---

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Answer

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) road and (b) rail accidents have been reported during the past five years in which toxic chemicals have been part of the cargo; and what assessment he has made of the environmental effects of these accidents. [29820] Angela Eagle: Statistics relating to road accidents involving dangerous substances are held by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). From these statistics, it is not possible to disaggregate those involving chemicals which are environmentally toxic. Two types of dangerous occurrences involving the carriage of dangerous substances by road are required to be reported to HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). They are specified in sections 16 and 17 of Schedule 2 of RIDDOR 95. These relate to incidents where road tankers or tank containers overturn or are seriously damaged, where there is an uncontrolled release or escape of the dangerous substance, or where there is a fire involving the dangerous substance. Accidents involving road vehicles other than road tankers or tank containers are also required to be reported if they result in an uncontrolled release or escape of the dangerous substance in such a quantity as to have the potential to cause the death of, or major injury to, any person. Accidents involving these vehicles are also reportable where they lead to a fire involving the dangerous substance. Table 1 indicates the figures for these dangerous occurrences reported to HSE since 1991-92. Table 1 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Overturning/ serious damage etc. to Road Uncontrolled release/fire involving Tankers/Tank Containers etc. (Section 16 carriage of dangerous substances (Section of Schedule 2 of RIDDOR 95) 17 of Schedule 2 of RIDDOR 95) 1991-92 89 42 1992-93 65 40 1993-94 33 55 1994-95 36 42 1995-96 40 41 1996-97{1} {1}34 {1}99 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Provisional Similarly, figures for rail accidents are not available in the form requested. Figures for railway accidents reported to the HSE involving trains carrying dangerous goods whether there was any release or not for the last five years in Great Britain are shown in Table 2. Table 2 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year Number 1992-93 15 1993-94 9 1994-95 14 1995-96 11 1996-97 5 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. HSE's Railway Inspectorate does not record information relating to the type of freight conveyed. Therefore the figures represent all railway accidents involving trains carrying dangerous goods for the past five years, some of which many not have involved toxic chemicals as part of the cargo. The potential for harm from accidents involving transport of dangerous goods was fully examined by the Health and Safety Commission's Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances in 1991 ('Major Hazard Aspects of the Transport of Dangerous Substances' (ISBN 0 11 885699 5)).

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

29820; 307 c12-4W

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Accidents Chemicals Environment protection Hazardous substances Railways Transport Roads