Handbook Toxic Gases and Vapours in Cargo: How to open import containers safely and organise a safe cargo flow

The handbook Toxic Gases and Vapours in Cargo is the first international handbook on how to deal with toxic gases and vapours in import containers. Toxic gases in containers can surprise you like a vicious jack-in-the-box. The problem was first discovered in Europe, in the ports of Hamburg and Rotterdam. Research points out that that some 10 to 20 percent of all import containers may have too high a concentration of dangerous gases or vapours. Most of the containers in question come from Asia, Africa or South America. In some cases, the gases they hold are the result of fumigation, for example to c ombat pests; increasingly, it however turns out that they were used in the production process or emitted by the cargo during the voyage. One example is the vapours released by glue used to manufacture sports shoes. Sometimes the concentrations of these undesirable gases and vapours is so high that they can have acute and chronic health effects on humans and pose a serious threat to the environment. Anyone opening and working in a container with an excess concentration of gases or vapours runs the risk of falling seriously ill. And cases of permanent disability have been recorded as well. Dealing with this problem requires expertise. In this book, siix chapters cover all there is to know on the matters at hand and offer practical guidelines for risk-free operations. - Scope and nature of the problem. Frequently found gases, suspect cargo flows, maximum limits, health risks. - Laws and regulations. What do the authorities in European countries do in this respect, what policies do Customs and labour inspectorates pursue? - Prevention and good practices. Tackling at the source, inspection throughout the chain, safely opening a container. - Measuring gas. Operating procedures, methods, analyses, advantages and disadvantages of various techniques, purchasing recommendations. - For example: The Dutch approach. - Rough outline of a European (or global) policy.