Transport damage analysis of dangerous goods - stakeholder update for Baltic ports

The transport of dangerous goods incorporates hazards, which may seriously affect people, property and the environment in various adverse ways. In a previous HAZARD project report, transport stresses were addressed, in particular concerning their impact on dangerous goods transport and the risk of subsequent accidents. The report referred to essential results from the vast research and regulatory work,which was carried out by the end of the 20th century in order to provide guidance for designing and testing packagings and packages for the transport. There is now a need to scrutinise those results with regard to possible changes over time. The present report therefore addresses some of the issues again, now based on a questionnaire to stakeholders, aiming to identify whether conditions are sufficiently stable to validate the results of the first report.

The results presented here are based on a questionnaire to stakeholders which, with reservation for its very limited response, essentially confirms that the previous findings are still valid. As always, organisational issues and human error are the primary causes of adverse events, but may still not be adequately addressed in activities for prevention of cargo loss and damage. Education, instructions, training and, where necessary, supervision are therefore of crucial importance. In addition, ensuring that equipment and technology are in order and not malfunctioning, is essential. Appropriate quality routines, inspections and testing should be in focus.

While previous research thus to a large extent is still applicable, there is always a need for refinement. At the organisational level as well as in associated research, relevant risk analyses should be carried out. As noted in the previous report, a first step for future research in this area should be a simple risk assessment for the most common causes of cargo damage (shock and impact, vibration, stacking overload, torn packaging, moisture, mould, wet packaging, overheating, freezing, over pressure, leakage and fire) but also in relation toot her reasons for cargo losssuch as thef tor jettison.The present report contributes to the understanding of whether the trends regarding cargo damage and loss are changing or remain stable over time, which helps to assess the relevance of available data and the need for further investigations.Nothing in this report contradicts or falsifies the findings summarised in the previous report, which in a way, however limited, can be considered validated.