Introduction of packing pod areas

Risk identified

Our timber and dairy warehouses’ containers are delivered and collected by straddle carrier for packing. Our Supply teams were at risk of a straddle moving a container when they were near the container and this had become an “accepted risk”. 

After a near-miss event, we asked if any of our existing systems that protect people from mobile plant in other parts of the terminal could apply in the timber and dairy warehouses. 

What was changed?

• Concrete barriers to close off pedestrian access to the Container Terminal for anyone who does not need access
• Containers for packing now placed in a marked-out “packing pod” area
• Introducing Labour on Block* processes within our Master Terminal system. Digital “blocks” mean a straddle cannot be ordered to collect a container from a packing pod, until the block is lifted. 
• As a secondary visual indicator, orange flags are used on containers being loaded. If the flag is up, the straddle operator should not approach the container.
• To keep pedestrians clear, hazard tape closes off the pedestrian side of the container, when the container is queued as ready to be picked up by a straddle. 

Outcome

Packing teams have more confidence when packing containers.

Straddle operators have better information and layers of controls, so they are far less likely to drive over a container that could still have a person working in or near it. 

This standard has been introduced to both dairy and timber packing points on the Port Chalmers Terminal.

* “Labour on Block” is a digital block in the Master Terminal system that prevents an instruction to terminal equipment to collect/place a container. It is always used alongside physical barriers and/or visual indicators (e.g. lights, flags or hazard).