Security of containers at terminals in Benelux countries: practical experiences

Results of measuring gas concentrations in about 50,000 import containers in The Netherlands and in Belgium are presented. Risk assessment follows an indexation philosophy based on measurement statistics. For practical reasons a three categories risk system is targeted, namely No Risk / Low Risk / High Risk. These three categories have their permanent follow-up measuring frequencies. For each new product stream there will be an estimated and temporarily classification in supposed low risk category or supposed high risk category. After the control of the initial series final classification will take place. 20 substances are measured on a regular basis including the most frequently encountered industrial gasses and fumigants. The results are communicated in a gas measuring report that is delivered immediately on-line. For serial measurement the technologies applied are Selective Ionisation Flow Tube Mass Spectrophotometer plus sensors for "light gasses" and LEL (lower explosive limit). Handheld technology is used for ad-hoc situations and for conformity checks. During 2010 we measured a total of 42,888 containers. Out of these, 4,929 containers (11 %) were rejected because concentrations of hazardous substances were above occupational exposure limits. The proportion of hazardous containers was higher in food containers (20 %) than in non-food containers (11 %). In the order of importance, the substances found most frequently in concentrations above OELs were 1,2-dichloroethane, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, toluene, and benzene. The origin of most hazardous containers was South East Asia. The system of risk assessment and risk indexation combined with use of state of the art measuring, ventilation and gas recapture equipment allows to handle hazardous containers in a safe and at the same time economic way.