This week’s fatal accident at a very modern New Jersey container marine terminal reminds us, once again, of the inherent dangers that all workers face whenever assuming a pedestrian role in the marine cargo handling workplace.<\/p>\n
Staying out of “the bight”, that is, staying away from the path of any potentially moving object, is an age-old waterfront axiom that continues to have affirmative meaning, even at today’s most modern marine terminals.<\/p>\n
Even more specifically, the rear tandem wheels (bogies) of intermodal chassis can sometimes create a bight that defies the traditional fore & aft\/side-to side motion that is most characteristic of a traditional “bight.” When engaged in a turning exercise, intermodal chassis are most capable of creating a bight that is arc-like in its nature.<\/p>\n
Here’s a link to a short video that captures the hazard we’re speaking of: \u00a0 \u00a0NMSA Learn & Live No. 2<\/a><\/p>\n Like yesterday’s fatal accident, just “hanging out” too close to a chassis that’s not even in motion can lead to some awfully dire consequences. Don’t believe us? Then just have a look at the terrible accident that took place at the inbound lanes of a U.S. marine terminal in September of 2006:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n