The work being done by our Land Logistics Working Group (LLWG) is relevant to everyone in our industry.  Vehicle use (of all sizes) is one of our higher-risk activities.  In late October, our LLWG presented its’ ‘Load Safe Sessions’ focussing on the tools they have developed - designed to measure and reduce vehicle-related incidents industry-wide.

Uniform Non-Conformance Reporting

There was no unified standardised methodology for reporting of non-conformances in the WA/NT Oil and Gas Industry, and a desire to standardise non-conforming freight reporting across the industry through aligning operators, service providers and vendors offered a unified solution.

The Working Group developed a Uniform Non-Conformance Reporting (UNCR) Specification, and built a UNCR reporting tool based on data submitted quarterly from participating member companies sharing non-conformance reporting (NCR) data.

The project team developed a web-based portal for data to be submitted and displayed anonymously.  The design of the portal incorporated the ability to look at trends through different filters (making findings interactive rather than static).

The tool can share key HSE issues that will ultimately become LLWG focus areas to be addressed via targeted, specific initiatives and knowledge sharing, with the purpose of improving safety performance by reducing occurrences and potential severity.

The tool enables tracking NCRs at an industry level to provide a means of measuring the effectiveness of any related future Safer Together initiative.

Packaging, Handling and Movement of Materials Specification

A review of the UNCR data throughout the first 18 months of that initiative identified a clear trend of non-conformances related to the packaging and restraint of materials.  The National Transport Commission Load Restraint Guide which is used throughout the industry has a ‘gap’ in the same areas that we identified as frequent areas of non-conformances (particularly materials packed into CCU, in crates and in baskets), and other areas of best practice such as the elimination of metal banding for restraint and the type of pallets used were identified that could be standardised.

The publication of the Packaging, Handling and Movement of Materials Specification and associated implementation collateral includes the publication of a Cargo Back-load Checklist for use by members in confirming all requirements are met when inspecting shipments, along with:

  • Cargo Restraint, Palletised Cargo & Crates
  • Carton/Crates and Skids
  • Palletised Items
  • CCU Load Restraint – Internal
  • Offshore Tote Tanks
  • Intermediate Bulk Containers
  • Gas Cages
  • Tubing, Casing, Pup Joints
  • Dropped Objects

UNCR Checklist Pilot

Interpreting the original Cargo Conformance Checklist data and matching it to the correct UNCR segment increased the level of effort required to gather non-conformance data.  Subject matter expert availability was difficult to resource, and participation waned.  The LLWG determined that a more fit-for-purpose checklist was required to provide a safe pre-loadout and receivals check, and to enable a more streamlined and all-inclusive approach to UNCR data collection.

The Working Group developed a standardised document that entwined UNCR codes with the Cargo Conformance Checklist; drafted and piloted by member companies over a 3-month period.

Throughout the pilot, the following requests came from members’ warehousing and wharf teams:

  • A single document would be suitable for vendor truck receivals, warehousing dispatch picking/packing, wharf load outs and offshore back loads.
  • The need for an ability to highlight when an item is complaint and when we have actively rectified a non-conformance.
  • The ability for the subject matter expert to capture the exact UNCR in the moment (to avoid further interpretation).
  • A declaration facility that captures partial packing across shifts.

This above work has resulted in a single-page Cargo Conformance Checklist that references the Packaging Specifications and combines them with the relevant UNCRs:

  • The Checklist is suitable for vendors, warehouses, distribution centres and port operations.
  • It requires minimal effort, with a single checklist to be completed per delivery, per trailer or per manifest.
  • Data collection does not require subject matter understanding and is easily transferred to a spreadsheet for uploading to the UNCR web-based data tool.

Following the trial there has been increased participation from the pilot subjects in capturing UNCR data, and increased interest from other members to use the new checklist.

If you are interested in joining our Land Logistics Working Group, or attending future events, email:  [email protected].