Question

You are appointed as a transport manager for the oil and gas company in United Arab Emirates. Your company has witnessed many hazmat incidents in different transportation operations over the last two years. Your key role as the new transport manager is to minimize the number of incidents. Discuss the ten measures or strategies that you will take to ensure the safe transport of these hazardous materials and minimize the number of incidents. word limit 450-500

Answer 1

Hazardous materials:

Hazardous materials are substances that could harm human health or the environment. Hazardous means dangerous, so these materials must be handled the right way. Some examples are: toxic, corrosive or flammable laboratory reagents, solvents, compressed gas cylinders etc.

Transporting hazardous materials carries with it some risk to the driver and occupants of the vehicle and others on the road. Spilled chemicals within a vehicle can quickly create dangerous concentration levels that can either overcome the occupants or cause a flammable atmosphere. Spilled chemicals on a public roadway can also lead to expensive clean-up and traffic delays.

Measures to Ensure the Safe Transport of Hazardous Materials:

1. Label all chemical containers as to their contents.

2. Place previously opened containers into an impermeable secondary container such as a plastic tote bin. Make sure all containers used are compatible with the chemical to be transported. The use of secondary containers for unopened hazardous materials when in their original shipping box is not necessary as long as the container is made secure. Any secondary container that obscures a primary container’s labelling must be labelled with the same information.

3. Transport compressed gas cylinders with the valve covers screwed on. Transport cryogens only in approved storage vessels (e.g. Dewar flasks with pressure relief mechanisms).

4. If possible, place hazardous materials within the vehicle’s trunk or cargo bed. Materials transported in a cargo bed should be made secure and be protected from the weather. If transporting more than one type of chemical, make sure incompatible chemicals are placed away from each other.

5. The driver should keep a copy of the material safety data sheet (MSDS) where it is easily accessible.

6. Bring along a spill kit appropriate for the chemicals transported. A spill kit should consist of personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles, etc.), absorbent material, shovel and/or broom and plastic waste bags for containerizing the wastes. Only attempt to clean up a spill yourself if it is safe to do so. Also carry a fire extinguisher with a rating of 10 B/C or greater.

7. Plan route and destinations to minimize travel time and distance while transporting hazardous materials. Do not leave chemicals stored in a vehicle.

8. For insurance reasons, it is highly recommended that employees use a university vehicle rather than a personal vehicle. Should there be an accident using a personal vehicle, some insurance carriers may not cover the claim. If you plan on using a personal vehicle, consult your insurance carrier for information on coverage.

9. If in doubt about how to safely transport a chemical or how to transport large quantities (greater than 5 gallons), contact the authorities.

10. All hazmat employees – that is, employees who directly affect hazardous materials transportation safety – must receive training that provides an awareness of the security risks associated with hazardous materials transportation and methods to enhance transportation security. This training should also include a component that covers how to recognize and respond to possible security threats.