B757-200
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors
First Officer brought to my attention that there was an issue with Hazardous Materials paperwork. Included in the normal hazardous material paperwork was a Dangerous Goods ID Tag for Container XXXX Origin ZZZ with Destination of ZZZ1. That container was loaded in position 8 onboard our aircraft and was inaccessible. Included in this container were Class 7 Radioactive Yellow II; Miscellaneous and Magnetized and Dry Ice - Cargo Aircraft Only. According to FOM 10.25 - container's containing hazardous materials are supposed to have this ID Tag attached to the exterior of the container in visible sight. A Load Supervisor was apprised of the issue and her corrective action was going to be altering hazardous material paperwork by crossing out position 8 and then writing position 1 and placing this piece of paper inside container (in position 1 did not contain hazardous materials). The First Officer advised that this was not right and I called Ground Control and asked for a Ramp Supervisor on location. In the course of waiting for the Ramp Supervisor another ramp agent showed up on the flight deck and requested the piece of paper and said that he would put it in the can - problem was - main cargo door was closed and the K-Loader was pulled away from the aircraft. He also told me that this document was always in the Hazmat envelope (first time I have ever seen this paperwork in the Hazmat envelope in my near 5 years employment with Company). The Ramp Supervisor showed up on the flight deck and agreed that altering documentation was not right and that what we had was a copy of the paperwork attached to the [container]. Sensing that there still may be an issue; I took the copy and kept it on my person; we were assured that it was not an issue; and we proceeded to continue with the flight. Upon offloading at destination - we visually inspected Container XXXX and there was no Dangerous Goods ID Tag visible that we could see. Improper placement of container tag on Container XXXX and including a copy of that container ID Tag in paperwork presenting to flight crews. Better training for loading Supervisor in how to deal with documentation issues. Instead of lip service - how about being proactive in rectifying the situation. I am sure that Crash Fire Rescue would have liked to know in the event we had an incident with the aircraft.
B757-200 Captain reported inaccurate Hazmat documentation and ID Tags irregularities with the Hazmat cargo shipment.