Critical Issues in Safe Transport of Hazardous Materials

Abstract

The growing volume of hazardous‐materials shipments and the potential consequences of a materials release have raised public concern and scrutiny over the safe handling and transport of hazardous cargo. This has prompted intensive regulatory review and technical studies directed at identification and resolution of critical issues impacting the safe transport of hazardous materials. This paper addresses these issues, both from the standpoint of what is currently known and for the development of an agenda for enhancing hazardous‐materials transport safety in the future. Attention is focused principally on those areas where the needs are particularly acute, namely the regulatory environment, information systems, accident analysis, hazard mitigation, risk assessment, routing, community preparedness, and incident management. The basis for this review is the condition of “Check pdf for missing text” ilar safety problems plague other industrial countries, it is expected that many of the conclusions and recommendations reported herein will have application to the international community.