Managing Hazardous Goods in Humanitarian Supply Chains
Managing Hazardous Goods in Humanitarian Supply Chains
Dorit Schumann-Bölsche
M. Klumpp et al. (eds.), Humanitarian Logistics and Sustainability,
Lecture Notes in Logistics, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-15455-8_9
Abstract The publication focuses on hazardous goods in humanitarian supply
chains. The author provides fundamental information about the topic and heightens
the awareness of its importance for logisticians and humanitarian aid workers.
Hazardous goods can be either the reason for disasters (e.g. in Fukushima) or as
relief items part of humanitarian supply chains (e.g. medicines, gases). The publication
discusses international standards as well as environmental and health risks,
which occur from hazardous goods. Additionally, the standard process reference
model SCOR is introduced as a model that is suitable to describe and analyze
processes and humanitarian supply chains with hazardous goods. The analysis with
SCOR and the identification of weaknesses are first steps to identify further actions
for risk reduction.
Introduction: Do Hazardous Goods Matter?
When dealing with actual disasters and humanitarian logistics in the end of 2013
the relevance of hazardous goods is not apparent at first glance. The Typhoon
Haiyan in the Philippines resulted in thousands of deaths and caused massive
damages (see www.logcluster.org, Link Operations, Emergency, Philippines).
At the same time humanitarian aid is still required in Syria and in several African
countries. Looking at theses countries and the people in need, the relevance of the
topic “hazardous goods” does not immediately come to mind.
But by getting into the topic of humanitarian logistics more deeply, people can
see and understand the extent to which hazardous goods indeed matter. Dangerous
goods can be one of the reasons for disasters, like in Fukushima, Japan in 2011.
After an earthquake and tsunami, the explosion of atomic power plants caused
radioactive releases, which contaminated the area around the plants. This nuclear
disaster was one of the worst the world has ever seen. “Despite a quick reaction to
curtail the spread of radiation and minimize the damage, over 2 years have passed
since the accident and radioactive materials are still seeping into the surrounding
environment and the Pacific Ocean. In September 2013, estimates put the amount of
polluted water dumped into the sea at just over 1,000 tons” (Blacksmith Institute
and Green Cross Switzerland 2013, p. 15). Health risks are described inside the
report. Humanitarian logisticians have to deal with logistical processes and supply
chains in this special environment. Comparable situations occur after explosions of
chemical plants or other production plants with hazardous goods.
Humanitarian logisticians also have to deal with dangerous goods after accidents with hazardous
goods on rail-roads, streets, and other transport modes. Another kind of disaster
where dangerous goods often appear are floods, such as after heavy rain or storms
in Germany. Whereas water can be cleared out relatively fast, the contamination
e.g. with oil from destroyed oil-tanks, needs much longer to be cleaned up and
removed (discussed at the 9th European Congress on Civil Protection 2013).
Furthermore a variety of dangerous goods are part of humanitarian supply
chains: Some medicines, gases and oils, are just a few examples. The processes of
delivery and return as well as their planning and operation need special consideration.
Otherwise risks of destroyed environment or health-risks occur. Because of
their health and environmental impacts, toxins (Blacksmith Institute and Green
Cross Switzerland 2013) and thereby hazardous goods, cause disasters with enormous
implications and need special observance in humanitarian supply chains.
In this publication the author wants to sensitize the topic of hazardous goods in
humanitarian supply chains and gives a fundamental work on this topic for
humanitarian aid workers and logisticians.
The next chapter provides definitions and fundamental information. A new
international standard for hazardous goods in logistics—the globally harmonized
system of classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS)—will be introduced in
Chap. 3. This standard changes the framework for humanitarian supply chains and
enhances the achievement of logistical goals when dangerous goods occur in
humanitarian logistics.
Chapter 4 brings together the fundamental contents of the
former chapters and discusses the impacts of hazardous goods on humanitarian
logistics and supply chains. A general overview will be given and is followed by a
deeper analysis which focuses on the application of one of the standard models
from the private sector. The Supply Chain Operations Reference-model (SCORmodel)
is chosen as an inter-branch standard process reference model because
humanitarian organizations from the UN have started to document and analyse their
supply chains with SCOR.
The model is able to build up processes from the private
and the humanitarian sector and to link the processes within supply chains. First
experiences from the analysis of food supply chains can be transferred to supply
chains in which hazardous goods occur. In this case, processes, performance
measurement, and benchmarks focus on hazardous goods with their implications on
logistic costs, health risks and environmental risks.
Humanitarian logistics is defined “as the process of planning, implementing and
controlling the efficient, (cost-) effective flow and storage of goods and materials, as
well as related information, from the point of origin to the point of consumption for
the purpose of alleviating the suffering of vulnerable people. The function
encompasses a range of activities, including preparedness, planning, procurement,
transport, warehousing, tracking and tracing, and customs clearance” (Thomas and
Kopczak 2005, p. 2). The aims and goals should be “efficient, effective” and “for
the purpose of alleviating the suffering of vulnerable people” (Blecken 2010,
pp. 57–61; Bölsche 2013a). When dealing with the topic of hazardous goods
environmental considerations about risk reduction have to be taken into account, as
well.
Humanitarian logistics has been developed by several actors from the
humanitarian sector, the private sector, researchers and their coordinated initiatives
(e.g. by the Humanitarian Logistics Association HLA, the German Logistics
Association BVL, the Kuehne Foundation with its HELP-Initiative. See publications
in Hellingrath 2013).
The Logistics Cluster of the United Nation plays an important role in the
development of humanitarian logistics and especially the exchange of information
and coordination among the actors in humanitarian supply chains after acute and
permanent disasters. Figure 9.1 provides an example of a humanitarian operation
(in the Philippines) and shows the accessible information and coordination through
the Logistics Cluster. Such information and coordination is also necessary when
hazardous goods occur in humanitarian supply chains; for example, maps with
information about hazardous goods as well as expert knowledge about processes
like transport and storage are required.
Despite the progress within the last years, several deficiencies and weaknesses
still exist in humanitarian logistics; some of them should be mentioned:
The significance of humanitarian logistics becomes obvious when looking into
current statistics about disasters and actual disasters in 2013. The annual disaster
statistical yearbook (Guha-Sapir et al. 2013) which is published yearly by the Centre
for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) summarizes for the year
2012: “Natural disasters still killed a significant number, a total of 9,655 people were
killed and 124.5 million people become victims worldwide. Contrary to other
indicators, economic damages from natural disasters did show an increase to above
average levels, with estimates … US$157 billion” (Guha-Sapir et al. 2013, p. 1).
After the typhoon in the Philippines in November 2013, the estimated amount of
dead and affected people is higher than in 2012, and that was solely caused by this
one disaster (see www.logcluster.org and www.emdat.be).
Beyond natural disasters, the database of the CRED also registers and measures
technological disasters. Some examples are shipwrecks, rail- and road-accidents
and explosions of plants. Technological disasters do not always but often occur in
attendance with hazardous goods. In 2013, one example is a chemical leak from a
factory in Shanghai, China (www.emdat.be, disaster number 2013-0313).
In 2012, there were 188 technological disasters in which 6,050 people died, 10,090 were
injured and 13,504 were affected in some other manner. The total damage is registered
at US$31 million. Such detailed information can be created within the
emergency database by individual search, filters and aggregations (www.emdat.be,
database, advanced search). But what is not available is a filter for hazardous or
dangerous goods.
Dorit Schumann-Bölsche
M. Klumpp et al. (eds.), Humanitarian Logistics and Sustainability,
Lecture Notes in Logistics, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-15455-8_9
Abstract The publication focuses on hazardous goods in humanitarian supply
chains. The author provides fundamental information about the topic and heightens
the awareness of its importance for logisticians and humanitarian aid workers.
Hazardous goods can be either the reason for disasters (e.g. in Fukushima) or as
relief items part of humanitarian supply chains (e.g. medicines, gases). The publication
discusses international standards as well as environmental and health risks,
which occur from hazardous goods. Additionally, the standard process reference
model SCOR is introduced as a model that is suitable to describe and analyze
processes and humanitarian supply chains with hazardous goods. The analysis with
SCOR and the identification of weaknesses are first steps to identify further actions
for risk reduction.
Introduction: Do Hazardous Goods Matter?
When dealing with actual disasters and humanitarian logistics in the end of 2013
the relevance of hazardous goods is not apparent at first glance. The Typhoon
Haiyan in the Philippines resulted in thousands of deaths and caused massive
damages (see www.logcluster.org, Link Operations, Emergency, Philippines).
At the same time humanitarian aid is still required in Syria and in several African
countries. Looking at theses countries and the people in need, the relevance of the
topic “hazardous goods” does not immediately come to mind.
But by getting into the topic of humanitarian logistics more deeply, people can
see and understand the extent to which hazardous goods indeed matter. Dangerous
goods can be one of the reasons for disasters, like in Fukushima, Japan in 2011.
After an earthquake and tsunami, the explosion of atomic power plants caused
radioactive releases, which contaminated the area around the plants. This nuclear
disaster was one of the worst the world has ever seen. “Despite a quick reaction to
curtail the spread of radiation and minimize the damage, over 2 years have passed
since the accident and radioactive materials are still seeping into the surrounding
environment and the Pacific Ocean. In September 2013, estimates put the amount of
polluted water dumped into the sea at just over 1,000 tons” (Blacksmith Institute
and Green Cross Switzerland 2013, p. 15). Health risks are described inside the
report. Humanitarian logisticians have to deal with logistical processes and supply
chains in this special environment. Comparable situations occur after explosions of
chemical plants or other production plants with hazardous goods.
Humanitarian logisticians also have to deal with dangerous goods after accidents with hazardous
goods on rail-roads, streets, and other transport modes. Another kind of disaster
where dangerous goods often appear are floods, such as after heavy rain or storms
in Germany. Whereas water can be cleared out relatively fast, the contamination
e.g. with oil from destroyed oil-tanks, needs much longer to be cleaned up and
removed (discussed at the 9th European Congress on Civil Protection 2013).
Furthermore a variety of dangerous goods are part of humanitarian supply
chains: Some medicines, gases and oils, are just a few examples. The processes of
delivery and return as well as their planning and operation need special consideration.
Otherwise risks of destroyed environment or health-risks occur. Because of
their health and environmental impacts, toxins (Blacksmith Institute and Green
Cross Switzerland 2013) and thereby hazardous goods, cause disasters with enormous
implications and need special observance in humanitarian supply chains.
In this publication the author wants to sensitize the topic of hazardous goods in
humanitarian supply chains and gives a fundamental work on this topic for
humanitarian aid workers and logisticians.
The next chapter provides definitions and fundamental information. A new
international standard for hazardous goods in logistics—the globally harmonized
system of classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS)—will be introduced in
Chap. 3. This standard changes the framework for humanitarian supply chains and
enhances the achievement of logistical goals when dangerous goods occur in
humanitarian logistics.
Chapter 4 brings together the fundamental contents of the
former chapters and discusses the impacts of hazardous goods on humanitarian
logistics and supply chains. A general overview will be given and is followed by a
deeper analysis which focuses on the application of one of the standard models
from the private sector. The Supply Chain Operations Reference-model (SCORmodel)
is chosen as an inter-branch standard process reference model because
humanitarian organizations from the UN have started to document and analyse their
supply chains with SCOR.
The model is able to build up processes from the private
and the humanitarian sector and to link the processes within supply chains. First
experiences from the analysis of food supply chains can be transferred to supply
chains in which hazardous goods occur. In this case, processes, performance
measurement, and benchmarks focus on hazardous goods with their implications on
logistic costs, health risks and environmental risks.
Definitions and Fundamental Information
Humanitarian Logistics and Supply ChainsHumanitarian logistics is defined “as the process of planning, implementing and
controlling the efficient, (cost-) effective flow and storage of goods and materials, as
well as related information, from the point of origin to the point of consumption for
the purpose of alleviating the suffering of vulnerable people. The function
encompasses a range of activities, including preparedness, planning, procurement,
transport, warehousing, tracking and tracing, and customs clearance” (Thomas and
Kopczak 2005, p. 2). The aims and goals should be “efficient, effective” and “for
the purpose of alleviating the suffering of vulnerable people” (Blecken 2010,
pp. 57–61; Bölsche 2013a). When dealing with the topic of hazardous goods
environmental considerations about risk reduction have to be taken into account, as
well.
Humanitarian logistics has been developed by several actors from the
humanitarian sector, the private sector, researchers and their coordinated initiatives
(e.g. by the Humanitarian Logistics Association HLA, the German Logistics
Association BVL, the Kuehne Foundation with its HELP-Initiative. See publications
in Hellingrath 2013).
The Logistics Cluster of the United Nation plays an important role in the
development of humanitarian logistics and especially the exchange of information
and coordination among the actors in humanitarian supply chains after acute and
permanent disasters. Figure 9.1 provides an example of a humanitarian operation
(in the Philippines) and shows the accessible information and coordination through
the Logistics Cluster. Such information and coordination is also necessary when
hazardous goods occur in humanitarian supply chains; for example, maps with
information about hazardous goods as well as expert knowledge about processes
like transport and storage are required.
Despite the progress within the last years, several deficiencies and weaknesses
still exist in humanitarian logistics; some of them should be mentioned:
- training and education programmes still do not meet the necessary requirements (Bölsche 2013c);
- an evaluation of the logistics cluster documents weaknesses, e.g. lacks in procurement, customs clearing and time in Haiti 2010 (www.logcluster.org); and
- a further deficiency concerns hazardous goods, which are still not the focus of humanitarian aid organizations and humanitarian supply chains.
The significance of humanitarian logistics becomes obvious when looking into
current statistics about disasters and actual disasters in 2013. The annual disaster
statistical yearbook (Guha-Sapir et al. 2013) which is published yearly by the Centre
for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) summarizes for the year
2012: “Natural disasters still killed a significant number, a total of 9,655 people were
killed and 124.5 million people become victims worldwide. Contrary to other
indicators, economic damages from natural disasters did show an increase to above
average levels, with estimates … US$157 billion” (Guha-Sapir et al. 2013, p. 1).
After the typhoon in the Philippines in November 2013, the estimated amount of
dead and affected people is higher than in 2012, and that was solely caused by this
one disaster (see www.logcluster.org and www.emdat.be).
Beyond natural disasters, the database of the CRED also registers and measures
technological disasters. Some examples are shipwrecks, rail- and road-accidents
and explosions of plants. Technological disasters do not always but often occur in
attendance with hazardous goods. In 2013, one example is a chemical leak from a
factory in Shanghai, China (www.emdat.be, disaster number 2013-0313).
In 2012, there were 188 technological disasters in which 6,050 people died, 10,090 were
injured and 13,504 were affected in some other manner. The total damage is registered
at US$31 million. Such detailed information can be created within the
emergency database by individual search, filters and aggregations (www.emdat.be,
database, advanced search). But what is not available is a filter for hazardous or
dangerous goods.
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