The International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA) has released new insights from its ongoing review of serious safety incidents in shore-side cargo handling, drawing attention to the continuing risks faced by port workers and the pressing need for improved safety management.
ICHCA’s proprietary Severe Risks Dashboard, a tool developed to support operators and regulators in identifying the most pressing threats to safety, is based on a dataset of nearly 500 incidents involving shore-based personnel over the past 25 years.
While the records do not represent every case, the Association says the findings “gives a unique insight into the nature of the majority of incidents resulting in a fatality on a worldwide basis.”
The analysis shows that fatal accidents are nearly evenly split between on-board and shore-based activities. Around 75 per cent of fatal incidents took place during cargo handling, with “crush by cargo” standing out as the most frequent cause of death – accounting for approximately one in four cases.
Collisions between vehicles and pedestrians – especially those involving mobile handling machinery – rank as the second most common cause, making up 23 per cent of serious incidents.
Falls rank third, while working in enclosed or confined spaces also features as a major risk factor.
“Our intention is to raise the level of awareness of these fatal incidents and their primary causes,” commented Richard Steele, CEO of ICHCA International.
“Together with our members, we believe that safeguarding all workers employed both directly and indirectly in the workplace is the prime responsibility of operating organisations and authorities of cargo terminals. Through this greater awareness and knowledge, we aim to help minimise these risks in the future.”
Beyond presenting raw data, the Dashboard also serves as a resource for promoting safer practices.
Among ICHCA’s key recommendations are the regular auditing of safety procedures to confirm their effectiveness, ensuring that documented protocols are followed in practice, and fostering open dialogue with staff and stakeholders to support innovation and continual improvement.
Steele further noted that creating a safer, healthier workplace is not just the primary responsibility of industry managers but also makes sound business sense, as “safe organisations are sustainable organisations […] We believe the future of safety is not beyond the horizon but that we can make changes to the way we work right now.”
