transport of dangerous goods and risk management - Kirilo Savić

TRANSPORT OF DANGEROUS GOODS AND RISK MANAGEMENT 149A major problem is a lack of equipment (scales for weighing lorries and articulated lorries at border crossing points)and insufficient competence of the MoI Border Police staff to inspect cargo, which is one of the chief itemscontained in the permit authorising the transport of goods. By simple weighing the total mass of a motor vehicle andcomparing the data obtained with the data concerning the mass of the cargo which are contained in the permitauthorising the transport of goods and the data concerning the mass of the motor vehicle carrying goods, it is simpleto determine whether the vehicle carries some other cargo which is not covered by transport documentation.One of such measures may be updating the list of explosive substances which can be sold and bought in ourcountry, which is needed pursuant to Article 13 of the Law on the Trade in Explosive Substances (the OfficialGazette of the Republic of Serbia, no. 101/2005). Currently, in our country none of the government bodies involvedin issuing permits for trade in explosive substances (MoI, Ministry of Economy and Regional Development, BIA)has this register, which, in turn, creates big problems for institutions when issuing accompanying documents.CONCLUSIONSFuture legal solutions should contribute to raising the level of safety of transport of dangerous substances. Some ofthe solutions are highlighted below:adopting regulations that would shorten the period between regular periodic technical inspections of motorvehicles intended for the carriage of dangerous substances;submitting original documents to MoI (Emergency Management Sector) proving roadworthiness and fitnessof motor vehicles in respect of equipment and construction characteristics for the carriage of dangeroussubstances along with the application for authorisation of transport of the dangerous substance;building adequate parking lots for motor vehicles carrying dangerous substances, having in mind the factthat there is not a parking lot in our country which complies with international regulations in the field oftransport of dangerous substances;adopting a regulation pursuant to which transport of a dangerous substance has to be escorted by aprofessional who is qualified to handle the dangerous substance being transported and to address anincident which may take place during transport. Current legislative provisions (Article 26 of the Regulationconcerning the manner of transport of dangerous substances by road, the Official Journal of SFRY, no82/90) only states that the transport of a dangerous substance may be escorted by the MoI Traffic PoliceDirectorate, shipper’s, consignor’s or consignee’s escort. In practice, escort is usually provided by the MoITraffic Police Directorate. It is necessary to improve the competence of the MoI Traffic Police Directoratestaff to address an incident;adopting a regulation pursuant to which transport of a dangerous substance has to be implemented by atleast two persons. The reason for doing so is the fact that the action to reduce the consequences of anincident would be much more effective if two persons (driver + escort) were engaged, compared to theengagement of only one person (driver). An example would be erecting a barrier against spilling of adangerous substance leaking out of the motor vehicle;defining escort of armament, weapons, ammunition and dangerous substances in the border area. This iswhere a terrorist attack on the vehicle may occur as well as the theft of the goods being transported.Namely, it has been observed that armed escorts employed by the company which applied for authorisationof the transport leave the means of transport carrying goods before they reach the border area.Consequently, the goods are left unprotected until it passes both border crossing points;