Rail operations in freight terminals: Safety issues and proposed methodology

Freight terminals rely on gantry cranes for moving containers on and off ships. Gantry cranes (portal cranes) are cranes built atop a gantry. They are usually wheeled on rails. In freight terminals, gantry cranes are capable of lifting heavy loads from ships to shore and vice versa. If properly installed, used, and maintained, gantry cranes make terminals operations effective, easy, and safe. Many subjects interact in crane operations and maintenance; this may increase the probability and magnitude of disasters and accidents. Crane accidents may cause injuries and fatalities. In light of the above, the study described in this paper focuses on proposing a methodology for optimizing gantry crane safety. Data related to crane accidents were analysed and specific investigations were carried out. In more detail, the interaction between wheel and rail (trolley travelling rails) was investigated and boom hinge points were studied in detail. Based on the studies carried out preventing these occurrences requires a methodology based on the following main points: i) workers have to follow safety procedures to avoid hazards; ii) risks such as electrical hazards, overloading, and materials falling/slipping from overhead hoists emerge from a statistical standpoint and dedicated procedures apply; iii) maintenance data have to be stored and organized based on detailed criteria; iv) specific recommendations apply to boom hinge points and trolley travelling rails. Results can benefit both researchers and practitioners).