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## The evaluation and the minimization of the risk in the transport of dangerous goods by road

### Sylwia Bęczkowska

#### Abstract

Liquid fuels, gases, chlorine, ammonia, prussic acid and many other toxic and explosive substances are being transported by road in Poland on a daily basis. From year to year a systematic growth of transport of the substances mentioned has been observed. It is estimated that in our country each year around 100 million tons of hazardous materials are being transported in tank trucks. The majority of them are liquid fuels. Also each year several hundred traffic collisions, involving vehicles carrying hazardous goods, are being registered. Those accidents lead to spills penetrating into the soil, groundwater and watercourses, causing degradation of biological life. Therefore, the question of safety is an important problem that must be faced by senders, recipients and transport companies. One way of improving safety conditions is risk assessment. The above mentioned arguments have inspired the author to carry out research, presented in this dissertation, regarding new comprehensive approach to the analysed issues, which takes into account various important factors influencing the risk level in the transport of hazardous goods. The aim of this dissertation was to elaborate a risk assessment method intended for analysis of transportation of hazardous materials. The method would take into consideration the influence of human factor on the probability of an accident. The dissertation was also aimed at developing a tool to support the optimal choice of delivery route of hazardous from the perspective of minimization of human, ecological and financial losses (including all types of costs). The dissertation has been divided into seven chapters. The first chapter constitutes an introduction. Chapter 2 includes an analysis of the causes of accidents involving hazardous materials, based on data gathered from various institutions, such as: State Police Headquarters, Transport Technical Supervision, State Fire Service. Chapter 3 is a review of selected definitions and risk assessment methods applied to the road transportation of hazardous goods. In chapter 4, the aim and the thesis of the dissertation have been formulated and the scope of work has been presented. Chapter 5 includes the characteristics of particular elements of the Driver-Vehicle-Environment (DVE) system. Chapter 6 discusses issues related to the risk assessment model in transport of hazardous goods. The model takes into consideration the three key factors influencing risk, i.e.: man, route and means of transportation. Transportation routes were defined, consisting of sections with various parameters and expected losses based on possible after-accident scenario. Consequently, the risk assessment model was developed. The model generates routes that are optimal from the perspective of risk and losses minimization. The chapter also describes the proprietary expert-based survey among drivers carrying dangerous goods, including liquid fuels. The survey was aimed at identification of burdensome factors and threats in driver’s workplace. Those factors were taken into consideration in the model of human factor’s impact on the probability of road accident. The model is based on fuzzy sets theory. In the modelling, Mamdani structures were used. They were implemented numerically in the Matlab_Simulink environment. Chapter 7 presents the results of simulation research and the model verification on selected delivery routes in Poland, with the use of the Breadth First Search algorithm (BFS) and proprietary application called the Safest Path Finder. In chapter 8 conclusions and proposals of further studies were presented. A review of references and annexes constitutes an integral part of the dissertation.
Record ID
WUT245f246949e14c29bfd5cd4d875b00a6
Diploma type
Doctor of Philosophy
Author
Title in Polish
Ocena i minimalizacja ryzyka w drogowym transporcie towarów niebezpiecznych
Title in English
The evaluation and the minimization of the risk in the transport of dangerous goods by road
Language
(pl) Polish
Certifying Unit
Faculty of Transport (FT)
Discipline
transportation / (technology domain) / (technological sciences)
Status
Finished
Start date
26-01-2012
Defense Date
14-07-2014
Title date
25-09-2014
Supervisor
Internal reviewers
External reviewers
Pietrzykowski Zbigniew Pietrzykowski Zbigniew,, Undefined Affiliation
Pages
143
Keywords in English
risk assessment, transport of dangerous goods, human factor
Abstract in English
Liquid fuels, gases, chlorine, ammonia, prussic acid and many other toxic and explosive substances are being transported by road in Poland on a daily basis. From year to year a systematic growth of transport of the substances mentioned has been observed. It is estimated that in our country each year around 100 million tons of hazardous materials are being transported in tank trucks. The majority of them are liquid fuels. Also each year several hundred traffic collisions, involving vehicles carrying hazardous goods, are being registered. Those accidents lead to spills penetrating into the soil, groundwater and watercourses, causing degradation of biological life. Therefore, the question of safety is an important problem that must be faced by senders, recipients and transport companies. One way of improving safety conditions is risk assessment. The above mentioned arguments have inspired the author to carry out research, presented in this dissertation, regarding new comprehensive approach to the analysed issues, which takes into account various important factors influencing the risk level in the transport of hazardous goods. The aim of this dissertation was to elaborate a risk assessment method intended for analysis of transportation of hazardous materials. The method would take into consideration the influence of human factor on the probability of an accident. The dissertation was also aimed at developing a tool to support the optimal choice of delivery route of hazardous from the perspective of minimization of human, ecological and financial losses (including all types of costs). The dissertation has been divided into seven chapters. The first chapter constitutes an introduction. Chapter 2 includes an analysis of the causes of accidents involving hazardous materials, based on data gathered from various institutions, such as: State Police Headquarters, Transport Technical Supervision, State Fire Service. Chapter 3 is a review of selected definitions and risk assessment methods applied to the road transportation of hazardous goods. In chapter 4, the aim and the thesis of the dissertation have been formulated and the scope of work has been presented. Chapter 5 includes the characteristics of particular elements of the Driver-Vehicle-Environment (DVE) system. Chapter 6 discusses issues related to the risk assessment model in transport of hazardous goods. The model takes into consideration the three key factors influencing risk, i.e.: man, route and means of transportation. Transportation routes were defined, consisting of sections with various parameters and expected losses based on possible after-accident scenario. Consequently, the risk assessment model was developed. The model generates routes that are optimal from the perspective of risk and losses minimization. The chapter also describes the proprietary expert-based survey among drivers carrying dangerous goods, including liquid fuels. The survey was aimed at identification of burdensome factors and threats in driver’s workplace. Those factors were taken into consideration in the model of human factor’s impact on the probability of road accident. The model is based on fuzzy sets theory. In the modelling, Mamdani structures were used. They were implemented numerically in the Matlab_Simulink environment. Chapter 7 presents the results of simulation research and the model verification on selected delivery routes in Poland, with the use of the Breadth First Search algorithm (BFS) and proprietary application called the Safest Path Finder. In chapter 8 conclusions and proposals of further studies were presented. A review of references and annexes constitutes an integral part of the dissertation.
Thesis file
• File: 1
S.Beczkowska_praca dr Wydział Transportu.pdf
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Reviews
• File: 1
Recenzjaprof.W.Choromańskiego.PDF
• File: 2
Recenzja prof. Z. Pietrzykowskiego.pdf
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Uniform Resource Identifier
https://repo.pw.edu.pl/info/phd/WUT245f246949e14c29bfd5cd4d875b00a6/
URN
urn:pw-repo:WUT245f246949e14c29bfd5cd4d875b00a6

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