As the drive to decarbonisation of ports and terminals increases, terminal operators should be careful in introducing battery-powered vehicles in their operations, TT Club, a provider of mutual insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry, said Wednesday.
Earlier this year, the revised ISO standard on asset management recognised challenges brought about by climate change, ensuring that strategies are sustainable and resilient.
While e-bikes, e-scooters and e-motorbikes significantly help in the efforts to decarbonise ports and terminals, e-vehicles might be faced with higher risks for traffic hazards, as well as charging and maintenance challenges, TT Club Risk Assessment Manager Neil Dalus said, adding that terminal operators should be careful in introducing them to their operations.
Dalus said that uneven road conditions due to daily significant wear and tear can be hazardous to e-vehicles. Traversing rail crossing points, especially when wet, and encountering spills of cargo or oil can also increase the risk of accidents for these smaller, battery-powered vehicles.
“Two-wheeled vehicles, being inherently less stable than four-wheeled vehicles, are particularly susceptible to these hazards,” Dalus said.
Charging and maintenance for these electric vehicles also pose a challenge. According to emerging data, there is a higher risk of fire during the charging process. Proper fire risk assessments for the location of these charging points, as well as due diligence in procuring e-vehicles and their charging ports, are important to help mitigate these risks.
While e-vehicles offer significant benefits in terms of decarbonisation and cost-effectiveness, terminal operators should carefully plan and consider the risks associated with these vehicles, Dalus said.
Additional terminal traffic safety planning policies, as well as implementation of licensing, training and personal protective equipment, or PPE, requirements should be considered to further mitigate the risks. In an earlier statement, TT Club said that managers often use PPE as a control measure to reduce the risk of personal injury to operational workers.
“Addressing these issues will be crucial to achieving a balance between innovation and safety in the ongoing and rapidly developing drive to achieve a cleaner working environment in the cargo handling industry,” he added.
