Development of a programme for managing risk related to road transport of dangerous chemicals

Project manager: Prof. Jerzy Michalik Ph.D. (Eng.)

Project summary:

The project consisted in a detailed analysis and assessment of the requirements listed in international (UN, ADR, EU) and national regulations regarding road transport of dangerous cargo. Because of the special character of the hazard, the principles of road transport used by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland in Poland have been discussed.Data on the structure of road transport of dangerous cargo have been considered in the assessment of hazard posed by occurrences with the attributes of a major accident in road transport of that cargo with the use of effects - predicted with computer simulations - of collisions and road catastrophes involving vehicles transporting dangerous chemicals.Another kind of hazard related to transporting dangerous cargo has also been discussed. Experience of other parts of the world shows that vehicles transporting such cargo can be used as tools in terrorist attacks. The effects of scenarios of such events have been analysed; the result of computer simulations of the effects of such events have been presented.It has been shown that in Poland occurrences with the attributes of major accidents in road transport of dangerous chemicals are caused by lack of or incomplete adherence to the traffic code.The analyses that were conducted showed that the Polish system of training people involved in transporting dangerous cargo is at a high level and covers everybody who should be trained. Moreover it is sufficient both in the content and scope of training and in its methods.Taking into consideration the conclusions drawn from the analyses that had been conducted, a thesis was formulated to the effect that in principle the only practically still possible and probably effective factor improving the safety of road transport of dangerous cargo can be proper selection of the carrier of the routes, optimal from the point of view of minimizing the risk of major accident hazards in transporting chemicals.

Unit: Department of Chemical and Aerosol Hazards

Duration: 01.01.2008 – 30.12.2010