Air Carrier Ramp personnel reported a communication breakdown between two ramp personnel resulted in a Hazmat parcel that was not unloaded.
Synopsis
Air Carrier Ramp personnel reported a communication breakdown between two ramp personnel resulted in a Hazmat parcel that was not unloaded.
Narrative
On Date I was assigned to work the inbound of Aircraft X; coming from ZZZ1. I was the Crew Chief for Tow [Tug] 2; which included myself and four other crew members. I had logged in my ramp link to look up the offload for Aircraft X; while revising the offload; I had notice we had bags in the aft compartment only; nothing in the fwd compartment. The summary on the ramp link reported that I had bags in the A1 and one piece in the AB; at anytime did it ever mentioned anything about a DG (Dangerous Good). I had a brief huddle with the crew before the inbound flight had arrive; I designated each person a role. Name was the person inside the aft compartment; on various occasions I had mentioned to them that there was something showing up in the AB compartment on my ramp link; so I instructed them to please check the AB bulk area. Name confirmed that they had looked into the AB bulk compartment; not once but twice and in both occasions said that there was nothing in the AB bulk area. I realized the event had occurred the following day when a Manager had come over to me and explained to me what had happened and wanted to do a Q&A with me and the rest of the crew.I believe this occurred because of poor load planning; the DG piece was only 11 pounds. There was absolutely no need to place this in the AB Bulk area; an area which had no proper lighting; which may cause poor visibility; an area which the netting is covered; in where every other part of the aircraft the netting's are see through as well. The action that was taken after the Q&A; Me and Name were put on a coaching because management stated that we failed to alert them that there was no DG in the AB bulk area although it was showing in the ramp link. My suggestion is take out the solid curtains and replace them with netting.
Second reporter narrative
The crew went out 10 minutes prior to the aircraft arriving; crew chief gave a briefing. I got in the bin and offloaded the bags. Once I was done offloading I unclipped the bin webbing on the top and looked inside the bulk I didn't see anything. As I was going to get off the aircraft the crew chief (Name 1) asked me if I checked the bulk and I responded yes and I went over and checked it again. I got off the aircraft and we closed it up.I wasn't told about the incident until 5 days after that this happened due to the fact that I wasn't here for 5 days. The [Manager] notified me the morning of my shift on Date 1.On the arriving Aircraft X the DG was placed in the bulk behind the solid curtain. I did not see it when I checked the bulk. The package was very small weighing 11 lbs. and tucked away in the corner. The [Manager] told me what had happened and I had to go into the office with a shop steward for a Q&A. I explained to the [Manager] that I checked the bulk twice and was unaware that I had left something on the aircraft. The crew chief did complete a briefing with me and he asked me if I checked the bulk which I did and I did not see anything.The airline should get rid of the solid curtains and use the regular net bin webbing's.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.