Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L01588:front:0:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L01588
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 5206–8237

of Practice: Work health and safety consultation, co-operation and co-ordination
       Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks
       Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces
       Code of Practice: Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work
       Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities
       Code of Practice: First aid in the workplace
       Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace
       Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace
       Code of Practice: Managing electrical risks at the workplace
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Code of Practice: Safety and Health in Ports, provides detailed information on port operations. It may be used as guidance to assist duty holders understand risks in stevedoring operations and how these risks can be managed.

How to use this Code of Practice
In providing guidance, the word 'should' is used in this Code to indicate a recommended course of action, while 'may' is used to indicate an optional course of action.
This Code also includes various references to provisions of the WHS Act and Regulations to provide context with legal requirements. These references are not exhaustive. The words 'must', 'requires' or 'mandatory' indicate legal requirements exist which must be complied with.

   1. Introduction

      1.         What is stevedoring?
Stevedoring involves all activities directly connected with:
       loading or unloading of vessel cargo
       stacking and storing on the wharf, and
       receiving and delivering cargo within the terminal or facility.
Stevedoring operations are diverse, comprising container terminals, bulk and general stevedoring facilities. The following table provides examples of the different type of stevedoring operations.
Table 1 Different types of stevedoring operations
Stevedoring operations   Details
Containers               Loading and unloading of container cargo.
Roll on/roll off (RoRo)  Loading and unloading of cargo via ramp to vessel e.g. cars and bulldozers.
Pure car carriers (PCC)  Loading and unloading of cars only.
Break bulk               Loading and unloading of non-containerised cargo transported as individual pieces due to it being oversized and overweight e.g. construction equipment, oil and gas equipment, wind towers and steel
Bulk                     A product not separately packaged but rather is loaded in bulk onto a ship e.g. grain, liquids, iron ore and coal.
Passenger vessels        Primary function is to carry passengers.

A list of key terms used in this Code is in Appendix A.

     1.2.           Who has health and safety duties for stevedoring?
Everyone involved in stevedoring operations has health and safety duties when carrying out the work.
A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) has the primary duty under the WHS Act to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that workers and other people are not exposed to health and safety risks arising