Incident Statistics

The Chlorine Institute’s Transportation Issue Team has established long-term goals of maintaining the ability to transport CI mission chemicals in a safe and secure manner and eliminate transportation releases.   In order to monitor the industry’s progress in the reduction of CI mission products, the Transportation Issue Team tracks the number of incidents annually by plotting incident data collected from the US Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) 5800 Incident Reports Database. 

Below you will find annual data (updated 7/18/12) that reflects the total number of chlorine rail incidents, as reported in the DOT incident database, as well as incidents with respect to the total number of chlorine shipments.  Chlorine rail incidents are a very small percentage of the total number of hazardous materials incidents reported to DOT.  For example, in 2011, the total number of chlorine rail incidents reported was less than 0.89% of all hazardous materials rail incidents.  With respect to the total number of chlorine rail shipments in the US, the number of chlorine incidents resulted in less than 0.028% of total chlorine shipments.  These incidents are most often minor releases resulting from improper securement of tank car valves or fittings, which is an issue the Transportation Issue Team is making efforts to address.

The Transportation Issue Team establishes intermediate and annual goals to help create industry focus in achieving a reduction of incidents.  Currently, the Issue Team tracks incident data for chlorine (bulk rail and highway), sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide (caustic) bulk rail, caustic bulk highway, hydrochloric acid bulk rail and hydrochloric acid bulk highway.  The various task groups working under the Transportation Issue Team develop recommendations and guidance, with final approval by the Issue Team, in order to achieve the goals for these products and modes.

Below you will find the current tracking reports for the Transportation Issue Team’s goals.

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