INTRODUCTION
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
A hazard is a real or potential condition that can cause injury, illness, or death to personnel; damage to or loss of equipment or property; or damage to the environment. Hazards can be caused by hostile forces (e.g., terrorists, conventional military force) or accidental release of chemical or biological agents (e.g., natural disaster, accidental release by governmental or commercial sectors). Hazardous material is a substance that, due to its explosive, chemical, or biological nature, causes safety, public health, or environmental concerns that require an elevated level of effort to manage. In this report, the hazards that may arise out of explosions, chemical accidents, biological accidents, and nuclear incidents are considered. The main objective of this report is to analyze the methods for monitoring these hazards and minimizing the damage they can cause.
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY
Explosion, chemical, biological, and nuclear hazards (ECBN hazards) may be the result of such generally classified actions as:
- Accident
- Terrorism
- War or war-like situations
The following table illustrates these classifications of ECBN hazards in greater detail, as well as the possible causes and proposed ways to avoid such hazards.
TABLE A
Classifications of hazard causes and means to avoid or MINIMIZE them
|
Classification
|
Possible Causes
|
Means to Avoid or Minimize
|
|
Accident
|
Accidental leak of a chemical agent; accidental release of biological agent; accident in a nuclear plant; natural disaster
|
Provision of monitoring devices to detect and warn of possible hazard; provision of decontaminating equipment in case of such accidents along with prior precautionary measures such as using personal protective equipment
|
(continued)
TABLE A
(continued)
|
Classification
|
Possible Causes
|
Means to Avoid or Minimize
|
|
Terrorism
|
Release of chemical or biological agent or nuclear radiation with intention to harm a community or nation for some ideological, religious, or political reason
|
Provision of monitoring devices in airports, ports, critical industrial establishments, and places where large numbers of people gather for sport events or concerts; provision of decontamination equipment and trained personnel with necessary protective equipment to tackle such hazards
|
|
War or war-like situations
|
Territorial expansion, border disputes, or ambition to capture profitable assets from another nation
|
Possible negotiations between concerned nations to avoid such hazards and preparations in the form of monitoring equipment, decontamination equipment, and trained personnel
|
Source: BCC Research
Hazards due to industrial accidents, nuclear plant accidents, or accidental biological agent releases from a laboratory can be prevented or minimized if possible precautionary measures are set up in advance and necessary equipment and trained personnel are available to respond.
Hazards created by terrorist groups are difficult to tackle, as the reasons for such actions may be beyond reconciliation through possible negotiations. The only way to face such hazards is to prepare for the possible consequences in advance.
Hazards that may occur in cases of war or war-like situations could be tackled by negotiations between the concerned parties or nations, along with possible pressure from other more dominant and powerful countries or the United Nations. In the modern world, such incidents are unlikely to occur, and if they do, the consequences may be terrible and all precautions are likely to be ineffective.
The possibility of an ECBN hazard due to a war is not discussed in this report. The main objective of this report is to analyze the possible ways to monitor ECBN hazards that can happen through accidents and terrorist acts through the use of effective monitoring equipment and community preparation, including necessary decontaminating and proper personal protective equipment.
INTENDED AUDIENCE
This report is intended to serve as a valuable resource for all personnel involved in the production and marketing of various types of monitoring equipment, for researchers working in the development of new technologies for monitoring various ECBN hazards, for manufacturers of different types of sensors involved in the manufacture of such monitoring equipment, and for military strategists and civil defense planners to prepare for eventualities caused by ECBN hazards.
SCOPE OF REPORT
This report concentrates on the global and regional markets for technologies involved in the manufacture of different types of ECBN hazard monitoring equipment and the markets for applications in which such monitoring equipment will be utilized, as well as the basic technologies involved in the manufacture of such equipment. The report also provides profiles of various manufacturers of such monitoring equipment, their market-share, and their research and development (R&D) efforts to cultivate new technologies and equipment for better monitoring of ECBN hazards. The report also provides information concerning different patents on the technologies and monitoring equipment, along with a patent analysis.
INFORMATION SOURCES
Both primary and secondary research methods were used in preparing this report. Primary information sources for this market research include individuals within companies, various research organizations, governmental agencies, and trade associations.
Secondary research includes extensive literature reviews, such as trade journals, seminar proceedings, patent literature, company literature, published reports, and government publications. Additional secondary research sources include databases, trade literature, specialized journals, and government statistics.
ANALYST CREDENTIALS
Srinivasa Rajaram is a mechanical engineer with more than 40 years of experience in designing factory layouts and setting up factories. He was senior vice president of M/S Schenck Avery Ltd., an Indo-German joint venture, and has authored several technology market research reports for BCC Research.
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DISCLAIMER
The author assumes no liability for the reported information or for its use. The developed information is intended to be as reliable as possible and of a professional nature. The author assumes no liability for any loss or damage as a result of any reliance on any materials or any information developed. This is not a legal or accounting document, and much of the information is of a speculative nature.
Report Code: SAS005C, Published: January 2010, Analyst: Srinivasa Rajaram
