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CUT THE CLAIMS TANK CONTAINERS • ALL INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY RAISES RISKS AND DEPOT OPERATIONS ARE NO DIFFERENT. ITCO’S LATEST WEBINAR OFFERED SOME INSIGHTS AS TO HOW THOSE RISKS CAN BE MANAGED
AS THE COVID-19 pandemic shows no sign of easing, representative trade associations around the world continue to leverage the possibilities offered by online meeting apps to keep in touch with their members. The International Tank Container Organisation (ITCO) is no exception and, following the formation of four work groups in 2019, held its third webinar this past 18 November, this time concentrating on safety in the use of tank containers and in depot operations.
introducing Mike Yarwood, managing director of loss prevention at TT Club, who put things into perspective, noting that the Club has insurable interests in around half of the global tank container fleet, both owned and leased. Overall, he said, tank containers have a very good safety record, with very few claims. On the other hand, bodily injury claims can come expensive. While they represent only 2 per cent of claims by tank operators, they
ITCO secretary Patrick Hicks welcomed the more than 100 registrants to the event,
are often outside their control, taking place at depots or on the road, or involving third parties. They typically involve people falling from height, being sprayed with product, or being involved in a road traffic accident. Still, TT Club has received only 21 such claims in the ten years to 2020.
THE TANK CONTAINER SAFETY RECORD IS GOOD - BUT CAN ALWAYS BE BETTER
HCB MONTHLY | JANUARY 2021
Just under half of those claims represent road traffic accidents, and involve drivers or third parties being injured. Other claims show the risks that arise when people fail to follow procedures. Personnel being sprayed with product, for instance, rarely results from equipment failure; rather, such incidents happen when personnel do something they should not have done. Two other persistent issues are injuries arising from working at height, where Yarwood said there has been no discernable improvement in the accident rate, and confined space entry; although there only a few of the latter incident, they can have significant consequences. INFORMATION IS VALUE But, Yarwood continued, notified insurance claims give only part of the picture; what is needed is data on near-miss events. He appealed to the industry to provide information so that a clearer picture can be created, which would help to drive safety improvements. He also noted that tank container operators have a duty of care and that they could be liable if a tank is not in good condition and causes an incident, for instance at a depot. Conversely, operators should also ensure they carry
