Start with the dust pathway, not just the visible cloud
Dust control during bulk loading and discharge is easier to manage when the operation is treated as a chain of exposure points, rather than as a single problem at the ship’s rail. Consider where cargo is released, transferred, dropped, disturbed, and handled again. That map gives the ship, terminal, and cargo-handling teams a practical basis for identifying who may be exposed and where controls belong.
The ILO code of practice addresses dust or fibre released during loading or unloading when it could injure health or cause explosions. It recommends using mechanical handling methods as far as possible to reduce workers’ exposure to such hazards. This makes the handling method an early planning question: before relying on personal protection, ask whether the cargo stream can be handled in a way that reduces dust generation or contact. The appropriate method will depend on the cargo and the operation; the source does not prescribe one universal system.
A useful pre-operation walk-through follows the material from its shore-side delivery point to the hold, then considers the return path during discharge. At each transfer point, ask what work is taking place nearby, whether people can be kept clear of the dust-generating activity, and which party can adjust the handling arrangement. This walk-through is an operational way to apply the ILO’s emphasis on reducing exposure through mechanical handling; it is not a substitute for applicable port rules or a cargo-specific risk assessment.
Agree controls before the first cargo movement
Make dust controls part of the ship–shore operating discussion, not a last-minute request after loading begins. The IMO’s BLU Code provides guidance for masters, terminal operators, and other parties involved in the safe handling, loading, and unloading of solid bulk cargoes. Used as a coordination framework, it supports agreeing in advance how an operation will be conducted and who will communicate when conditions need attention. The BLU page does not prescribe a universal dust-control plan, so the parties should set out the measures relevant to their cargo and terminal.
A short, shared plan can identify the cargo-handling method, areas where people should not stand during dusty work, the means of alerting the other party to a change, and who can pause or modify the operation under local procedures. It should also name the person to contact if the agreed control is unavailable or appears ineffective. These are practical coordination steps: they translate the ILO’s exposure-reduction guidance and the BLU Code’s ship–shore safety purpose into a usable arrangement for the particular call.
For ships with workers in a hold or on deck, dock-work safety has additional dimensions beyond dust. ILO Convention No. 152 calls for necessary measures to protect workers when power vehicles or power-operated appliances are used in the hold or on the cargo deck. It also addresses adequate fresh-air ventilation to prevent health risks from engine fumes or other sources, and safe arrangements, including means of escape, when people work during dry-bulk handling. Check that the dust plan does not obscure these separate hazards or compromise access and escape.
Convention C152 — Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979 (No. 152) · BLU Code and BLU Manual
Protect people when exposure cannot be designed out
The ILO code advises that where dockworkers are exposed to dangerous or irritating concentrations of dust, suitable respiratory protective equipment should be supplied and worn. Treat that as a protection measure for exposure that remains—not as a reason to skip feasible handling controls or keep people unnecessarily close to the source. The source does not specify a respirator type for every cargo; selection and use need to suit the actual hazard and the applicable workplace requirements.
Before work starts, confirm how workers will know what protection is required, where it is available, and who checks that it is being used when needed. Include shore personnel and ship’s staff in the briefing where their work brings them into the affected area. If dust conditions change, use the agreed communication route to review whether the handling method, exclusion arrangements, or protective measures need attention. These steps help turn a written control into something that can be checked during the operation.
Convention No. 152 is an international instrument for member states; its application in a particular port depends on relevant national law and practice. The ILO’s port-safety code is intended as practical guidance for people involved in port management and operations. Accordingly, use these sources as a planning framework, then confirm the applicable local rules and cargo-specific instructions before work begins. A clear plan is not a promise that dust will never occur; it is a way to reduce avoidable exposure and give the team a defined response when conditions depart from what was agreed.
An ILO code of practice · Convention C152 — Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979 (No. 152) · Safety and health in ports