HMCRP Report 1: Hazardous Materials Transportation Incident Data for Root Cause Analysis

Below are the first 10 and last 10 pages of uncorrected machine-read text (when available) of this chapter, followed by the top 30 algorithmically extracted key phrases from the chapter as a whole.
Intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text on the opening pages of each chapter. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.

Do not use for reproduction, copying, pasting, or reading; exclusively for search engines.

OCR for page 92
92 Hazardous Materials Transportation Incident Data for Root Cause Analysis Sample crash information was input and stored in the Hazmat Accident Database, a specially designed database that enabled the aforementioned information sources concerning a particular crash to be assembled into as complete a record as possible. This included characteristics describ- ing the crash event, as well as the accuracy of the information itself. Extensive database protocols and quality control checks were employed to accomplish this objective. Once database develop- ment was complete, analyses were performed on the database for the purpose of providing infor- mation that might support the development of more rigorous hazmat truck safety policy. 4.9.2 Adding Explanatory Variables to the Hazmat Accident Database For the Hazmat Accident Database, the Hazmat Serious Truck Crash Project added a num- ber of fields designed to capture the actions of the vehicle(s) before the crash. In addition, fields were added to provide more detail on the type and quantity of the hazardous materials, hazmat packaging, infrastructure, and such driver characteristics as age and experience. Explanatory variables are crash characteristics that help explain cause and effect. Table 4-28 shows the five types of explanatory variables. The crash analysis process involved associating explanatory variables with impacts to determine how vehicle, driver, packaging, infrastructure, and situational characteristics influence crash occurrences in general, as well as those that result in spills. Appendix E (available on the TRB website at www.TRB.org by searching for HMCRP Report 1) describes selected analytical results from the project. 4.9.3 Crash Records Selection Of the approximately 2,000 hazmat crashes in the MCMIS database in 2002 (out of a total 105,000 records), the Hazmat Serious Truck Crash Project selected about one-half of the hazmat crashes for a more in-depth analysis. These records were primarily selected on a random basis, with the exception that less common accidents involving hazmat Classes 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were all selected to obtain a large enough population. Before performing data analysis, weighting factors were applied to compensate for the non-random aspects of the selection. Table 4-29 shows the hazmat crash classes selected for more detailed analysis. 4.9.4 Populating Records and Improving Data Quality After the records were imported into the Hazmat Accident Database, HMIRS data were used to both fill in data for fields not included in MCMIS and for quality checking the existing data. Because the HMIRS fields are more fully populated, any fields in the database that were com- mon to HMIRS and MCMIS were overwritten by the HMIRS information. The remaining HMIRS information was also incorporated into the database. Table 4-28. Explanatory variables used in the Hazmat Accident Database. Vehicle Driver Packaging Infrastructure Situational Configuration Age Package Type Road Surface Pre-Crash Condition Cargo Body Experience Quantity Shipped Road Condition Dangerous Event GVW Condition Quantity Lost Road Type Vehicle Speed Age (Cargo Tank) Trafficway Impact Location Rollover Protection Access Control Primary Reason Inspection History Speed Limit Accident Type Design Specification No. of Lanes Weather Condition

Table of Contents

Front Matter R1-R11

Summary 1-8

1.1 Project Purpose 9-9

1.2.1 Literature Review 10-10

1.2.3 Analysis of Databases 11-11

1.3 Effective Methods to Ensure High-Quality Data 12-12

1.4 Potential Measures to Enhance the Ability of Databases to Identify the Root Causes of Hazmat Crashes 13-13

2.2.1 Rail Equipment - Train Accident Data 14-14

2.2.2 Project 5 Overview - Developing Common Data on Accident Circumstances 15-15

2.2.4 Transportation Research Circular 231: Truck Accident Data Systems: State-of-the-Art Report 16-16

2.2.6 The Human Factors Analysis and Classification System - HFACS 17-17

2.2.9 Highway Safety: Further Opportunities Exist to Improve Data on Crashes Involving Commercial Motor Vehicles 18-18

2.2.11 Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010: 2006 Listening Session 19-19

2.2.16 Hazardous Materials Serious Crash Analysis: Phase 2 20-20

2.3 Summary of Findings and Implications 21-21

2.3.2 Solutions Being Implemented or Under Consideration 22-22

3.1 Introduction 23-23

3.2 Summary of Responses from Carriers 24-24

3.2.1 Carrier Satisfaction with HMIRS 25-25

3.3.1 Shipper 1 26-26

3.3.2 Shipper 2 27-27

3.4.1 Interviews with Agencies Maintaining Databases (PHMSA) 28-28

3.4.2 Interviews with Agencies Maintaining Databases (FMCSA) 29-29

3.4.3 Interviews with Agencies Maintaining Databases (FRA) 30-30

3.5 Summary of Findings from Interviews 31-31

4.1.1 MCMIS Database Description 32-32

4.1.3 Database Format 33-33

4.1.6 Types of Fields Covered 34-34

4.1.7 Database Purpose and Function 35-35

4.1.10 Accuracy and Completeness of Data 36-36

4.1.11 Identification of Hazmat Incidents in MCMIS 37-41

4.1.12 Quality Control Process 42-42

4.1.13 Interconnectivity with Other Databases 43-43

4.1.14 Analyses Using Database 44-44

4.1.15 Summary and Potential Measures for Improving Root Cause Analysis 45-45

4.2 Hazardous Materials Incident Reporting System (HMIRS) 46-46

4.2.1 Database Description 47-48

4.2.3 Data Collection 49-49

4.2.5 Accuracy and Completeness of Data 50-53

4.2.8 Analyses Using Database 54-59

4.2.9 Summary and Potential Measures for Improving Root Cause Analysis 60-60

4.3 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 61-61

4.3.4 Types of Hazmat Data Included 62-62

4.3.6 Data Quality 63-63

4.3.7 Additional Fields 64-64

4.3.9 Compatibility with Other Databases 65-65

4.4.4 Types of Hazmat Data Included 66-66

4.4.5 Usefulness of the Data for Determining Root Causes 67-70

4.4.7 Additional Fields 71-71

4.4.10 Data Uses 72-72

4.5.1 Database Description 73-73

4.5.3 Data Collection 74-74

4.5.7 Interconnectivity with Other Databases 75-75

4.5.8 Analyses Using Database 76-77

4.5.9 Summary and Potential Measures to Improve Root Cause Analysis 78-78

4.6 Railroad Accident/Incident Reporting System (RAIRS) 79-79

4.6.1 Track, Roadbed, and Structures 80-80

4.6.3 Mechanical and Electrical Failures 81-81

4.6.5 Summary of Causes and Impact 82-83

4.7.3 Data Collection 84-84

4.7.5 Accuracy and Completeness 85-85

4.8.1 Scope of Investigations 86-86

4.8.2 Approach to Identifying Root Causes 87-87

4.8.4 Data Quality 88-88

4.8.5 Probable Cause Findings 89-89

4.8.6 Summary 90-90

4.9.1 Introduction 91-91

4.9.4 Populating Records and Improving Data Quality 92-92

4.9.6 Database Enhancements and Limitations 93-93

4.9.7 Summary 94-94

5.2 Information System Development 95-95

5.2.1 Develop Framework for Identifying Contributing Causes and Root Causes of Hazardous Material Accidents 96-96

5.2.3 Add or Modify Inventory Data in Databases 97-97

5.2.5 Develop a System for Each Database That Will Target About 5% of Hazmat Crashes for More Detailed Investigation 98-98

5.3.2 Complete Values for All Parameters 99-102

5.4.1 Potential Measures for MCMIS 103-104

5.4.2 Potential Measures for HMIRS 105-106

5.4.3 Potential Measures for TIFA 107-107

5.4.4 Potential Measures for RAIRS 108-108