[ RadSafe ] More transportation accidents

[Stabin, Michael]

Not involving r/a material, but documented for relevance in comparisons.
If we could make these shipments half as safe as those involving nuclear
materials, the physical, psychological, and environmental impacts would
clearly be reduced dramatically.


1,500 Evacuated After Tanker Explodes 
Thursday, February 10, 2005
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,146951,00.html
 
SALT LAKE CITY - A butane tanker truck pulling a small trailer also
loaded with the liquid fuel broadsided a van Wednesday, bursting into
flames hours later and causing explosions in two homes. Only the van's
driver was injured, but about 1,500 people had to be evacuated from the
area. 

The accident happened about 4:30 p.m. on U.S. 89 in Kaysville (search)
when the truck lost its brakes, said Davis County (search) sheriff's
Capt. Kenneth Payne said. The truck and trailer went off the road into a
field.

The van driver was reported in serious but stable condition at a Salt
Lake City hospital. Family members said he had a chipped shoulder bone
and a concussion.

Over the next several hours, fumes from the butane leaking from the
7,000-pound tanker seeped into a house and ignited, Payne said. He said
the explosion was possibly touched off by a pilot light in the house.

Flames shot back to the tanker and set off the fuel, sending flames 100
feet into the air. Emergency workers feared a vapor explosion but that
did not occur, Payne said.

About 10:30 p.m., there was an explosion of butane fumes in a second
home, which blew out windows but did not cause a fire, Payne said. There
was a report that a third home was filling with fumes.



Chemical Train Derails Near Pittsburgh 
Monday, January 31, 2005
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,145888,00.html

CREIGHTON, Pa. - A freight train carrying a corrosive chemical derailed
in a Pittsburgh suburb early Monday, sending several cars into a river
and forcing the evacuation of 200 residents, officials said. 

Thirteen of the Norfolk Southern (search) train's 83 cars derailed at
about 5:30 a.m. in East Deer Township.

One of several cars that ended up in the Allegheny River (search) leaked
an unknown amount of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (search), a chemical
used in steelmaking, said Betsy Mallison, a state Department of
Environmental Protection spokeswoman. The tanker can hold up to 15,000
gallons.

 

Mike

Michael G. Stabin, PhD, CHP
Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences 
Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences 
Vanderbilt University 
1161 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37232-2675 
Phone (615) 343-0068
Fax   (615) 322-3764
Pager (615) 835-5153
e-mail     michael.g.stabin at vanderbilt.edu 
internet   www.doseinfo-radar.com