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Your knowledge base for information about the risks, solutions and consequenses of exposure to toxic gases and vapours in cargo handling industries.
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A Dutch logistics service provider was fined 5000 euros by a judge after two employees became unwell after opening a container.
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Boss to warn employee about gas in containers

A Dutch logistics service provider was fined 5000 euros by a judge after two employees became unwell after opening a container. continue >

20.03.2012

IKEA Denmark starts measuring gas

IKEA in Denmark starts measuring every container for toxic gases and vapors, before they can be opened and unloaded. continue >

20.03.2012

Methyl bromide possibly cause of prostate cancer

There are strong indications that methyl bromide can cause prostate cancer. This concludes the Hamburg-based researcher Xaver Baur, who is known for his research on the effects of fumigation gases in cargo containers continue >

05.03.2012

Hamburg conference focuses on radiation from Japan

The 2011 edition of the international conference organised bij the Hamburg based Zentralinstitut für Arbeitsmedizin und Maritime Medizin gives special attention to radiation from Japan. continue >

20.06.2011

Frank Moreels wins best initiative award

The Belgian Transport Union leader Frank Moreels is winner of the TGAV best initiative award 2010. He won the award for his achievement that in Belgium from this year on every company in logistics must have a plan how to deal with toxic gases. continue >

11.03.2011

Video: Union tackles both gases and imbalanced containers

The Dutch labour union FNV Bondgenoten proposes a new approach to tackle the problem of gas in containers, combined with a solution for badly loaded containers. continue >

11.03.2011

European countries have different exposure limits

European countries all have their own exposure limits for toxic gases and vapours. continue >

25.01.2011

Australian transporter ordered to stop using methyl bromide

An Australian Transport Company was ordered last December to stop using methyl bromide at its Brooklyn site, three days after local media reported residents' fears of having been exposed to the toxic gas. continue >

03.01.2011

Seaman dies of fumigation gas

A 22 year old Latvian crew member of the vessel Wilson Mersin died last week after being exposed to fumigation gases. continue >

30.12.2010

Formaldehyde exposure in China exceeds all limits

A lot of Chinese citizens are exposed to high levels of formaldehyde at work, but also in their homes, in public places and even in open air. This is pointed out by research of Berkely University. continue >

27.12.2010

50 thousand measurements point out: shoes are most risky

Shoes are the most risky products concerning dangerous gases and vapours. This is pointed out by 50 thousand container measurements by EWS. More than 40 percent of containers carrying shoes has a too high amount of gases and vapours on board. Electronics are also quite risky, with 19 percent of containers turning out te be not okay. continue >

07.12.2010

'Brussels does not yet smell container gas’

The European Commission has no plans to in the short term launch any initiatives to protect workers against harmful gases in sea containers. “This issue is perfectly covered by the current legislation within the member states and at the international level,” is the stance in Brussels. continue >

11.10.2010

Custom organisations detect dangerous gas with their noses

In at least two European countries custom officers are instructed to raise the alarm when they smell strange odours. A risky approach, because a lot of dangerous gases are odourless. continue >

11.10.2010

Video: Xaver Baur about his findings

The German researcher prof. dr. Xaver Baur was one of the first to discover how often containers are not safe to open. TGAV visited him this summer, resulting in this short conversation on video. continue >

22.09.2010

Intertek analyses 1000 container samples

The Dutch Inspectorate of Transport, Public works and Water Management (IVW) assigns the European tender on 'Analyses of air samples on the presence of toxic and harmfull gasses' to Intertek. This was released by Intertek today. continue >

21.09.2010

Belgian employers reach agreement about gases with employees

Employers and employees in Belgium have agreed in their collective labour agreement that companies are obliged to pay attention to dangerous gases in containers. continue >

14.09.2010

'Never open a container without measuring'

'I would not recommend to open a container without measuring it.' That states the German medical researcher Xaver Baur in a video introducing the problems if gas in containers. continue >

27.08.2010

Transport company not responsible for illness employee

Transport company Rabelink Logistics in Doetinchem, The Netherlands, is not responsable for the illness of an emplyee who's sickness was most probably caused by poisonous gas from a container. The company was however fined 35.000 euro because a container with phosfine was not closed properly. The company was careless, but not deliberately, was the opinion of the court. continue >

18.08.2010