Hazardous Materials Transportation Incident Data for Root Cause Analysis (2009) / Chapter Skim
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From page 95... ...
For example, the 95 C H A P T E R 5 Potential Measures for Improving the Identification of Root Causes for Hazardous Materials Crashes
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From page 96... ...
Rather, the system would use a number of relatable databases, analysis tools, and reports that can, in their totality, contain the information in sufficient detail and quality to identify root and contributing causes of accidents. This would include those databases that are currently used to collect information on hazmat crashes.
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Potential Measures for Improving the Identification of Root Causes for Hazardous Materials Crashes 97
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The Coast Guard does a few detailed accident investigations, and NTSB investigates almost all air crashes as well as selected serious crashes for other modes. By examining 100 accidents in detail, FRA is able to obtain additional data for accidents of interest and thereby probe deeper into the root and contributing causes of those accidents.
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From page 99... ...
• Create required fields that will not accept the record until those fields are complete. Potential Measures for Improving the Identification of Root Causes for Hazardous Materials Crashes 99
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Adding this information will provide significantly more detail on the hazmat being shipped and make the database more valuable for identifying root causes of hazmat crashes. 5.3.2.3 Electronic Submission of All Crash Reports to the Major Databases Using the Web to Facilitate Accuracy All crash reports could be submitted electronically using the web to facilitate accuracy.
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From page 101... ...
The outcome would come close to being a census of hazmat accidents. This census could then be used by HMIRS, FARS, MCMIS, and RAIRS as a Potential Measures for Improving the Identification of Root Causes for Hazardous Materials Crashes 101
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From page 102... ...
The program could include the following measures: 1. A consistent data dictionary that provides accurate definitions of the parameters such that two individuals, when assessing the same accident, would fill in the same cause codes (where multiple interpretations are possible, the question/answer format adopted in RAIRS provides an effective means to ensure more consistent reporting)
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For water carriers, basic data may be needed in one of five areas including barge or vessel type, captain/crew, cargo configuration/hazmat, waterway, and situational. 5.4 Potential Measures for Improving Capability of Specific Databases to Identify Root Causes 5.4.1 Potential Measures for MCMIS The following potential measures apply to enhancing the ability of MCMIS to identify root causes of hazmat accidents.
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From page 104... ...
Linking the data entry process with these, and other, files would make it easier to accurately populate fields in the MCMIS Crash file. • Ensure that the MCMIS Report Number Be Linked to the PAR Agencies checking the quality of MCMIS crash reports should be able to easily link the PARs with the MCMIS report.
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From page 105... ...
5.4.2 Potential Measures for HMIRS The following potential measures apply to enhancing the ability of HMIRS to identify root causes of hazmat accidents. • Provide Training for Carriers Training in completion of the 5800.1 report should be provided to carriers.
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From page 106... ...
Therefore by including all of these "serious crashes" involving placarded shipments, officials analyzing the crash data in HMIRS will be able to more effectively determine root causes. The definition FMCSA uses for the inclusion of a crash in the MCMIS database could be applied to all non-spill hazmat crashes that are not currently included among the incidents that must be reported to HMIRS.
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Potential Measures for Improving the Identification of Root Causes for Hazardous Materials Crashes 107
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From page 108... ...
• Although tank cars transport the majority of hazardous materials, covered hoppers, boxcars, and intermodal cars transport significant quantities as well. It is useful to be able to distinguish the performance of different car types in accidents, which implementing these potential measures would allow.
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From page 109... ...
Consequently, the project team also suggests that in order to evaluate the feasibility, usefulness, and costs of implementation, a pilot program be implemented to demonstrate that the system will work effectively in identifying root causes. The team suggests that the pilot test focus on truck hazmat accidents and involve linking the HMIRS database, which provides excellent data on the hazmat material and package, with the MCMIS database, which provides superior data on the driver and accident environment.
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