B767-300 and 300 ER
Dispatch Dispatcher
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft
Our Contingency Manager advised us [a station] had reported a mercury hazmat spill and that [the station] has determined a mercury hazmat package was loaded on one of my flights but was unable to confirm if the spill was from that package. The HAZMAT help desk advised that our HAZMAT did not have any incompatibility issues with the other packages in the same container. I reviewed the situation with the Director of Operations. What is known at this time is three drops of mercury were found on a package belt and that there is a mercury HAZMAT package on my flight. Our procedure requires the package to be 'six side' inspected before loading in a sealed ULD container; and that there were no incompatibility issues with other packages in the container. The Director of Operations; who also has experience as the Director of Safety; reviewed the information and decided there was no confirmation that the package [on our flight] was leaking; there was no safety risk to the crew or aircraft at this time and; therefore; confirmed a decision to continue the flight.
When three drops of mercury were discovered in the cargo preparation area the Dispatcher for a cargo carrier did his best to determine if it might have come from a HAZMAT package aboard one of his flight. After reviewing all available information the flight was allowed to continue.