RPTR EXPRESSES SERIOUS CONCERN OVER ACR POLICY TO CARRY INFECTIOUS HAZMAT ON MAIN DECK INSTEAD OF IN A MORE SECURE CARGO COMPARTMENT.

Narrative

HAZMAT (INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCE) LOADED IN 8 DIFFERENT CONTAINERS ON THE MAIN DECK OF THE ACFT AS OPPOSED TO THE BELLY CARGO AS RECOMMENDED (BUT NOT MANDATORY) BY XXX. IT WOULD SEEM THAT SINCE THIS MATERIAL IS CARGO ACFT ONLY AND CANNOT BE SHIPPED WITH FOOD PRODUCTS THAT IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY FOR THE CREWS IT SHOULD ONLY BE IN THE BELLY CARGO COMPARTMENT AND NOT WHERE THE PRESSURIZATION CAN POTENTIALLY CIRCULATE IT TO THE CREW IF A SPILL OCCURS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATES THAT HE AND OTHER VERY CONCERNED FLC MEMBERS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PLT UNION HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THE ACR POLICY CHANGED TO SOMETHING LESS THAN THE FULL COMPLIANCE DESIRED. NOW; THE POLICY IS TO PLACE SUCH INFECTIOUS MATERIALS IN THE BELLY PITS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. HE SAYS THIS POLICY IS WORKING FAIRLY WELL IN PRACTICE IN THAT ALL BUT 3 OR 4 OUTLYING STATIONS COMPLY WITH THE NEW POLICY. HOWEVER; THESE FEW STATIONS STEADFASTLY DISREGARD AND SIDESTEP THE POLICY IN THE 'NAME OF ON-TIME DEPS.' HE FURTHER STATES THAT THE FLC'S ONLY PROTECTION FROM A HAZMAT SPILL WOULD BE TO DON THE OXYGEN MASKS AND BE ON 100% OXYGEN. THE SPECIFIC TYPE OF HAZMAT FOR THIS RPTED INCIDENT IS NOT KNOWN. THE RPTR STATES THAT IT WOULD MOST LIKELY BE HIV POSITIVE BLOOD SAMPLES OR HEPATITIS B/C. THE RPTR REMAINS EXTREMELY AWARE AND CONCERNED THAT AN INCIDENT WOULD RESULT IN CONSTANT AND TOTAL EXPOSURE TO A FLC AS THE CABIN AIR IS BEING CONSTANTLY RECIRCULATED THROUGH THE COCKPIT VENTILATION SYS. HE IS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE NON TCASII CARGO OP MIGHT FURTHER AGGRAVATE THE SIT BY CAUSING A SPILL DURING AN AGGRESSIVE EVASION MANEUVER BROUGHT ABOUT BY THIS MISSING SAFETY TOOL. THE RPTR DOES NOT HOLD MUCH HOPE FOR TOTAL COMPLIANCE AS LONG AS THERE ARE NO MANDATED FAA REGS OR POLICIES IN THIS ARENA.