Number of Trucks Moving Hazardous Cargoes Increases Odds for Accident

Number of Trucks Moving Hazardous Cargoes Increases Odds for Accident

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Photo by Warren Isman

The area protected by every fire department has a potential for having a hazardous materials incident involving truck transportation. No matter how small the community, the movement of hazardous goods by truck occurs frequently.

For those who still do not think that an incident is possible, consider the frequency of transportation of gasoline to the local service station, bulk propane to the storage facility and propane cylinders to the homes and businesses of the community. Fertilizers and pesticides can be brought into any community but they are particularly abundant in rural areas. Additionally, there is the local food store which has goods such as chlorine bleach, aerosol cans and insecticides, all brought in by truck.

The size of the problem

In order to indicate the magnitude of the problem, the following basic statistics are provided:

• Over four billion tons of hazardous materials are shipped (including reshipment) each year.
• The majority of these shipments are petroleum products. There are approximately 100,000 cargo tank shipments a day of gasoline alone. Parked end to end, these tanks would stretch from Washington, D.C., to Chicago.
• There are approximately 100,000 shippers of hazardous materials and
• 80,000 carriers (mainly trucks) transporting hazardous materials of all types.
• It is estimated that there are 354,000 generators of hazardous waste, which will increase the truck transportation problem significantly.
• There are over 180 million shipments of hazardous materials annually.
• There are 175,000 portable 2000pound tanks which move by truck, 150,000 tank trucks, 80,000 tank semitrailers, 50,000 large portable tanks, and an unknown number of vans moving hazardous materials.

DOT regulation

Interstate transportation of hazardous materials by truck is regulated by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). Many states have adopted these same regulations for intrastate transportation as well. However, a 1979 special study of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined six basic reasons why those involved in hazardous materials shipments do not always comply with federal regulations:

1. The complexity of the regulations themselves.
2. The complexity of the industry interrelationships.
3. Economic pressures.
4. Lack of awareness of the regulations by industry personnel.
5. Lack of personnel training.
6. Indifference.

On the basis of this study, NTSB recommended improved regulation of cargo tank integrity, control of liquid surge in tank-truck transportation and regulation of routing to reduce the risks of transportation accidents.

NTSB has also reported that: “The number of accidents involving hazardous materials in transportation each year are not known. From 1971 through 1979,95,167 incidents were reported to the DOT, about 90 percent of them by motor carriers.

“The adequacy and relevancy of much of the data in the incident reports are questionable,” and “the credibility of the available incident data is questionable and there is no routine validation of the data (by the DOT).”

Some not placarded

DOT estimates that between 5 and 15 percent of all trucks on the road at any time carry hazardous materials. A survey by the Virginia Department of Transportation Safety found that 65 percent of the materials transported were flammable or combustible liquids, about 10 percent of the trucks were carrying more than 1000 pounds of hazardous materials and thus required placarding, 41 percent of the trucks requiring placarding were either not placarded or incorrectly placarded, and 23 percent of the trucks carrying hazardous materials failed to carry the required-shipping papers.

It is certain that no matter what the size of your department, you must be prepared for handling a hazardous materials incident involving a truck. Unfortunately, many senior fire officers at this point throw up their hands and say they have insufficient funds to get the necessary equipment. Other actions are more useful.

Preparing for a hazardous materials incident involving a truck requires planning. This will involve an investment of time by senior fire service personnel, but there is very little direct cost. Next, some basic control materials as well as a resource document need to be prepared. Finally, the remainder of the department needs to be trained.

The plan

The plan for handling a truck incident should consist of:

1. A map of the road networks, starting with the major roads and working downward to the less traveled ones. The plans should include a drawing of the area covered, sewer systems, topography and drainage, water supply availability along the road (pressure and static sources) and exposure problems.
2. A survey of the trucking companies, commodities shipped and routes used to transport hazardous materials. This information will form the basis for developing the reference and resource list. It can be prepared by actually observing the trucks that come through the community, noting the name of the carrier and contacting them for further information. In addition, the users of hazardous materials in the community can be surveyed to determine the chemicals used, the carrier which delivered them and the frequency of shipment.
3. A reference manual which contains the phone numbers of key emergency personnel; local, state and federal organizations capable of providing assistance; and private organizations, businesses and individuals that may provide help.
4. Aids for decision-making at the incident, including maps of utilities, sewers and transportation routes; topographical maps; diagrams of cargo tanks; copies of the DOT placards and labels in current use; and mathematical conversion tables.
5. A disaster plan organizational program. The disaster plan should show an organizational structure for various types of truck incidents; a chart showing the command structure, particularly using officers and personnel from mutual aid departments; description of who has legal authority for putting the plan into effect; and an outline of other local organizations and their responsibilities at an incident.

Control equipment

Equipment for controlling spills and leaks does not have to be elaborate. Much of the equipment can be developed by the fire fighters themselves.

For example, small holes in tank trucks can be stopped or reduced by using tapered wooden plugs of various sizes. In addition, rubber sheets can be cut into gaskets, with a hole made in the middle for placement on a large butterfly bolt. The bolt is then inserted in the hole along with the rubber gasket and tightened against the inside of the tank.

Photo by Lt. Leonard King, Montgomery County Dept. of Fire & Rescue Services.

Photo by Montgomery County, Md. Police Department

Photo by Lt. Leonard King, Montgomery County Dept, of Fire & Rescue Services

In addition, some common tools can be carried to help control leaks. These would include:

Pipe wrenches (various sizes)

Spark-resistant wrenches and hammer

Open end and box wrenches

Crescent wrenches

Bung wrenches

Wire cutters

Pliers

Screwdrivers (flat and Phillips)

Hand drill and bits

Wood auger and bits

Chisels (wood and metal)

Hack saw and blades

Packing gland wrench

Tire snips

Banding tool and steel band

Tubleless tire patching kit

Rubber sheeting

Hardwood plugs

Rags and paper towels

Nonhardening gasket compound

Epoxy glue

Valve sealant

Packing (Teflon)

Tape (Teflon, electrical, plastic)

Silicone sealant

Lead wool

“O” rings

Sheet metal screws

Nuts, bolts, washers, and lock washers

(3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4″)

Pipe fitings:

Pipe nipples

Elbows

Unions

Reducers

Couplers

Caps

Plugs

Valves

Administrative:

Binoculars

Paper (regular and graph)

Rulers

Pencils, pens, markers Tags,

Chemical flares

Flashlight and spare batteries

Rubber bands

Sample containers (various sizes and construction)

Putting this equipment together will not involve a great cost. However, no mention has been made yet of regular and special protective equipment. Remember, full protective gear including positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus is necessary. It is also important to point out that many chemicals require additional special protective equipment. Fully enclosed acid or chemical suits, natural rubber gloves and boots, or radiological monitors may be needed. If your department does not have this specialized equipment, then your resource book should indicate where it can be located. If specialized equipment is called for and you do not have it available, evacuate civilian and emergency personnel until help can be obtained.

There are times when specialized extinguishing agents will be necessary. Again, if you do not have sufficient foam, alcohol-type foam or class D agents, then locate them and record the information in your resource document.

Check claims

Several commercial companies have developed leak-stopping, plugging, diking and neutralizing equipment. Advertisements for these products have begun to appear in fire service magazines. If you are interested, find out from the manufacturer the fire departments which have used the product. Then check to determine if the results are really as good as the manufacturer claims.

Obviously, no fire department can be prepared for an incident, based upon your plan, in a classroom setting. The plan, responsibilities and tactics can be discussed in a group. While this method takes little preparation time, it is usually only good as a review.

Another technique is to give the students a description of a possible truck incident in the locality. Using their knowledge of the plan, the students must develop the positioning of apparatus, use of personnel, notifications for other agencies, use of reference material and anticipation of further problems.

The use of models is another excellent way to develop coordinating skills. Railroad models of buildings or homemade models can be used to represent a portion of the local community. Using a street layout with model trucks and cars (painted cotton to simulate fire, smoke and spills), a problem can be developed. The students then must determine the tactics and strategy of handling the incident.

Simulation

Finally, training can take the form of a disaster drill involving a simulated incident. A truck can be parked with a wrecked vehicle placed nearby. Injuries can be simulated using makeup. The vapor cloud can be simulated using either smoke bombs or carbon dioxide discharged from cylinders. Local, state and federal government agencies can assist as they would at an actual incident. Private agencies such as the Red Cross or local radio operators can be asked to participate as they would at an actual incident. This type of simulation can be as basic or elaborate as desired.

The transportation of hazardous materials by truck is increasing. The probability of an incident occurring is also increasing. Fire departments, therefore, need to be prepared.

Preparation for a truck incident involves developing a plan, a strategy, some specialized equipment and a training program.

The problem won’t go away. You should begin your preparation before the incident, and not try to do it while you are in the middle of a major problem.