No Aircraft
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Equipment / Tooling; Procedure
The company's new beltloader policy is an injury waiting to happen. The company no longer will allow beltloaders in the pit which in turn is now having the [ramp personnel] grab and pull bags and cargo off the belt. This is going to cause numerous injuries to the shoulders; elbows; back; neck; and knees. This also could cause injuries to the head. This has already happened to an employee; but luckily did not cause serious injury. Also; with the beltloader outside the pit; the emergency-stop button is not accessible to the pit person in case of an emergency. [Ramp personnel] cannot utilize the stop sensors on the belt which was always a safety feature. This new procedure goes against everything [the Safety Course] told the [ramp personnel] not to do. One last thing; the gap between the aircraft and beltloader of roughly 6 inches could cause injury to the [ramp personnel] by falling through this opening.
[Report narrative contained no additional information].
Air carrier cargo handler questioned the safety aspects of a new company procedure that requires that the cargo belt-loader not be placed inside the cargo pit.