Transportation safety definitions

This chapter presents the basic concepts and definition of risk (Section 3.1), a protocol for conducting transportation risk assessments (Section 3.2), and a prioritization process for identifying important issues and transportation scenarios requiring a more detailed risk analysis (Section 3.3). Due to the differences in safety and security definitions and risk assessment methodologies, the focus of Chapters 3, 4, and 5 is limited to transportation safety. Security concepts, definition, and assessment methods are presented separately in Chapter 6, with this chapter providing a high-level comparison of safety and security. 

Table 3.1 Selected Transportation Safety Risk Definitions...

Whatever the particular field of endeavor and the name it is given, the entirety of the practice of safety is represented in this definition. It appMes to all occupational fields for which the generic base is hazards—occupational safety, occupational health, environmental affairs, product safety, all aspects of transportation safety, safety of the pubMc, health physics, system safety, fire protection engineering, and so on. 

The compilation of a good SDS requires extensive knowledge in different fields, as the SDS itself covers a wide range of aspects concerning the substance or mixture properties, occupational health and safety, transport safety and environmental protection. REACH indicates that the SDS should be compiled by a competent person, but no specific definition of competent in this context is given in the Regulation [20]. 

Although the prevention through design standard applies to occupational hazards and risks, the previously given definitions of acceptable risk and ALARP apply to all hazards-related exposures (fire protection, transportation safety, environmental safety, etc.). 

To this end, the New Zealand regulator initiated a search of internet web sites to see if railway safety statistics might be represented on this medium. After a comprehensive search, only detailed data from the USA (Federal Railroad Administration), Canada (Transportation Safety Board) and the UK (HMRI) appeared to be available in that way. Even in these cases the definition of data collected was dubious and meaningful comparisons, difficult and possibly misleading. 

A study conducted by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board reported that 73% of accidents were due to flight crew failures rather than technical-related problems [10]. Furthermore, the studies conducted by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (in the form of pilot interviews, simulator observations, and accident analyses) reported that there was a definite need for more focus on team work and communication of pilots including command, decision making, and leadership [3]. Furthermore, the studies revealed that the crew factors such as the attitudes of the team toward communication and coordination, command responsibility, and recognition of stressor effects affect safety performance. 

The lower volatihty of JP-8 is a significant factor in the U.S. Air Force conversion from JP-4, since fires and explosions under both combat and ordinary handling conditions have been attributed to the use of JP-4. In examining the safety aspects of fuel usage in aircraft, a definitive study (15) of the accident record of commercial and military jet transports concluded that kerosene-type fuel is safer than wide-cut fuel with respect to survival in crashes, in-flight fires, and ground fueling accidents. However, the difference in the overall accident record is small because most accidents are not fuel-related. 

Under the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, a hazardous material is any substance or material, including a hazardous substance and hazardous waste that is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce. DOT thus has broad authority to regulate the transportation of hazardous materials that, by definition, include hazardous substances as well as hazardous wastes. 

Fire hazard is viewed from the standpoint of safety, to which in the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Standard (OSH) is often used as the basis for classification of flammables versus a combustible material. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Transportation also has very specific definitions regarding classification of fire hazards based on safe transport of materials. For initial discussions we will adhere to the OSHA definitions, and later refer to distinctions in U.S. federal definitions which are legal standards. 

ORM (Other Regulated Material) Under U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, an Other Regulated Material (ORM) is a material that (a) May pose an unreasonable risk to healdi and safety or property when transported in commerce and (b) Does not meet any of the definitions of the other hazard classes specified in subchapter C of the regulation or (c) Has been reclassified an ORM (specifically or permissively). 

Cartridges containing only potassium chlorate were transported in safety to the site, where they were dipped for a definite time into kerosene just before use. Miedziankit was also manufactured by soaking potassium chlorate cartridges with kerosene in the explosive factory. Kerosene with an ignition temperature above 30°C was employed, to render the product safe for rail transport. According to T. Urbanski [76] the rate of detonation of Miedziankit is 3000m/sec in an iron pipe at a density of 1.7. 

Dangerous goods (in accordance with the definition of the transport legislation) are substances or products which give concern for public safety when being transported. 

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