Title: Quantification of the number of injured people due to hazardous material accidents

Authors: Nils Rosmuller; Inge Trijssenaar; Johan Reinders; Peter Blokker

Addresses: TNO, Urban Environment & Safety, PO Box 80015, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands ' TNO, Urban Environment & Safety, PO Box 80015, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands ' TNO, Urban Environment & Safety, PO Box 80015, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands ' TNO, Urban Environment & Safety, PO Box 80015, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands

Abstract: Accidents with hazardous materials may threaten the lives of people living in the direct environment of the transportation infrastructure. In many countries, fire brigades play a major role in advising the authorities when they are dealing with issues where hazardous materials are involved. Since emergency responders have to deal with injured persons, information concerning the number of injured people and the types of injuries is relevant to them. In response to this need, we developed a method for calculating the number of injured people. This method was applied to the (re)development plans for the largest railway station in the Netherlands, Utrecht Central station. Through this intermodal transfer terminal, both passengers and substantial amounts of hazardous materials are transported. The fire brigades used the injury information to assess the spatial development plans and transportation plans for hazardous materials. Furthermore, the fire brigades used the injury information to determine their suppression tactics and equipment requirements.

Keywords: injury modelling; hazardous materials; accidents; central railway stations; self-rescue; emergency response; quantification; injured people; transportn infrastructures; fire brigades; emergency services; railways; trains; injury numbers; emergency responders; injured persons; injury types; injuries; redevelopment plans; Netherlands; Holland; intermodal transfer terminals; railway passengers; injury information; spatial development plans; transportation plans; suppression tactics; equipment requirements; Utrecht Centraal; Nederlandse Spoorwegen; Dutch Railways; disaster management; emergency management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEM.2012.051643

International Journal of Emergency Management, 2012 Vol.8 No.4, pp.308 - 331

Received: 27 Jul 2011
Accepted: 08 Jul 2012

Published online: 25 Jan 2013 *

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