NCJ Number
63946
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES THROUGH SEAPORTS AND AIRPORTS IS DISCUSSED IN A COLLECTION OF PRESENTATIONS AT THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT AND SEAPORT POLICE CONFERENCE OF 1978.
Abstract
TOPICS CONSIDERED THROUGH PAPER AND FILM PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE GENERAL DEFINITIONS AND PROBLEMS, THE PROPERTIES OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE NATURE OF INCIDENTS, THE MOVEMENT OF SUBSTANCES THROUGH PORT AREAS, MARKING PACKAGES AND CONTAINERS OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES, AND HARBOR POLICE CONCERNS. THE MOVEMENT OF TOXIC, CORROSIVE, EXPLOSIVE, OR FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES IS NOT IN ITSELF HAZARDOUS IF THE MODE OF TRANSPORT IS SUITABLE, PROPERLY MAINTAINED, AND SENSIBLY USED; THE PACKAGING ARRANGEMENTS ARE SECURE; AND THE SUBSTANCE CARRIED IS COMPATIBLE WITH ITS PACKAGING, OTHER SUBSTANCES CARRIED ON THE SAME TRANSPORT, AND THE IMMEDIATE AMBIENCE OF ITS CARRIAGE. HAZARDS ARISE FROM THE PATHOLOGICAL EFFECT OF A SUBSTANCE SPILLED IN CONSEQUENCE OF AN ACCIDENT OR EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT A SENSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE HAZARD INFORMATION METHOD BE DEVISED TO PROVIDE WARNING OF IMPENDING DANGER, TO ENABLE IMMEDIATE ACTION BE TAKEN TO SAFEGUARD HUMAN LIFE, AND TO IDENTIFY HAZARDS IN AN OBVIOUS MANNER. PROPERTIES OF SUBSTANCES CAN BE EXAMINED IN MANY WAYS, DEPENDING ON THE TYPES OF SUBSTANCES TRANSPORTED. UNITED NATIONS AND UNITED STATES CLASSIFICATION METHODS ARE MOST FREQUENTLY USED TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY. MAIN CATEGORIES OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES INCLUDE EXPLOSIVES, COMPRESSED GASES, FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS, FLAMMABLE SOLIDS, OXIDIZING MATERIALS, POISONS AND IRRITANTS, RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS, AND CORROSIVES. CONTROL IN THE SENSE OF UNIFORM APPLICATION AND CLOSE ATTENTION TO DETAIL REGARDING THE MOVEMENT OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL CARGOS THROUGH PORT AREAS IS MANDATORY. EFFECTIVE MARKING OR LABELING OF PACKAGES AND CONTAINERS IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE. SUCH LABELING CAN ONLY BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE SHIPPER OR MANUFACTURER. (LWM)