Toxic Inhalation Hazard relates to hazardous materials transported by rail, including chlorine, ammonia and some radioactive materials. The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration have regulatory requirements to ensure safe transport of TIH materials.
Risk Analysis
Railroads perform a hazmat risk analysis annually as required by law. The Railroad Administration provides a 27-point list of risk factors for analysis. This includes condition of the rails along primary and secondary routes; facilities, methods and equipment used to hook and unhook tanker cars; avoidance of highly populated areas; and physical security of hazardous materials.
Storage and Delays
The railroad operator is responsible for arranging secure storage of tanker cars along both the primary and secondary routes. Temporary storage is sometimes needed as materials await transfer to another train or due to delays further up the route.
Inspections
Before transportation, railroad personnel inspect tanker cars carrying toxic substances. Seals and closures are checked, verified and recorded to protect against tampering. The entire train is also inspected for explosive devices.
Tags: tanker cars, hazardous materials, primary secondary, primary secondary routes, Railroad Administration, secondary routes