ISO 12604-2:2024

Aircraft ground handling - Checked baggage - Part 2: Handling requirements and guidelines

This document specifies the requirements of baggage handling for individual pieces of baggage checked-in by airline passengers at airports to be carried into aircraft cargo holds. This document applies to all manual handling workplaces in the processing chain for sorting, safety handling and routing of the baggage (containers and bulk baggage, departure and arrival circuits, at terminal and at aircraft, excluding passenger check-in process). This document does not specify the baggage handling systems in and out of airport terminals, except the baggage weights and dimensions to be handled, and the critical characteristics of manual workstations. This document does not specify the aircraft loading system.

Traitement au sol des aéronefs — Bagages enregistrés — Partie 2: Exigences et directives de traitement

Le présent document spécifie les exigences de traitement des bagages pour les bagages (anglais: «individual pieces of baggage») enregistrés par les passagers aériens aux aéroports aux fins de transport en soute des aéronefs. Le présent document est applicable à tous les postes de manutention manuelle dans la chaîne de traitement du tri, de la manutention pour la sûreté et de l'acheminement des bagages (conteneurs et bagages vrac, circuits départ et arrivée, en aérogare et à l'avion, en excluant le processus d’enregistrement passagers). Le présent document ne spécifie pas les systèmes de traitement de bagages en aérogares, à l’exception des poids et des dimensions des bagages à manipuler et des caractéristiques critiques des postes de travail manuels. Le présent document ne spécifie pas le système de chargement des aéronefs.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 01-Feb-2024
• ICS: 49.100 - Ground service and maintenance equipment
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 20/SC 9 - Air cargo and ground equipment
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 20/SC 9 - Air cargo and ground equipment
• Current Stage: 9092 - International Standard to be revised
• Start Date: 03-Oct-2025
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Overview

ISO 12604-2:2024 - Aircraft ground handling - Checked baggage - Part 2: Handling requirements and guidelines - sets out requirements and recommendations for the manual handling of checked baggage throughout airport processing chains. The standard focuses on sorting, safety screening and routing activities at departure, arrival and out-of-circuit workstations (e.g., spout down, pier, carousel, security inspection, manual indexing, drop areas). It excludes passenger check-in processes and aircraft loading systems, and is primarily applicable to standard pieces of baggage (processing of baggage under 23 kg).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Risk-based manual handling assessment: A three-step evaluation based on ISO 11228-1 covering handling frequency/anticipation, maximum acceptable load (MAL), and acceptable cumulative mass (ACM) including walking distance.
• Frequency limits and handling cadence: Recommended upper limits for lifts per minute tied to baggage mass (examples in the standard include limits such as up to 10 lifts/min for intensive tasks, with lower rates for heavier items - e.g., ~2/min for 17 kg and ~1/5 min for 21 kg).
• Baggage classification: Definitions and treatments for standard baggage, baggage with specific characteristics, and baggage requiring demanding handling (oversize, missing grips, fragile).
• Manual handling controls: Requirements for workstation characteristics, mitigation measures (mechanical assistance, team lifts for >23 kg), and operational practices to limit multiple handlings (e.g., conveyor reintroduction, integrated security equipment).
• Operator and handling-company responsibilities: Obligations for evaluating handling conditions, implementing affirmative actions, and complying with local health & safety legislation.
• Support for automation: Guidance and an informative annex with examples to make pieces of baggage compatible with automated transfer and sorting systems.

Applications and practical value

• Improves baggage handling safety and reduces musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among handling agents.
• Guides development of standard operating procedures (SOPs), workplace risk assessments, and staff training for airport ground operations.
• Informs ergonomic design of manual workstations and selection or integration of mechanical assistance and automation to minimize manual lifts.
• Useful for optimizing throughput and reducing re-handling, rejects, and delays in baggage flows.

Who should use this standard

• Airlines, ground handling companies and airport operators
• Health & safety managers, ergonomists and operational planners
• Equipment manufacturers and system integrators designing conveyors, tugs and workstation layouts
• Regulators and auditors evaluating compliance with airport baggage handling safety standards

Related standards

• ISO 12604-1: Baggage mass and dimension requirements
• ISO 12604-3: Workstation ergonomics for checked baggage
• ISO 11228-1: Ergonomics - Manual handling (lifting, lowering, carrying)

Keywords: ISO 12604-2:2024, aircraft ground handling, checked baggage handling, baggage handling requirements, manual handling ergonomics, airport ground operations, baggage safety.

Standards Content (Sample)

International
Standard
ISO 12604-2
First edition
Aircraft ground handling —
2024-02
Checked baggage —
Part 2:
Handling requirements and
guidelines
Traitement au sol des aéronefs — Bagages enregistrés —
Partie 2: Exigences et directives de traitement
Reference number
© ISO 2024
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
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Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Requirements and recommendations . 3
4.1 General .3
4.1.1 The different characteristics of piece of baggage encouraging specific processing .3
4.1.2 The different workstations concerned .3
4.2 Conditions required for an acceptable manual handling .4
4.2.1 Risk evaluation method related to baggage handling conditions .4
4.2.2 Step 1: Handling frequency and anticipation of load .6
4.2.3 Step 2: Maximum acceptable load (MAL) .8
4.2.4 Step 3: Acceptable cumulative mass (ACM) and walking distance .9
4.3 Operator and handling company's responsibilities . 12
4.3.1 Handling conditions evaluation and adaptation . 12
4.3.2 Affirmative action set up . 12
Annex A (informative) Examples of measures allowing baggage to be conveyed through
automated transfer and sorting facilities .13
Bibliography . 14

iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
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with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 20, Aircraft and space vehicles, Subcommittee
SC 9, Air cargo and ground equipment.
A list of all parts in the ISO 12604 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
Introduction
This document specifies the handling conditions for baggage checked-in by airline passengers to be carried
into aircraft cargo holds, in order to:
— contribute to improving work conditions for baggage handling agents and reducing the incidence of
musculo-skeletal disorders (MSD) in this population;
— facilitate enhancing the overall efficiency of baggage handling;
— provide instructions for the design of automated baggage handling systems increasingly used at airports.
Annex A gives examples of measures allowing standard baggage to be conveyed through automated
transfer and sorting facilities.
In this document, the following verbal forms are used:
— “shall” indicates a requirement;
— “should” indicates a recommendation;
— “may” indicates a permission;
— “can” indicates a possibility or a capability.
Recommendations are, while not mandatory, considered to be of primary importance in providing safe
and efficient baggage handling. Any deviation from the recommendations should only occur after careful
consideration and thorough service assessment have shown alternate methods provide an equivalent level
of work safety.
The carrier and handling services provider are responsible for identifying and complying with legal
requirements that can be locally applicable, such as Health and Safety government legislations and
regulations applicable to machinery or manual handling of loads.
ISO 12604-1 specifies standard mass and dimensions requirements for baggage checked-in by airline
passengers to be carried into aircraft cargo holds.
ISO 12604-3 covers ergonomic design requirements for baggage handling workstations.

v
International Standard ISO 12604-2:2024(en)
Aircraft ground handling — Checked baggage —
Part 2:
Handling requirements and guidelines
1 Scope
This document specifies the requirements of baggage handling for individual pieces of baggage checked-in
by airline passengers at airports to be carried into aircraft cargo holds.
This document applies to all manual handling workplaces in the processing chain for sorting, safety handling
and routing of the baggage (containers and bulk baggage, departure and arrival circuits, at terminal and at
aircraft, excluding passenger check-in process).
This document does not specify the baggage handling systems in and out of airport terminals, except the
baggage weights and dimensions to be handled, and the critical characteristics of manual workstations.
This document does not specify the aircraft loading system.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 11228-1:2021, Ergonomics — Manual handling — Part 1: Lifting, lowering and carrying
ISO 12604-3:2022, Aircraft ground handling — Checked baggage — Part 3: Workstation ergonomics
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
handling company
carrier, contracted service provider or airport authority that performs all or part of baggage handling,
including loading/unloading it into/from aircraft, at an airport
3.2
baggage gripping ideal criteria
set of characteristics required for a piece of baggage (3.3) to be deemed ideal for gripping
Note 1 to entry: The criteria are specified as follows: the piece of baggage can be grasped with both hands, with a firm
grip, neutral wrist position less than 0,25 m between the centre of mass of the piece of baggage to be handled and the
centre of mass of the handling agent (3.8).

3.3
piece of baggage
bag, suitcase, trunk or similar article travelling with a checked passenger and containing items necessary
for the passenger's journey, such as clothing and personal articles within certain limitations in accordance
with the applicable carrier conditions of carriage, that is accepted and checked-in for loading and carriage
aboard the same aircraft
Note 1 to entry: It does not include freight, express cargo, courier mail, or unaccompanied piece of baggage travelling
as freight.
3.4
standard baggage with specific characteristics
piece of baggage (3.3) that meets mass and dimensions requirements of standard baggage, but with some
characteristics that involve stress for conveying and/or handling (e.g. spherical piece of baggage, fragile,
light, very small piece of baggage)
3.5
baggage with demanding handling
piece of baggage (3.3):
— that exceeds the mass or dimensions limits;
— whose characteristics do not satisfy baggage gripping ideal criteria (3.2) (cannot be grasped with both
hands, etc.);
— that is oversized.
Note 1 to entry: The mass and dimensions limits are defined in ISO 12604-1. The piece of baggage considered as
"heavy" is identified by a specific label.
3.6
cart
bulk load trolley used for baggage conveyance
3.7
contingency
dysfunction or unexpected event that disturbs an intended process or organization
3.8
handling agent
personnel responsible for baggage handling
3.9
operator
company or people using airport facilities and equipment
3.10
departure workstation
workstation where pieces of baggage are processed before departure
3.10.1
spout down
inclined plane receptacle intended for baggage retrieval
3.10.2
pier
linear conveying system (belt or rollers) for accumulating baggage for purposes of retrieval
3.11
arrival workstation
workstation where pieces of baggage are dispatched after arrival

3.11.1
carousel
flat or inclined and circular crescent chain
Note 1 to entry: Baggage circulates in a closed circuit.
3.12
out-of-circuit workstation
auxiliary workstation
workstation where pieces of baggage are not in the main stream
3.12.1
security inspection
check of pieces of baggage using x-ray, manual or other equipment, in order to move away any item or piece
of baggage (3.3) which is prohibited for transport
3.12.2
manual indexing station
barcode reading through handheld scanner or manual keyboard entry
3.12.3
drop area
temporary storage
storage area for pieces of baggage waiting to be processed
3.12.4
passenger baggage reconciliation security procedure
baggage removal from the circuit for positive identification by its owner or security inspection (3.12.1)
4 Requirements and recommendations
4.1 General
4.1.1 The different characteristics of piece of baggage encouraging specific processing
The standard piece of baggage characteristics are defined in ISO 12604-1:2017, 4.1.
Handling of standard pieces of baggage with specific characteristics or baggage with demanding handling
by an airport mechanized system often proves to be difficult. Everything should be implemented to
ensure the conveyability of these pieces of baggage. If no solution is found, they shall be handled through a
specific circuit.
Protective plastic films enrolled around individual pieces of baggage may hide the handles of the pieces of
baggage. Thus, provisions should be developed to ensure the release of the handles.
4.1.2 The different workstations concerned
The handling requirements and recommendations in this document are applicable to the different
workstations occupied by handling agents, listed hereafter:
— departure workstations:
— spout down,
— pier;
— arrival workstation:
— carousel;
— out-of-circuit workstations:
— security inspection,
— manual indexing station,
— drop area,
— passenger baggage reconciliation security procedure.
4.2 Conditions required for an acceptable manual handling
4.2.1 Risk evaluation method related to baggage handling conditions
Handling conditions depend on several factors that shall be estimated in accordance with ISO 11228-1:2021,
4.2.1. It is thus possible to know whether manual handling is acceptable based on a 3-step assessment.
Figure 1 describes the step-by-step analysis.
Handling is assessed according to various criteria depending on one another. If the values observed are
below maximum acceptable values for one step, the next one can be assessed. Otherwise, handling is not
acceptable; and it is thus unnecessary to evaluate the other criteria through the following step, because
mitigation action measures are already needed.

Figure 1 — Handling conditions evaluation of a handling agent according to ISO 11228-1:2021, 4.2.1
If observation data of the handling agents' tasks are below the maximum values, at every step of the process,
manual handling is considered acceptable.
This risk evaluation method related to baggage manual handling conditions is only applicable to processing
of pieces of baggage having a standard weight, i.e. lower than 23 kg.
Heavy pieces of baggage shall be handled by agents with mechanical assistance tools suited for this type of
handling, or by at least two people. However, handling by several individuals involves additional challenges
that can occur when some staff members have their sight or movements obstructed by other members, and
when the object has an insufficient number of hand grips.

4.2.2 Step 1: Handling frequency and anticipation of load
4.2.2.1 General
The recommended upper limit for frequency of handling depends on the mass of the handled object. When
the couple (frequency of lifting/handled mass) is above the curve corresponding to handling duration
(Figure 2), adaptation is necessary.
The analysis of the activity of the operators should be carried out considering the different working
situations during a daily shift.
Key
m mass (kg)
f frequency (number of lifts per minute)
A handling duration less than 1 h
B handling duration from 1 h to 2 h
C handling duration from 1 h to 8 h
Figure 2 — Maximum frequency for manual lifting related to mass of the object in ideal conditions,
for three different lifting durations
4.2.2.2 Handling frequency
In the event of a handling agent whose main activit
...