Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
production, and any number of day-to-day activities. However, they can become
hazardous to humans and the environment if misused or accidentally released in
an uncontrolled environment. Hazardous materials are transported via vehicle, rail,
and plane along the nation's transportation routes every day. Therefore, there is no
area in the country that is not susceptible to a hazardous material incident.
The United States Department of Transportation uses a placarding system to
identify hazardous materials that are in containers as well as those in transport. The
placards are diamond-shaped and are required to be places on both ends and both
sides of trucks, railcars, and intermodal containers that carry hazardous materials.
This helps regulators to ensure that proper shipping practices are being adhered
to. These placards also help first responders understand the type of chemical or
substance involved with an incident, and therefore allows them to take appropri-
ate actions to protect themselves and the public from harm. In bulk and certain
nonbulk shipments, a four-digit hazardous material identification number may be
on the placard. These placards may be accompanied by an orange panel or white
square sign that will further assist in identification of the hazardous property of the
substance being transported (see Figure 5.10).
Hazardous materials accidents occur on a daily basis. Fortunately, most are not
fatal, nor do they cause significant injury. However, hazardous materials certainly
can cause large amounts of injuries and fatalities, and/or cause extensive damage
to the environment.
The largest industrial accident to date that involved hazardous materials
occurred in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, on the night of December 2 and 3,
1984, at the Union Carbide India Limited pesticide plant. This incident involved a
release of more than 40 tons of methyl isocyanate gas, along with other chemicals
over the city of Bhopol. This cloud of gas gradually descended into the city. The
immediate death toll was about 3800, and the incident caused significant mor-
bidity and premature death for many thousands more.
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Livestock were killed or
injured. Businesses were interrupted, and the environment was immensely affected.
Consequences of Hazardous Materials Incidents
The consequences of hazardous materials incidents can vary depending on what
is released, the size of the release, cause of the release, and population around the
release. Depending on the nature of the incident, it may be required that the public
shelter-in-place or a mass evacuation may be necessary. In some cases, sheltering
and mass feeding may be necessary for longer-term evacuations from an area. Mass
decontamination may be necessary for both people and objects that may have been
exposed to the hazardous material. Mass casualties are also a possibility with these
types of incidents, which can also tax the surge capacity of health care facilities.
Moreover, environmental issues can arise as a result of a hazardous material event
(air, soil, and water). Therefore, it is necessary to have environmental remediation
plans in place in case a hazardous material incident occurs.
