Air carrier ground personnel reported a new Company procedure that pushes untrained personnel into the Lead position resulted in HAZMAT being improperly processed during a diversion.
Synopsis
Air carrier ground personnel reported a new Company procedure that pushes untrained personnel into the Lead position resulted in HAZMAT being improperly processed during a diversion.
Narrative
Local Management has said Leads are no longer required at night since mainline aircraft are not in operation. This means they upgrade a Ramp Agent with no training to the position if need be. We asked what happens if diversions come in and we need a Lead to close out the flights and were told that Operations or Management will communicate with Dispatch and a Lead is not required. If an agent feels uncomfortable or unsafe being a Lead; they can decline it to the next agent by seniority but eventually someone will be required to fill the role and if we are the lowest in seniority and are forced to work the position we are told that is just how the Company does it. I was asked to lead this flight as well as two other flights as the other ramp agents who were upgraded were working other mainline divisions. Since I have no Lead training I have no idea that HAZMAT is required to be checked for diversions. A trained Lead may know this but when we are untrained by Company standards and told to do the position this leaves a gray area that could be dangerous at some point.This flight went out per Management with no Leads; only dispatchers handling it; and I was told today by a Lead that no checking HAZMAT is a violation and needs to be addressed. Many desire to be trained but nothing is provided and even those selected as leads in the station are not required to be currently RDL (Ramp Directed Leading) qualified.
Second reporter narrative
Local leadership doesn't think we need to have a Lead on duty with a Lead qualification DSTG (Departure Staging Guide) on duty at all times. We are a major diversion airport and can have any type of aircraft including international and other carriers at any time drop into ZZZ as a diversion. I've expressed my frustration but was told we didn't need a Lead with the Lead qualification. Which now leads to incident on Day 0. We had 2 diversions drop in on us at approximately XA:30. The company decided to have our only Lead with the qualification but released him around XB:20. One aircraft was parked on a holding pad. The aircraft in question was brought to Gate XX for a medical situation. This circumstance was taken care of. As this Aircraft X had Dangerous Goods (DG) on board; this flight should have had a qualified Lead on the premises to check for any damage to the DG; dry ice; before closing it out as the DSTG states. What had occurred because we didn't have a Lead on property; Load Planning took it upon themselves to close Aircraft X without verifying if the DG were not damaged from the original flight or even on the aircraft. We also have issues regarding not having training needs met for diversions such as cargo loader; brake riding; etc.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.