Improving Risk Assessment for Transporting Dangerous Goods through European Road Tunnels: A Delphi Study

Marianna Kalogeraki,Fani Antoniou

doi:10.3390/systems9040080

Marianna Kalogeraki, Fani Antoniou

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/systems9040080

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Abstract

Managing the transportation of dangerous goods (DG) through road tunnels is of great importance since it is associated with a serious risk of accidents. The consequences of an accident involving DG, especially in the closed tunnel environment, might be more significant and even more catastrophic compared to the same accident occurring on an open road. This article presents the Greek experience regarding the application of quantitative risk assessment (QRA) methods for the transportation of DG through Greek road tunnels. The modified Delphi method, with the participation of nine experts, is employed to investigate the obstacles to successfully conforming with the mandatory European Union regulatory framework that applies to transport operations within the Trans-European road network. Recommendations are made to improve the applied QRA approach, to facilitate the cooperation between tunnel managers and emergency services, to communicate lessons learned and to enhance the training of risk assessors.

Highlights

In Greece, due to the development of the modern national road network over the last decades, there has been a significant number of road tunnels constructed and they are critical infrastructure elements [1]
The necessary data can be found in a simplified registry for the tunnels that do not deviate from the minimum requirements, based on which, a first assessment can be made on whether the conditions in the tunnel allow for the safe passage of the Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV)-dangerous goods (DG) or a further investigation with the application of Quantitative Risk Assessment Model (QRAM) is needed
A simplified registry could be created consisting of tunnel characteristics such as length, traffic volume and ratio of HGV transporting DG (HGV-DG), to help determine whether deviations among similar tunnels are observed. This simplified registry would be for the tunnels that do not deviate from the minimum requirements, based on which a first assessment can be made on whether the conditions in the tunnel allow for the safe passage of the HGV-DG or a further investigation with the application of QRAM is needed

Summary

Introduction

In Greece, due to the development of the modern national road network over the last decades, there has been a significant number of road tunnels constructed and they are critical infrastructure elements [1]. The road networks, as well as the road tunnels, are used for all kinds of transportation, including commercial transportation. In this sense, transportation of dangerous goods (DG) through road tunnels is of great importance, especially since it is associated with a serious risk of accidents [3]. The consequences of an accident involving DG, especially in the closed tunnel environment, might be more significant and even more catastrophic as compared to the same accident occurring on an open road [5,6]. An interesting finding by Bubbico et al [7] is that, while it may be unnecessary to limit dangerous goods circulation in rail tunnels, for road tunnels this decision should be taken based on the results of tunnel specific risk assessment

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