Individual risk evaluation and interventions for mitigation in the transportation of hazardous goods: a case study

The transport of hazardous substances is an economic activity essential for goods' transference chain. However, the risk in transporting hazardous materials is related to the occur of accidents causing environmental damages and public health dangerous consequences. A quite recent Italian example is the Viareggio accident (2010), which involved a train with tank cars containing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) which caused more than thirty deaths. This paper describes the safety state in the Varese district (an area of northern Italy with a very high population density and industrial activities), with the aim at comparing the current situation (considering the risks due to the transportation of hazardous materials on the main motorways and main national roads) with a potential scenario that introduces a few mitigating interventions, such as a partial conversion from road haulage to rail transport. This comparison can be accomplished by developing the existing intermodal platforms and implementing new ones in strategic areas.