ICHCA’s inaugural International ‘Innovation in Safety’ Award was presented in recognition of APM Terminals Buenos Aires Terminal 4’s “Safety Logging System”.
Barcelona, Spain – APM Terminals Buenos Aires, operator of the Terminal 4 facility in Argentina’s primary port, was named winner of the first annual “Innovation in Safety Award”, bestowed by ICHCA International, an independent organization dedicated to improving the safety, productivity and efficiency of cargo handling and transportation, at the annual ICHCA conference, held this year in Spain.
“We are proud to be named as the very first winner of the ICHCA “Innovation in Safety Award”, reflecting not only the tremendous creativity and effort of our Buenos Aires operations, but the safety culture we have imbued throughout the APM Terminals Global Terminal Network” stated APM Terminals COO Jeff De Best.
The Safety Logging System was initiated at APM Terminals Buenos Aires in 2012 for use on mobile cargo handling equipment (CHE), such as forklifts and reach stackers, to improve safety performance and reduce risk of accidents. The system includes GPS tracking of all mobile CHE, individualized touch keys to limit access to fully trained and qualified operators, CHE speed restrictions, timed automatic shut-offs when an operator leaves the cabin, and seat belt enforcement (eliminating overrides, and using local alarms). The award, sponsored by the TT Club insurance provider, specifically noted “measurable proven results in incident reduction and behavioral responses from the workforce” through the use of the Safety Logging System at APM Terminals Buenos Aires. An additional component now under consideration to further improve the system is a digital safety checklist of the equipment, which each operator must complete before starting the equipment.
Terminal 4, at the Port of Buenos Aires, was the first APM Terminals facility located in the southern hemisphere. It is currently undergoing an expansion and upgrade. In February 2015, Terminal 4 handled the 10,622 TEU capacity 300 meter-long CGM CMA Tigris. Throughput at Terminal 4 in 2015 was 268,000 TEUs. Other APM Terminals facilities in South America include APM Terminals Callao, in Peru; Cartagena Container Terminal Operator, in Colombia; and APM Terminals Itajaí, APM Terminals Pecém and Brasil Terminal Portuário, in Brazil.