TCSSI - Increasing Safety & Security Awareness Throughout the Port of Tampa.
What is TCSSI?
The Tampa Port Authority and Ports America-Tampa developed the Tampa Cooperative Safety & Security Initiative (TCSSI) to increase the safety and security awareness in the Port of Tampa. The concept was initially developed to coincide with safety initiatives mandated by Ports America-Tampa in all of their terminals. It was clear that there were aspects which when introduced to all port users, would be a long term benefit to all members.
The initiative was started as a subcommittee of the QTEAM. It involved writing and developing a living and changing safety plan which is provided to all members who sign on to the TCSSI. The plan includes requirements for safety standards, safety meetings(which occur after every QTEAM monthly meeting), and other services such as a website.
The plan states that the TCSSI is not a regulatory body but a positive reinforcement tool to avoid problems with government safety standards, increase safety awareness, to assist in workers compensation programs, and provide another set of eyes on all kinds of operating areas including roadways. The results of inspections are discussed in the TCSSI meetings and copies of the inspection format are updated by the TCSSI senior staff. To date, the TCSSI has completed six on-scene inspections of operational events.
When items of concern are seen, they are pointed out to the persons involved, and when safety is taken to a higher standard, positive letters of encouragement and small tokens are presented, i.e. baseball hats and tickets to sporting events. Also safety items are developed at the TCSSI. A new safety reflective vest with a sealed pocket on the outside for the Port ID card was developed and is available through the TCSSI.
TCSSI is open to all port users including any QTEAM participant. TCSSI coordinates safety training, such as First Aid/CPR/AED, and distributes safety bulletins, such as the routine OSHA announcements. TCSSI began with Nineteen (19) signatories, all agreeing to maintain the standards of the TCSSI. We are continually growing.
What is QTEAM? – Quality Total Evaluation & Assessment Management
The Tampa Port Authority is a landlord port and enters into leases or licenses to use its lands with maritime tenants or licensees who perform maritime services. Consequently, services such as terminal operations are normally handled by private parties; not the Port Authority. In May of 2006, the Port Authority entered into two separate terminal operations agreements with an international terminal operator, P&O Ports (now known as Ports America-Tampa), to handle break-bulk terminal operations and container terminal operations. The Tampa Port Authority included in these agreements a provision requiring the operator to develop a comprehensive customer services plan to investigate and resolve issues and complaints received from shippers, steamship lines, cargo interests, stevedores and any other customers and vendors who do business at the terminal facilities.
Ports America-Tampa developed QTEAM as a tool to fulfill the requirements of the customer services requirement in the terminal operations agreements. Ports America-Tampa and Tampa Bay International Terminals (TBIT), the Tampa Port Authority’s administrator of the agreements, mutually developed an evaluation sheet encompassing every aspect of a terminal operator including safety, customer service, efficiency, and responsiveness. This assessment sheet is available to any and all interested port users.
The format is simple. An agenda is promulgated for all in the listing. A copy of a blank assessment sheet is attached. A meeting time is set for monthly access at the Tampa Port Authority Board Room. Part of the agenda includes comments from the floor. The meeting is very informal but minutes are kept, which include “Old Business” and “New Business” and are sent via email to all on the company links listing. The “Old Business” matters are listed in the minutes until satisfactorily resolved.
Samples of items discussed are road closures, debris along the roadways, gate accesses and hours, available training, port signage, lighting, slow gates, etc. The item subject matter is only limited by reference to port operations. All problems are met with a positive attitude with a goal of fairly and satisfactorily resolving each problem. Examples of corrected situations from the meetings are increased lighting in non-cargo areas, allowing queuing in a specified area to relieve congestion by a gate, formation of a UTURN area for trucks, and reducing security stickers from two to one access sticker for restricted areas.
The meetings are well advertised and kept informal but not unruly. Attendees are from all walks of industry including shipping lines and agents, local law enforcement, federal agencies, trucking companies, surveyors and many other facets of shipping. Attendees have been frank in their comments, but appreciative of the forum and the opportunity to be heard. Currently, there are seventy entities and individuals on the listing for notices for QTEAM and we are continually encouraging more participants in this unique form of engaged communication with Ports America-Tampa and the Tampa Port Authority.
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