the requirements on employers included in its collective agreements for the transport and logistics sector. National Chain of Responsibility (CoR) Regulations were enacted in Australia in 2005 following interventions by trade unions, including the Transport Workers’ Union of Australia (TWU). The regulations extend the general responsibility and legal liability for ensuring that the container is safe along the complete transport chain - to the consignors, packers, loaders and most importantly, the clients rather than pursuing the truck drivers and operators. It requires that all members of the chain ensure that road freight is moved within the legal driving hours, that dangerous goods are clearly declared, that mass and dimension limits are defined and adhered to, and that appropriate load restraints (lashing) are used.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

This kind of local campaigning linked with the global lobbying is what will bring about change.

CONTAINER SAFETY - WHAT’S IN THE BOX? - THE ITF CAMPAIGN Seafarers, port workers, truck drivers, railway workers and those that pack, load and unload the containers clearly have a common interest in ensuring the safety of the containers they handle. While different aspects of container safety may be the focus for workers in different transport sectors, it is important that container safety is addressed in its entirety. Seamless global safety standards and national legislation can ensure safe transport of cargo across the various modes. Establishment of responsibilities and the interlinking of players in the supply chain will also have an impact on safety across the chain. The ITF is committed to ensuring that workers who deal with containers are as safe as they can be while on the job. Following several years of joint work by the ITF Road Transport Workers’, Railway Workers’, Dockers’ and Seafarers’ Sections, the ITF is leading a cross-sectional campaign on container safety.

WHAT DO WE WANT? Container safety is a supply chain issue and our campaign is for safety and responsibility along the supply chain. This should start from where the containers are packed and sealed. We are concerned with the misdeclaration of contents, including dangerous goods and weight, fumigation and toxic gases in containers, and the improper packing of containers. So far, only voluntary measures are in place but this ‘best practice’ approach has not solved the problem in a satisfactory way. We are therefore seeking international regulations (through adoption of the SOLAS amendment and ILO/IMO/UNECE COP), as well as recognition and implementation of these standards at national level. All those involved in the transport and handling of containers along the supply chain need to be fully informed of the contents, actual weight, state of packing, stowage, lashing and securing of the cargo including the eccentricity of the centre of gravity (CG) of the loaded container and the possible existence of toxic fumigants and vapours or existence of dangerous substances in the container. General responsibility and legal liability for ensuring that the container is safely transported needs to be extended to include all those along the supply chain. Ultimately, by ensuring the safe transport of containers wherever they are used, we expect a reduction of accidents involving containers. Through organising workers involved in the transport and handling of containers, the ITF and its unions will be in a strong position to campaign for these demands and ensure that containers are transported safely. For more information about the ITF campaign on container safety or to let us know what your union is doing on this issue: www.itfcontainersafety.org www.facebook.com/itfglobal @itfglobalunion or email: [email protected]

Let’s fight back together to turn the tide in favour of the workers.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

WHAT’S IN THE BOX? Unsafe containers are putting transport workers, the public and the environment at risk.

WHAT’S THE ISSUE? On the roads: Accidents can happen due to overloaded containers or shifting cargo

causing trucks to leave the road sometimes spilling contents onto the road.

In ports: Overweight containers or containers with mis-declared weights can lead to

uneven loading putting workers at risk of accidents like stack or crane collapses.

At sea: A number of ships have sunk releasing containers into the sea causing long-term

environmental damage and threatening the lives of crew.

On rail: Rail wagons may be prone to derailments as a result of poor load distribution or

overweight cargo falling through the bottom of containers.

During unloading: Drivers, dockers and warehouse workers may be exposed to hazardous

gases and vapours from treatments against pests or toxic gases released from the products or packaging. Counterfeit gases are also used and can explode when containers are opened.

WHAT DO WE WANT? Strict enforcement of safety regulations on packing, weighing and transporting containers, including dangerous goods. Responsibility for ensuring that the container is safe along the complete transport chain extended to all members of the chain, rather than pursuing the truck drivers and operators. This should include a real and workable penalty system for those who break the rules. Full and correct information on what’s inside the box – including the actual weight, state of packing, stowage, lashing, possible existence of toxic fumigants, vapours or dangerous substances – made available to all those involved in the handling of containers along the transport chain. We also want better training and education on the issue of container safety so workers and the public know what they are dealing with.

HOW CAN YOU HELP? Join your union and help gather evidence about unsafe containers. Notify your union representative of weight misdeclarations and concerns about container contents or packing. Look out for and support union events and lobbying action around container safety. For more info:

www.itfcontainersafety.org www.facebook.com/itfglobal @itfglobalunion

MODEL LETTER

Dear Minister Re: Implementation of global standards on container safety I am writing to you as an affiliate of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), representing over 4.5 million transport workers across the globe. As an organisation, the ITF has been lobbying for nearly a decade with partners in the maritime and road transport industries to improve safety standards around container packing and transportation. Many accidents in the transport sector are attributed to poor practices in relation to packing of containers, including for example, inadequate securing of cargo, overloading, fumigation and misdeclaration of contents. As an affiliate of the ITF, we are therefore deeply concerned that a failure to address container safety is damaging to workers, the general public and the transportation industry as a whole. Containers are by far the most common means of transporting goods throughout the world and we call on you and your government to join the effort to ensure that this passage is safe for all those who come into contact with them. At a global level, there has been some movement on these issues with the development of guidelines on packing of containers through the adoption in 2014 of a Code of Practice on Packing of Cargo Transport Units by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The IMO Safety Committee has also recently approved amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea convention (SOLAS) that will introduce a mandatory requirement for the certification of container weights prior to loading on board an export vessel. Given the serious nature of container safety and its impact, as well as developments at a global level to regulate the packing, weighing and checking of containers, we ask the government to make a public commitment to the regulation of container packing and transportation and to take action to improve safety standards. We urge you to: 1) Open a discussion in parliament on this issue to confirm your support for the ITF position; 2) Endorse and take steps to implement the global recommendations by the ILO, IMO and UNECE on container safety; 3) Adopt the provisions of the ILO/IMO/UNECE Code of Practice on Packing of Cargo Transport Units into national legislation; 4) Adopt national ‘chain of responsibility’ regulations which extend the general responsibility and legal liability for ensuring that the container is safe along the transport chain – to the consignors, packers, loaders and most importantly the clients, rather than pursuing the truck drivers and operators. By doing so, you will be supporting a safer, more healthy and productive transportation industry across the supply chain. We are looking forward to working with you to address these issues. Yours faithfully,

INTERNATIONAL WORKERS’ MEMORIAL DAY – 28 APRIL Transport unions taking action on fumigation and toxic gases in containers International Workers’ Memorial Day is held each year on 28 April to remember the hundreds of thousands of workers around the world who are killed, disabled, injured or made unwell through their work. This year, the ITF is backing the International Trade Union Confederation’s (ITUC) theme for 28 April which is ‘removing exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace’. This theme is strongly linked to the ITF cross-sectional container safety campaign which covers fumigation and toxic gases in containers. The container safety campaign also covers issues of improper packing, dangerous goods and container weights, and misdeclaration of contents. It was launched during the ITF action week in October 2014.

DANGERS OF FUMIGATION AND TOXIC GASES IN CONTAINERS Many harmful substances are used to ensure pests aren’t imported into a country along with goods. There are also hazardous gases and vapours that may be released from the products that are being carried in the container or from the packing. In lots of cases truckers opening containers, seafarers spending long transit times in close proximity to them, warehouse workers and dockers unloading don’t have any idea about the toxic gases inside. Often there is no accurate paperwork around the levels of gas used in the preparation or in the contents of the container, and no hazard stickers on the container to highlight the potential danger. There are reports of incidents where workers have been immediately affected by harmful gases in containers suffering fainting, headaches or more serious effects. Harmful gases may not smell and there may not be any visible indication of their presence, so workers may not even know they have been exposed. No-one knows what the long-term health effects of exposure to harmful gases could be.

WHAT CAN YOU DO THIS WORKERS’ MEMORIAL DAY? Continue or kick off your campaigning around container safety by focusing on this year’s workers’ memorial day theme, fumigation and toxic gases in containers. Here are some ideas: •

Hold an event in your workplace to discuss issues around fumigation, toxic gases and container safety

•

Raise awareness with workers about fumigation, toxic gases and container safety. There’s a checklist on the webspage you can use. This will also help you to gather evidence on the potential impact of fumigation and toxic gases where you are.

•

Create your own leaflets and posters. There are graphics on the webpage you can use.

•

Join forces with docker, road transport, railway and maritime unions to take action on workers’ memorial day. Reach out to other groups of workers including contract workers, who are involved in the handling of containers, for example, warehouse workers, packers, loaders and unloaders. You could draw up a joint plan for how to tackle fumigation and toxic gases in containers

•

Lobby your national government to implement the global recommendations from the International Labour Organization (ILO), International Maritime Organization (IMO) and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and adopt the provision of the ILO/IMO/UNECE Code of Practice on Packing of Cargo Transport Units into national legislation

•

Lobby senior industry executives and other relevant stakeholders to address the issue

•

Raise awareness among the general public of the issue of container safety, and build alliances with non governmental organisations, academics, and other organisations that are interested in the issue

Your actions will depend on your local conditions, including custom and law, but whatever you do keep in touch! Let us and the rest of the ITF family know about your actions for workers’ memorial day by: •

Emailing reports and pictures to: [email protected]

•

Tagging us on: Facebook ITFglobal or on Twitter @ITFglobalunion #itfcontainersafety

Go to www.itfcontainersafety.org for more information and inspiration for your action!

GASES IN CONTAINERS

BE AWARE OF THE RISKS!

Gases may be introduced into a container intentionally to protect the cargo, for example to combat pests, but they may also be released by the cargo, for example due to solvents.

CHECK THE CONTAINER BEFORE YOU OPEN IT

Is there a specific policy in place at your company for this type of container?



Are measurements (regularly) made to detect gases? Has a certificate of safe access been provided for this container?

Is there any other indication that you can enter the container safely?

Also check for the presence of gratings that have been covered over

CHECKLIST

FOR OPENED CONTAINER

VISIBLE INDICATIONS SUCH AS: gratings that have been covered over; the presence of objects or materials that are apparently not part of the original cargo, such as bags, powders, tablets or tins; the presence of dead pests. STRANGE ODOURS SUCH AS: a penetrating and unpleasant odour resembling garlic or rotten fish; a biting and penetrating odour resembling chlorine or ammonia; a sweet smelling (almond like) odour. ATTENTION! NOT ALL GASES RELEASE AN ODOUR! THE PRESENCE OF SYMPTOMS SUCH AS: coughing or a sore throat; irritation or tears in the eyes; a feeling of nausea / headache / dizziness; trembling / shaking / shivering; irritated airways / sore throat; any other unexplainable symptoms.

CONTA CT MANAG YOUR ER AND OR YO UR UNIO N IF YOU DE ANY OF TECT TH SITUAT ESE IONS

CHECKLIST DEVELOPED BY FNV BONDGENOTEN (NETHERLANDS) AND BTB (BELGIUM). International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Email: [email protected] Web: www.itfcontainersafety.org