Friday, July 26, 2013

Are Metro Vancouver Bridges protected from trucks hauling Gasoline, petroluem, oxygen, acetylene?

Downright dangerous, all that explosive material being transported over our Bridges, and before you say it ..... Kiewit Highway construction workers, using Explosives are exempted, because of this:

(2)  Subsection (1) (h) does not apply to construction or maintenance equipment that is
(a) owned or hired by the minister, and
(b) working on, or travelling to or from, a worksite.

How many times have you seen a truck rolling along the highway/bridges carrying acetylene tanks, or empty tanks??? that had recently filled with gasoline?   and if they have, and not been steam cleaned, then the alternative for the tanks is that they must be filled with WATER!  Who's checking the payloads?

That water would weigh more than the petroleum products, AND the cost of hauling that water, based on diesel prices, would cut into the trucking company's bottom line.       LNG anyone?...... or is a truck transporting LNG barred from using Metro Vancouver's bridges as well?

Transport the hazardous material by barge?  across Burrard Inlet???? That would drive up the costs to consumers in West Vancouver and Whistler!!!

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BC Ferries have their set of rules when it comes to transporting contaminated tanks, and explosive materials:

Pre-Arranged Clearance (Dangerous Goods Information)

Carriers desirable of pre-clearing their dangerous goods must submit their manifests at least 48 hours in advance of the intended sailing time. For such carriers the strict application of the time limit can be waived, providing the document accompanying the shipment is identical to the document submitted for pre-clearance. Ensure that phone and facsimile numbers are included with your faxed document. Terminal facsimile numbers are available through the link provided below.
There is an exception to the regulations..... "contaminated vehicle" is restricted to specific times, AND that "operation" has the Minister Responsible posting a sign on the approaches to the structures.

Definitions of Certain Dangerous Goods Terms


   A propane tank, but is it carrying propane, ...... 30 Litres,  stowed on the car deck... over the engine room.... or how about beside the Anchor Windlass.   How many passengers are permitted to carry their one tank of Propane onto a BC Ferry?

A foot passenger may carry not more than one cylinder of Propane not exceeding 15 kg (30 litres). The cylinder will not be transported as baggage, but must be carried aboard by the customer and must be stowed on the car deck in a location designated by the vessel's officer.

Wheelchairs (motorized): There are no restrictions on wheelchairs when they are in use, but when they are carried as cargo or freight there are some precautions that must be taken. The battery must be securely in place, disconnected, with the terminals insulated to prevent short-circuiting, and the chair itself must be securely anchored so that it will not move.

  
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 Transportation Act Provincial Public Undertakings Regulation
 Explosives, flammables and corrosives
6 (1)  In this section, "contaminated vehicle" means a vehicle that

(a) is transporting any of the following:
(i)  gasoline, distillate or kerosene in tanks, drums, barrels or cans;
(ii)  oxygen, acetylene or butane;
(iii)  fuel oil, road oil, hot roadmix, lubricating oil or grease or solid or liquid asphaltum;
(iv)  explosives or corrosive liquids, or
(b) is transporting empty tanks if those tanks
(i)  had contained gasoline, distillate or kerosene, and
(ii)  have not been thoroughly cleaned with steam or filled with water.

(2)  A person must not operate a contaminated vehicle on or within any of the Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge, the William R. Bennett Bridge, the Nelson Bridge, the Pattullo Bridge, the First Narrows Bridge, the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Bridge, the Oak Street Bridge, the Knight Street Bridge, the Queensborough Bridge or the Port Mann Bridge other than during the time or times specified for that operation on signs posted by the minister on the approaches to the structure.
[am. B.C. Reg. 81/2008.]

2 comments:

Evil Eye said...

I have seen gasoline trucks and pick-ups with large fuel drums regularity through the Massey Tunnel. Coincidentally this happened right after Gordon Campbell was elected. Previous to El Gordo, they were not allowed.

Anonymous said...

Tunnels seem to be exempt from the dangerous material category. What's the difference between being up in the air on a bridge with water down below and .... being underwater in a tunnel with the FRASER River above?

An explosion on a suspension bridge... eg. Lions Gate Bridge or Port Mann Bridge would expand outwards... and even if it were to explode downwards.. the effect of the damage wouldn't knock the bridge out...