Oct 18th, 2023
2 mins
As a Federation we have been made aware of an increasing number of reportable incidents (RIDDOR’s) relating to people being overcome or suffering from asphyxia due to oxygen deficiency in freight containers.
This can simply be caused by decaying or spoiled food during transportation due to refrigeration being faulty or turned off.
Border control points are well-equipped to deal with the problem of confined spaces with many controls in place but in some cases regional distribution centres do not have the people or processes in place.
Members should be using safe systems of work relating to entering confined spaces and can follow HSE guidance HSE RR1178 – Freight Containers: Potential worker exposure to hazardous atmospheres at ports and distribution centres.
