ISO 12604-2:2024
(Main)Aircraft ground handling — Checked baggage — Part 2: Handling requirements and guidelines
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
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
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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
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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
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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.
Pro
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