Shipping containers may contain dangerous gases. These gases may have been deliberately introduced as gaseous fumigants into the container prior to transport, or they may be off-gassing chemicals emitted from the goods. During transport these gases accumulate and may reach high levels in the container air.
Workers who open and unload shipping containers may be exposed to these gases posing a risk to their health and safety. That’s why we advise to only enter containers if research has shown that it is safe to do so, if they have been given the status ‘OK’, so to say. This examination must be carried out immediately prior to entering the container.
Hence, we offer our services right at the unloading location. Whether at the port of arrival, at a container terminal or at the warehouse where the goods are stored.
If your employees are exposed to too high a concentration of one or more of these substances, their health or safety is at risk.
The following substances are most found in containers:
- Ammonia
- Benzene
- Chloropicrin
- 1,2-dichloroethane
- Formaldehyde
- Phosphine
- Carbon monoxide
- Carbon dioxide
- Methyl bromide
- Methyl chloride
- Sulfuryl fluoride
- Toluene
Operations Manager
+31 6 82507646
w.edelman@ews-group.com
Ventilation
If the result of the gas measurement is such that the concentration of certain gases in the container is too high to safely open or unload the container, it will be given the status ‘Not OK’. In that case, the container must be degassed, or ventilated. This can be done by means of mechanical or natural ventilation.
Unloading with respiratory protection
Sometimes, ventilation is not possible or does not have the desired effect. In that case, we can unload your container with respiratory protection. This is highly specialized work that is certainly not without danger. Our staff is specially trained for this type of work and are good at what they do. We offer this service at any desired location, including yours.
Additionally, if so desired, we help you find a suitable location, organize transportation, or perform one of our other additional services.
Ship measurement
Fumigation in ship holds of loose cargo loads in bulk quantities, such as agricultural commodities, is often carried out during navigation. Before the ship arrives at the unloading location, it should be determined whether all fumigation gases have been removed.
To this end, a gas-free certificate is compulsory. This will be issued after a so-called ship measurement. EWS has specially trained staff for this type of work including the required equipment to conduct these ship measurements.
Warehouse measurement
In many cases, goods that are unloaded in a warehouse still emit gases and vapours. We have tools and techniques that help ensure that workers are not exposed to gases and vapours above the threshold limit values during their work. Our specialist will draw up a measurement protocol together with you. All results will be clearly summarised in an extensive report.
Additional logistics services
Often, terminals do not feature warehouses. But sometimes, you wish they did. To temporarily store the goods unloaded from the container, to ventilate them, to sort them, or to palletise or re-pack them for instance. And the great thing is, we can also take care of that for you!
We have noticed that many of our customers have a need for these additional services. That is why, in addition to our specially equipped degassing warehouses at various terminals throughout the Netherlands, we have a warehouse with dock space in Oosterhout (NL) where we can unload your container and where we have sufficient space to perform these additional logistics services.
- Palletising goods
- Sorting goods
- Re-packing goods
- Cleaning containers
- Removing stickers from containers
- Physical inspection of containers (container check)