Container Safety

Campaign focus

The PSS container safety campaign will run throughout 2026 and is focused on strengthening safety performance in container operations across the UK port sector.

Key campaign activities

• Review and relaunch of the Container Deck Operations Vessel and Port Charter to reinforce clear expectations around safe working practices.
• Continued promotion of Safety in Ports Guidance SiP003 – Container Handling, with particular focus on how the guidance is implemented in ports and embedded at the quayside.
• Increased focus on occupational health in container operations, with particular attention to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), fatigue, and the longer-term effects of repetitive and physically demanding work.
• Greater emphasis on safety observations and near-miss reporting to support shared learning across the sector.
• Safety audits focused on container operations.
• Promotion of appropriate training and competence for those involved in container handling operations.

TT Live podcast: updated SiP003 Guidance on Container Handling

PSS Health, Safety and Culture Lead, Jen Maddison, has recorded a TT Live podcast discussing the revised Safety in Ports container‑handling guidance (SiP003) and highlighting the importance of producing clear, practical advice for the quayside, listen using the link below.

Container audits

Our container terminal audits provide an independent, risk-based assessment of container handling operations, aligned with Safety in Ports guidance and relevant legislation. The audit combines a pre-audit document review with on-site operational observations, focusing on how work is actually carried out across vessel and terminal activities, key risk areas such as vehicle–pedestrian interface and traffic management, and the effectiveness of supporting systems including supervision, communication, and workforce engagement.

Findings are presented in a structured report highlighting good practice, actions, and opportunities for improvement.

Beyond the individual site, the programme is designed to support benchmarking, shared learning, and sector-wide insight, helping ports strengthen both safety performance and culture in a practical, targeted way.