Ports and Logistics

Ports are busy logistical operations and particularly hazardous working environments, with site-specific risks clearly evident. All work schedules and operations should be planned using safe systems of work, rescue plans already in place and fully trained and competent team members should be equipped with the right equipment to ensure that there is no compromise on safety standards, allowing work to be carried out safely.

Incident types

There is a greater chance of an incident occurring in this environment due to the nature of the industry.

Risks can include:

Safety first

With cases of major trauma, entrapments, crushing, critical medical incidents as well as rescues from height and confined spaces occurring, it is important that safety is taken seriously and there is no disconnect between climate and culture at your port operation.

Mitigating the risk

Ports are complex operations, providing vital logistical support to British business with the export and import of goods 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Therefore, it is essential that suitable health and safety procedures and emergency plans have been implemented, detailing how to mitigate all foreseeable risks.

These rescue plans should account for:

• Shift patterns and outside normal working hours
• Adequate control of site contractors

Is your current level of response provision equivalent to the perceived risk profile on your site?

Your organisation may already have a solution in place, which consists of several key individuals, who possess high levels of industry knowledge, from within the business (advanced first aiders, fire marshals, health and safety team members, crisis managers and possibly directors), who act as a team of responders. 

This highly-skilled response team should be fully briefed and trained on all aspects of the emergency plan, incident response and equipment use, which might cover:

• Emergency and incident management
• Advanced trauma care
• First on-scene response
• Work at height and confined space rescue

They should also form part of the team that reviews and tests the emergency response plans and fully understand their roles and responsibilities in the event of an incident occurring. This response team will require regular refresher training to maintain their skills and competencies.

Medical needs assessment – the start of your medical journey

A medical needs assessment can prove pivotal in helping to identify the nature of incidents which have the potential to occur on-site and helping to formulate a medical strategy and the level of response, training and equipment required. HFR Solutions is able to support organisations working in sectors such as power generation, manufacturing and ports and logistics in the production of a medical needs assessment.

Rescue plans

Rescue plans form a key element of your emergency response plans, documenting rescue procedures in a concise and easy to follow format, highlighting details of how to perform a rescue as well as identifying the equipment and PPE required. It is essential that any rescue plans produced is achieable.

Deploy HFR Solutions – your emergency response specialists

By supporting various organisations operating within ports and logistics, HFR Solutions has been able to develop specialist knowledge of this sector, its operations and its risk profile, in order to provide bespoke emergency response, consultancy and tailored workplace safety solutions. For example, we have worked closely with one client from this sector, to train their team of responders to provide site-based response and rescue in the event of an incident such as fire, confined space rescue, medical and first aid.

By undertaking a site-wide assessment, including accessing historical data, we were able to support DFDS identify the foreseeable risks that rescue teams may encounter. This comprehensive review also helped this client implement a continuous improvement strategy resulting in changes to procedure, mobilisation of the response team, dedicated crane rescue training, equipment requirements, supported by clinical evidence on the real incidents that site responders have dealt with.