Derivation and utility of intervention values for decisions involving disasters with hazardous substances

Hazardous substances that are released into the air during a disaster can threaten the health of people in the surrounding area. Gases or vapours of this kind can escape if an accident happens while hazardous goods are being transported, as a result of a fire in a large building, or by the failure of a storage facility.
Emergency services workers and their managers then need to assess as quickly as possible the risks caused to people around the source. After this, a decision as to the best course of action must be taken. This is always done in a situation where many things are unclear. In this advisory report, a Health Council Committee has looked at preparations made before, and decisions made after, disasters involving hazardous substances.