Risk and Reward Applying learnings from research & real-life - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Risk and Reward

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Applying learnings from research & real-life incidents to Dangerous Goods Transport

Presented by Stephen Lane Esperance Transafe Forum 6th May 2019

Session Framework (30 minutes)

• Societal Risk – Assessing DG Transport (4 min)
• Ammonium Nitrate running hot – QLD v. Pilbara Incidents (9 min)
• What does real-life “up-to-the-minute” risk management look like? (9 min)
• Approach to risk – AVIATOR – your company’s challenge… (4 min)
• Incident Analysis Summary (4 min)

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Assessing the risk of DG transport in a community UK HSE study 1985-91 profiled road tanker transport risk and acceptability … Flammable Gas – LP Gas Toxic Gases – Chlorine and Ammonia Flammable Liquids – Motor spirits

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• Fig. 1 Total national societal risk en route –

Transport of substances by road – Comparison with local risk criteria

Assumptions:

• All registered vehicles on road simultaneously!
• Tankers using known routes with defined loads

Findings:

• Peak of 2 deaths from single incident once per decade
• Motor spirits contributes highest risk profile
• Acceptable risk for Div. 2.1, 2.3 & Class 3 goods
• Opportunity to reduce risk further,

e.g. improve tanker design, designate routes, etc.

UK HSE Conclusion – Word of warning for operators

• 1991 UK HSE Study assessed that societal risks for transporting toxic and flammable

goods in road tankers appear to reside in the As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) region.

• While transport risks appear acceptable, the inherent hazards of dangerous goods

transport remain high.

• For transport companies, the adoption of practicable risk reduction measures

appropriate to their operating environment is important.

Case Study – Ammonium Nitrate Explosion Angellala Creek, Queensland – 5 Sept 2014

Angellala Creek Animation

Aftermath of Explosion

Details

• Occurred 9 pm on 5 September 2014
• 30 km south of Charleville, 700 km WNW from Brisbane
• Single vehicle accident
• Drove off road on approach to bridge
• Came to rest in dry creek bed
• B-double road train
• Carrying 44 X 1.2 tonnes bulka bags of AN (53 t load)

Details (continued)

• Driver injured
• Vehicle caught alight
• 1 hour 15 minutes later mighty explosion
• Estimated to be 10 - 15 tonnes TNT equivalent
• People attending to driver
• No deaths
• 8 people injured, some seriously

Properties of ammonium nitrate (AN)

• Not classed as explosives
• Ingredient in explosives manufacture
• Prill – hygroscopic and mildly corrosive
• Very insensitive to shock (as a solid)
• Low M.Pt. 169 ºC & decomposition Pt. 250 ºC

Hazards of AN

• Contaminants affect sensitivity
• Fire is biggest enemy
• When molten, becomes shock sensitive
• Becomes explosive if gases confined

How to avoid ‘black spot’ becoming a ‘black hole’

• Know your load
• Identify hazards
• Conduct risk assessment
• Have controls to mitigate risk
• Periodically review

Controls to mitigate risk – for AN scenario

• Driver

Alert Competent Trained in emergency procedures

• Vehicle

Roadworthy Suitable for load

Mitigate fire risk

– Reduce combustibles – Firescreens to protect AN (steel trays rather than Al trays) – Fire extinguishers (appropriate and adequate such as foam) – Temperature measuring device on tyres – Periodic checks of load (looking for heat sources) Australian working party looking at these issues

AN vehicle fire near Tom Price 23 March 2016

• B double carrying 44 X 1.2 tonnes bags AN
• Rear axle fire - extinguishing unsuccessful
• Decoupled prime mover
• Good evacuation plan - Set up exclusion zone
• Burnt out overnight - No explosion

Contrasting Tom Price incident to Angellala Creek

• Minimal combustibles
• Effective firescreen
• Molten AN could flow & did not pool
• Good emergency plan

Real-time Risk Management – Thai Caving Mishap at Tham Luang

Options for rescue

• Waiting it out (Walk out after the monsoon period)
• Teaching the boys to swim (and dive) out with a buddy
• Drilling into the cave
• Pumping out the water

Cave Maps – and it appears a wee bit squeezy…

“Rain Rain Go Away!”

Caving means taking a calculated risk

• Diving ability (kids can’t swim or scuba dive)
• T – junction (tight turns)
• Duration & Strength
• Visibility & Panic
• Bad Weather – rain ingress causing rising water level

Video – Preparation for Extraction

Controlling the hazards during rescue

Escape Factor Water Level Boys comfort Oxygen availability Diving confidence Manoeuvrability Following path How was it managed? Pumping from multiple points and monitoring air-space Food & water & blankets brought to them Several chambers stocked with air cylinders and personn Inducted in snorkelling skills with customised face-mask Novices tethered & diving with navy diver fore & aft Trace lines fitted & divers drilled in passage twists D E C I S I O N S

Controlling the Hazards

Escape Factor How was it managed? Water Level Pumping from multiple points and monitoring air-space Boys comfort Food & water & blankets brought to them Oxygen availability Several chambers stocked with air cylinders and personnel Diving confidence Inducted in snorkelling skills with customised face-mask Manoeuvrability Novices tethered & diving with navy diver fore & aft Following path Trace lines fitted & divers drilled in twists of passage

Approach to risk

What is As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) for transporting dangerous goods? How do you assess risk of transporting ammonium nitrate emulsion in a road train passing through local town with schools and a hospital?

Flying by the seat of your pants is risky business…

Avoid Ignore Accept Transfer Outsource Reduce Verify

Manner & rigour of risk assessment

Risk Assessment

Qualitative Treatment Comparative Route Assessment Quantitative Risk Assessment HAZID

• r

HAZOP

DMIRS Approach to DG Transport Risk Assessment

• Physical hazards – container attributes and mechanical handling
• Chemical hazards inherent – relevant to DG transport
• Transport Practices

Consignment activities Consolidation practices Transport Procedures Activating Emergency Response

DG Transport Hazard Overview available at: http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/Safety/Templates-16214.aspx

Nine Recent DG Transport Incidents

Incident Comments

ANSOL Prime Mover Fire near Meekatharra April 2018 Prime Mover disconnected and burnt out safely – AN soln unaffected Diesel tanker collision with passenger vehicle Bannister March 2018 Loss of containment resulting from rollover – transfer & clean-up at roadside Diesel tanker sideswiped by protruding machinery Tonkin Hwy Feb 2018 Rear of tanker pierced by overwidth load – vehicles drove through diesel spillage! Bitumen trailer rollover Wubin Feb 2018 Fatigue, early AM driving, livestock AN Prill rollover Kumarina Jan 2018 Rear Dolly LH wheels drop-off – detachment of trailer from chassis during rollover LNG tanker piercing Nanutarra Jan 2018 Collision of rear tanker with oncoming drop deck – ignition of product and propulsion LPG cylinders trailer rollover Myalup July 2017 Driver drifted off road into soft edge and could not correct ANE tanker rollover Menzies Feb 2017 Livestock involved as driver took evasion Hypochlorite transfer from tanker to storage tank Feb 2017 Transfer dramas, PPE inadequacy, Emergency Shutdown delay

Determining transport risk

How do you determine if the risk to your operation is:

• Negligible, Low, Medium, High, Extreme?
• Acceptable or unacceptable to your company?
• Controlled or mitigated?

Reviewing risk management

What determines a review of your risk assessment?

• New Dangerous Good for a consignor?
• New packaging for Dangerous Goods?
• New consignee location (new premises)?
• Incidents affecting container or vehicle integrity?
• Incident that injured your employee?
• Time?

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Whatever approach you take to confronting risks peculiar to your transport operation, do not let the black spot in your business become an all-absorbing, ever-expanding black hole.

Stay informed!

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Safety

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