The route for safer dangerous goods transport
The 'European reference framework on dangerous good transport' (Da.go.t) project worked to stimulate EU cooperation on sustainable development and safety in dangerous goods transport (DGT). Project partners aimed to achieve this by bringing together and integrating the experience of all concerned: from public local authorities through transport companies to training institutions. The general aim was to verify the validity of existent methodologies and technologies and evaluate future research needs. Regarding the latter, the focus was on sustainable development and risk management. Da.go.t identified a number of practical problems in its focus area. They include a need to define the means for tracking, monitoring and controlling DGT under shared safety and security perspectives; common criteria for managing and planning DGT; and harmonisation of relevant EU legislation. These are key to safeguarding people, property and environments affected by DGT. As such, Da.go.t activities focused on stimulating international cooperation through the exchange of experiences and the establishment of a comprehensive European Reference Framework (DGT-ERF) to support decisions. A DGT European Working Group (DGT-EWG) was at the top of the agenda for integrating common knowledge and identifying shared strategies for DGT control, management and planning. A series of workshops were held and information collected from these events was structured for the final conference. The event was organised to share results of project activities, extend the area for discussion of evidenced strategies and produce an action scheme geared towards the preparation of a common project. Team members prepared a White Paper on various factors related to dangerous goods freight. These included best practices, regulation and needs in this area, bottlenecks and strategies to overcome them, and results and the contributions of the final conference. Given the high numbers of stakeholders and decision-makers, the scope of the study was beyond the means of the small-budget project. This called for refocusing original goals and confirmed a critical need for sharing data and criteria as well as running a broader-scope common project. Nonetheless, Da.go.t was successful in making the first necessary steps towards securing the safer transport of dangerous goods.
