Emergency Procedures

The are two occasions when you are likely to be called, either as a named person on the shipper’s declaration form, or as the sender or the consignee. The other occasion is when you are the named person on the package, or possibly the 24-hour contact when the package is sent to, through or over the USA.

One must consider the possibility of a call from the airport authorities in either your own country, the country of destination or even from a country during transit. If the call is from abroad, the possibility is that the contacts first language is not your own and conversation is going to be difficult. Information that must be given over is the initial first aid measure and secondly the long term possibilities. The contact will also want to know what to do with the package should disaster strike; consideration needs to be given to salvaging or sending the package for destruction.

The general rules under IATA and ICAO Emergency Response Guide for the handling agents are as follows:-

• 1 ) determine the type involved and assess the level of seriousness
• 2 ) Advise immediate supervisor
• 3 ) isolate the package by removing other packages or property
• 4 ) avoid contact with the contents of the package
• 5 ) if contents come into contact with the body or clothing:

• 6 ) Staff involved in such incidents should stay on site until their names are noted