Port Skills and Safety Ltd - Practical Tools for Safer Port Operations
The challenge
Emergency planning is essential for safe operations in ports, yet many teams rely on repetitive drills that don’t reflect the unpredictability of real emergencies. Limited training time, lack of engagement, and outdated scenarios can leave workers unprepared for evolving incidents. Port Skills and Safety Ltd (PSS), the UK’s professional safety and skills membership organisation for ports, identified the need for a flexible, engaging tool to strengthen emergency preparedness and challenge operational knowledge.
The innovation
Developed in collaboration with The Workboat Association, PSS’s Emergency Flash Cards offer a dynamic way to test emergency plans and stimulate meaningful safety discussions. Designed like a deck of playing cards, they are:
- Portable and easy to use in operational settings without removing staff from the worksite
- Colour-coded by weather, location, incident type, severity, and variables
- Customisable for random or targeted scenario generation
- Visually engaging, with pictograms and clear descriptors for quick understanding
The cards simulate realistic emergencies, including evolving conditions like equipment failure or worsening weather, helping teams prepare for the unexpected.
How it works
The cards are distributed in durable plastic cases and used across port teams during briefings, drills, and even recruitment exercises. Teams can randomise scenarios or select specific ones to test knowledge and response strategies. Variable cards introduce new challenges mid-exercise, mimicking real-life emergency escalation. The cards require minimal setup and encourage open discussion, making them ideal for toolbox talks and on-the-job training.
Case study
The Emergency Flash Cards have been widely adopted across the UK port sector, with multiple organisations purchasing packs for team-wide use. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with users describing them as “easy, engaging, and useful.” One port member credited the cards with helping their team respond effectively to a real fire incident just weeks after a training exercise using the fire scenario card. The cards have improved collaboration, boosted confidence, and helped teams identify gaps in emergency planning.
Potential impact
By making emergency planning more accessible and engaging, the Emergency Flash Cards:
- Strengthen workforce readiness and safety culture
- Encourage proactive risk assessment and response
- Support continuous improvement in emergency planning
- Reduce the likelihood and impact of real incidents
- Date
- 22/07/2025
