Information about risks

Accidents involving hazardous substances

Accidents involving hazardous substances are large-scale accidents on industrial sites. There are many companies using hazardous substances that pose such a risk. The risk may affect a large or small area within the surroundings. Companies posing a risk to a very small area are not indicated on the risk map.

Accidents involving hazardous substances

Transport of Hazardous Substances

Many types of hazardous substances are transported. Transport takes place by road, rail and water. As the number of substances is too large to determine individual risks, these substances have been combined in ‘substance categories’, and each category poses a different type of risk to the surroundings. Petrol and oil, for instance, are included in the ‘flammable liquids’ category.

Transport of Hazardous Substances

Aviation accident

A risk is posed by an aircraft or helicopter crashing. This could occur in a built-up area or in an ‘outer area’. But this is most likely to occur on or near to a runway or landing strip within an area approximately 300 metres wide and extending one kilometre to the front or to the rear. An aviation accident often results in many deaths.

Aviation accident

Accident on water

Vessels may have to deal with fires, explosions and collisions; they may run aground, sink or capsize. These events may occur at sea or on inland waterways. Causes may include weather conditions (mist, storms) and incompetence by the crew. Walking on mud flats has its own risks.

Accident on water

Traffic accidents

The risk in the case of rail transport is a collision or derailment. In the case of passenger trains, the risk of casualties is considerable, panic may occur and there will be damage to property. In the case of car traffic, multiple-vehicle collisions may occur. There will be a risk of chaos, panic and fire, and hazardous substances may be released.

Traffic accidents

Accidents in tunnels

Accidents in tunnels are more dangerous than in the open air. An explosion or fire may cause considerable damage and hazardous substances cannot be removed quickly. Smoke causes poor visibility, lack of oxygen rapidly occurs and there may be panic. It is difficult to escape from a tunnel.

Accidents in tunnels

Flood

The water may come from several sources: the sea or the large rivers and from inland waterways such as canals and lakes. A dyke may subside, a dune may be swept away, or the water may come over the dykes. An additional danger is that the power supply may fail, so that no communication by telephone, Internet and television is possible. Public health may also be at risk, which may be a reason for the government to advise evacuation.

Flood

Natural fires

A natural fire may develop quickly and unpredictably during a drought. Such fires are difficult to contain because water has to be brought from elsewhere and wind may fan the flames.

Natural fires

Earthquakes

Areas where there are possible earthquake risks are indicated on the risk map by a line (fault lines) or surface (cavern or Mercalli zone).

Earthquakes

Violation of public order and mass panic

Panic in a crowd results in various risks. People may get caught up in a rush, be trampled under foot and suffocate. The cause is often something unexpected: a fire, a fight, a sudden change in the weather.

Violation of public order and mass panic

Vulnerable objects

Vulnerable objects are buildings that may have large numbers of occupants/visitors, and buildings occupied by people who are incapable of helping themselves (patients, the elderly, children).

Vulnerable objects