Between Safety and Security: The Policy Challenges of Transporting Toxic Inhalation Hazards
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Lewis M. Branscomb
Abstract
The transportation of hazardous materials is vital to the U.S. economy and inherently dangerous. In the decade since the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, policymakers have struggled to confront the distinct safety and security challenges associated with hazardous materials transportation. Reducing the risks of “toxic inhalation hazards,” a dangerous subset of hazardous materials, from both accidents and intentional disruptions is an ongoing source of controversy. In this paper, we examine proposed risk mitigation measures and outline a policy program designed to reduce the risks associated with hazardous materials transportation. The analysis highlights the limitations and counterproductive nature of narrowly-targeted strategies exclusively designed to confront either safety or security, and emphasizes the importance of comprehensive risk-mitigation strategies.
©2012 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston
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Articles in the same Issue
- Research Article
- Cybersecurity Policy-Making at the Local Government Level: An Analysis of Threats, Preparedness, and Bureaucratic Roadblocks to Success
- Between Safety and Security: The Policy Challenges of Transporting Toxic Inhalation Hazards
- Simulation-Based Evaluation of Port Emergency Evacuation Plans for Predictable Natural Disasters
- Tornado Warnings in Three Southern States: A Qualitative Analysis of Public Response Patterns
- Negotiating the 'Trading Zone'. Creating a Shared Information Infrastructure in the Dutch Public Safety Sector .
- The Cross-National Adaptability of EMS Protocols for Mass Casualty Incidents
- Graph Matching Based Decision Support Tools For Mitigating Spread Of Infectious Diseases Like H1N1
- Comparison of Sampling Methods for Post-Hurricane Damage Survey
- Crisis Leadership and Military Community Resilience
- The Status of General Aviation Airports in Disaster Response Planning
- Examining Factors Contributing to the Development of FEMA-Approved Hazard Mitigation Plans
- Communication/News
- Creating An Executive Doctorate In Civil Security In The United States
- A Practitioner-Researcher Partnership to Develop and Deliver Operational Value of Threat, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Training to meet the Requirements of Emergency Responders
- Opinion
- Medical Response Capabilities to a Catastrophic Disaster: "House" or House of Cards?
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