Haz-Mat Risk Assessment II
DEPARTMENTS
ON HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Last month, I discussed the need for a fire department to perform a risk assessment before establishing a hazardous materials response team. This month I will cover the specific reference sources that can be used if there is a hazardous materials risk in the community.
The place to begin gathering information is in the regulations governing the movement of hazardous materials in all transportation modes. These regulations are known as the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 49, and deal with hazardous materials movement, packaging, marking, and training personnel in the handling of the chemicals. Copies of CFR 49 are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.
The regulations require that accidents involving the release of hazardous materials with resulting property damage, personal injury, or death be reported. The Department of Transportation then enters this information into an automatic data system where it can be easily retrieved. The information provided includes carrier, mode of transportation, incident location, commodity, injuries, and amount of material released. There is a nominal fee charged for the information access service, which can be obtained from the Department of Transportation, Research and Special Programs Administration, Materials Transportation Bureau, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, D.C. 20590; telephone (202) 755-9260.
Another excellent source of information concerning past accidents is the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB is an investigative arm of Congress, independent of any other federal agency. The board investigates many hazardous materials transportation incidents and issues detailed reports of findings. A list of the available reports can be obtained from the National Transportation Safety Board, 800 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 20594.
If hazardous materials movement by water is another concern, then the Army Corps of Engineers may be of some assistance. They keep track of the types and quantities of products transported through the inland waterways over which they have jurisdiction. Information pertaining to your specific area is contained in their publication, WATERBORNE COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES, and can be obtained from the nearest district office.
Another good source of information on the movement of chemicals by water is the Coast Guard. They maintain records of accidents involving hazardous materials. Further information can be obtained by writing to the National Response Center, Coast Guard, 400 Seventh St., SW, (Room 7402), Washington, D.C. 20590.
Information on the movement of hazardous materials by air is somewhat more difficult to obtain. The Federal Aviation Administration does not keep any records of the types and amounts of products moved by air. The best results would be obtained if you contacted the freight companies directly. These would include the specialty shipping firms as well as the airlines.
Radioactive material movement is very closely regulated. Most states have an agency that issues licenses to firms that use radioactive materials in the course of their normal businesses. These materials can range from medical isotopes in a doctor’s office to special X-ray equipment for checking welds.
The law requires that the governor be notified of all large radioactive material shipments through the state. Since these records are kept at the state level, the records for your area should be reviewed. In addition, someone in the fire department should also be notified by the governor’s office when a shipment will be made through your area. At the federal level, radioactive materials are regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The NRC is involved in the movement of large quantities of wastes and spent fuel.
A determination of the products moved through the area by rail can be obtained by observation at the railroad yards that classify the trains. With the cooperation of the individual in charge, the shipping papers and contents of the trains can be reviewed.
Another good source of information on the enforcement of safety regulations on the railroads is the Federal Railway Administration (FRA). The FRA is concerned about the track condition, placarding, and rail car safety. Information on the rail movement in your area can be obtained from the Federal Railway Administration, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, D.C. 20590.
Truck transportation of hazardous materials is probably the most difficult to pinpoint. The best way to determine the commodities being transported is to visit any truck terminal in a 100-mile radius and review the bills of lading.
If an interstate highway goes through your area, then you will need to note the various trucking firms that pass through and contact those companies’ nearest terminal.
Another good technique is to visit a truck stop and observe the placards on the trucks. Using the four-digit identification number, the commodity can be determined. For mixed loads, the driver can be asked to show you the shipping papers.
To determine the pipelines in the area, the best bet is to contact the state transportation agency. They can inform you of the companies that use this mode of transportation for hazardous materials. Then, you need to contact the pipeline companies and determine the various products they transport. Remember, a petroleum pipeline can have any one of a variety of products in the pipe at any given moment.
Fixed storage risks must be determined by directly contacting the various facilities in your community. This can be accomplished from a pre-planning visit to the facility or from a survey form sent to the plant. One source of information is the occupancy or tax records maintained by the local jurisdiction.
Risk analysis can provide information on the potential hazards that a community can face. It takes a lot of work to contact these agencies and to determine the nature of the hazardous materials risk in your area. However, it is better to do the analysis first and determine the need before investing heavily in time, equipment, and personnel for a hazardous materials response team.
