Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Work Refused
Chart Or Publication; Procedure; Company Policy
While I am writing this event report for this flight; it is typical of many flights I have had. I noted during my walk-around 17 items of Company MAIL to be loaded in the cargo bin. Item 1 was an unsealed cardboard box; the others were all cases of soda and water. They all had neon-orange stickers on them (that I have been unable to find in the Operating Manual) that require a box to be checked. The Commissary box (including soda; napkins...) was NOT checked. These forms clearly state two signatures; both required. Only one signature; with no boxes checked on ALL 17 forms/stickers. Our HAZMAT training states we must assume all unidentified company mail/cargo is HAZMAT. I therefore deny all items with this unidentified form when it is not filled out. There are 3 forms for NON-HAZMAT material in the company that I have seen. Two are noted deep in the Operating Manual. I have been unable to find the most common one; as stated above. The Operating Manual has a forms section: there are 3 examples in it; none talk about company mail. The HAZMAT section talks about forms required for carrying allowable HAZMAT. I do not want to end up like past incidents of inflight fires. I would like a one stop spot in the Operating Manual to find all approved forms that may affect the safety or legality of the aircraft.I would suggest better training of persons filling out the forms is required. Baggage handlers should be trained to not load any items that do not have the properly filled out forms on them. Forms should be located in an easy to find spot in the Operating Manual; not buried in it. We should have one approved form; not 3.
A MD-80 Captain refused to allow company cargo to remain on the aircraft because the HAZMAT forms were not properly completed and in his investigative process he found Company documentation and training lacking.