Baggage handling in the UK - Power Stow

Health and Safety
Executive
Baggage handling in the UK
Sarah Tapley
HM Specialist Inspector
(Ergonomics)

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE baggage handling
What we know about the risks
Bigger picture and influences
Technologies
HSE’s journey

EAGOSH May 2010
Manual handling definition
Manual handling definition
Picking up and putting down
Carrying
and
Pushing and pulling

EAGOSH May 2010
Risk factors for manual handling injury
The load
The weight of the load, its size, shape, stability and grip.
The task
The postures adopted (twisting, stooping and reaching),
repetition, duration of the activity and carrying distance.
The environment
The space available to move, floor condition, changes in
levels and weather conditions.
The individual
The capability and characteristics of the operator, level of
knowledge and experience, underlying health problems.
Psychosocial factors
aspects of work design such as how much control people
have in their jobs and the support they receive from
supervisors / co­workers

EAGOSH May 2010
Risk factors for manual handling injury in baggage
handling
The load
Bags, sports equipment,cargo,GSE
The task
The postures adopted,kneeling,twisting, stooping and
reaching), repetition, push/pull and carrying distance.
The environment
Cramped inside the hold, access to hold,temperature,
The individual
The capability and characteristics of the operator, level
of knowledge and experience, underlying health
problems.
Psychosocial factors
Turnaround times, staff levels,

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE baggage handling
Kneeling and handling is a special case:
Increased and different spinal loading
Increased anterior­posterior and lateral shear
force within spine (Yang et al 2005)
Increased MSD and reduced strength
(Gallagher 2005)
45% annual prevalence for knee problems
(Andersson 1984), 30% reporting knee pain
(Kaiser et al 2006)

EAGOSH May 2010
Bag weights
TU activity around bag weights
IATA 23kg single bag limit in AHM
Wide variety carrier allowances
eg 32kg combined

EAGOSH May 2010
Bag weights
Average European weight suggested as
15kg in 1986
Surveys in UK similar in 2007
Average 17kg
90% below 23kg
Over 50% between 16kg and 20kg

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE baggage handling
Baggage handling is completely mechanised
Check in conveyor
Sorting systems and conveyors
Lateral belt/carousel
Barrows
Tugs
Containers
Belt loaders
Bag reclaim
and the Aircraft

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE baggage handling

EAGOSH May 2010
Bag pathway
•Bag pathway
–Ticket sales
–Bag sales
–Check in
–Bag hall
–Ramp
–Aircraft
–Reclaim

EAGOSH May 2010
Baggage pathway
No single owner of bag pathway
Need good communication and cooperation
Clearly shows need for joined up
ergonomic approach

EAGOSH May 2010
Challenges
Challenges
International activity
Competitive market
Short contracts
Turnaround times
Labour
Different regulators/inspections
Silo working

Spheres of influence [Culvenor (2007)]

EAGOSH May 2010
Baggage pathway
New technologies

EAGOSH May 2010
New technology
Extending Belt Loaders (EBL’s)
Rampsnake
Powerstow
Mongoose
Mallaghan
RTT Longreach/sliding carpet
combination

FMC Rampsnake

FMC Rampsnake

Powerstow

Mongoose

Mallaghan

RTT Longreach –Telair

Sliding Carpet ­ Telair

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE Baggage handling
Background in the UK
4.7 million days lost back problems
4.6 million days lost ULD’s
over 50% all incidents from aviation
sector related to back incidents

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE baggage handling
Know that bag handling as a whole is a
high risk activity
Ramp handling element is the main
problem area
Internal handling element worst
Lack of robust guidance

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE baggage handling
Defining MH risks project 2004
Established risk factors
Discussions with industry
Joined up research EMA Project 2007/08
IOSH event
More discussions with industry

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE baggage handling
Baggage handling project aims
Joined up industry/HSE project
Update lit review
Identify key MSD risks
Provide comment on new technology

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE baggage handling
Typical tasks
Manually positioning passenger steps
Moving marker cones
Moving baggage carts
Offload/onload baggage
Pushback

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE baggage handling
Key MSD risks
Push/pull equipment
Handling inside the hold­stacking
Frequency and weight of bags
Handling range­below knee/above
shoulders
Handling with hands far from the low
back

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE baggage handling
Handling methods
Direct from cart
Using belt loader
Mallaghan LBT90
Flat bed lorry
No companies using EBL at present

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE baggage handling
Key findings
EBL significantly reduces MSD risks
Mechanical means reduce risk
Manual movement of GSE is high risk and
should be avoided
Risk reduction and control for other ancillary MH
operations should be explored
Suitable access and egress should be identified
and provided
Active joined up working by all parties

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE baggage handling
Management issues
CAP 642 and HSG 209
Co­operation and co­ordination
H&S responsibility can not be contracted out
Contracts
Turnaround times

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE baggage handling
Design issues
Equipment
Airports
Interface
Aircraft

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE baggage handling
Next steps
Produce guidance for Inspectors
Planned inspection/enforcement project
Join up links between handlers/airlines and
airports

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE baggage handling
Inspection project
Letter to companies
Planned inspections to airpotrs in
London/South East area
SIM to be published

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE baggage handling
International issue
Needs a joined up ergonomic approach
Effective communication and cooperation
with all parties involved

EAGOSH May 2010
HSE baggage handling
Thank You