Strategy #56
Identify and Manage Hazardous
Material Incidents
Use technology to identify and manage hazardous material incidents and transportation routings and provide alternative routings to the public when incidents occur.
Background
Enforcement of hazardous material shipment regulations and hazardous material incident management is an ongoing and increasingly complex responsibility for public safety agencies. Hazardous material identification depends on a system of placards and shipping papers that are not always available or decipherable. By using technology, emergency responders can quickly and accurately identify and appropriately respond to incidents involving hazardous materials.
Actions
- Use transponders or similar technology to identify the material, quantity, and other pertinent information on hazardous material shipments.
- Make information about the specific commodity (hazardous material) and the quantity transported accessible to all responsible pubic safety and first responder agencies.
- Provide incident information to government emergency response communication centers and traveler information systems for public notice and establishing alternate routes.
- Encourage the use of technology to provide real time data on these materials in the field.
Benefits
- Improved public and officer safety.
- Improved incident response time.
- Improved safety for first responder personnel.
- Safer routing of hazardous material shipments.
- Better carrier and shipper accountability.
- Reduced delay for the traveling public.
Other Considerations
- Cost of the technology.
- Increased skills, expertise and training for personnel to support and operate.
- Accuracy and reliability of technology.