Identifying the Weaker Function Links in the Hazardous Chemicals Road Transportation System in China

Abstract

Safety of the hazardous chemicals road transportation system (HCRTS) is an important, complex, social, and environmental sensitive problem. The complexity, dynamics, and multi-link features of HCRTS have made it necessary to think beyond traditional risk analysis methods. Based on the relevant literature, Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) is a relatively new systemic method for modeling and analyzing complex socio-technical systems. In this study, a methodology that integrates FRAM, fuzzy sets, and risk matrix is presented to quantitatively assess the risks factors representing failure function links in HCRTS. As the strength of function links can be illustrated by the RI (risk index) of risk factors identified in failure function links, 32 risk factors representing 12 failure function links were first identified by accident causes analysis and the framework of FRAM. Fuzzy sets were then utilized to calculate the weight of the likelihood and consequence of the risk factors. Finally, according to the assessment results of the identified risk factors by a two-dimensional risk matrix, the weaker function links in the whole HCRTS chain were identified. HCs road companies, regulatory authorities, relevant practitioners, and other stakeholders should pay more attention to these links.

Barriers Involved in the Safety Management Systems: A Systematic Review of Literature

“…Overall, the resilience capacity of a system can be developed by means of barrier management, which provides a potential practical strategy to promote industrial application based on resilience theory. In addition, methodologies for system resilience assessment can also be consulted to assess barrier systems, such as the resilience assessment grid (RAG) [ 158 ] and functional resonance analysis method (FRAM) [ 159 ], both of which are applicable for complex socio-technical systems. Currently, the development of system resilience is mainly contributed by operational and organizational barriers, and in most cases, the performance degradation of barrier systems is caused by external disruption; therefore, it can be reasonably inferred that the improvement of absorptive and adaptive capacity by allocating preventive barriers may be useful to slow the performance degradation process.…”

Dynamic risk analysis of flammable liquid road tanker based on fuzzy Bayesian network

“…The assessment of accident probability and corresponding risk consequences can change dynamically with different scenarios and times 12 ; Hu et al studied the route planning of hazardous chemical road transportation in Taiwan through a dual‐objective dynamic model and a path optimization algorithm based on a genetic algorithm. They found that the route of hazardous chemicals road transportation was affected by changes in traffic flow 13 ; Ma et al dynamically identified the risk factors of failure in HCRTS through fuzzy sets and risk matrices and obtained the weak links in the hazardous chemical road transportation system 14 …”

“…They found that the route of hazardous chemicals road transportation was affected by changes in traffic flow 13 ; Ma et al dynamically identified the risk factors of failure in HCRTS through fuzzy sets and risk matrices and obtained the weak links in the hazardous chemical road transportation system. 14 Among the two types of methods, the BN has been favored by scholars in the field of dynamic risk assessment due to its advantages such as concise and intuitive graphical representation and real-time probability updates. The real-time update characteristics of the BN make it very applicable in the risk assessment of hazardous chemicals road transportation.…”

Characteristics and Statistical Analysis of Large and above Hazardous Chemical Accidents in China from 2000 to 2020

“…Advances in science and technology as well as changes in industrial structure are leading to a global increase in demand for diverse petroleum products and chemical feedstocks [ 1 ]. According to the American Chemical Abstracts, the annual production of chemicals in the world exceeds 400 million tons [ 2 ], and there are 5–7 million kinds of hazardous chemicals known. Hazardous chemicals are prone to leaks, fires, and explosions during production, usage, storage, and transport, which are affected by the properties of raw materials [ 3 ].…”