Fire Service urges safer transport of hazardous materials

Companies transporting hazardous materials are being urged to take greater precautions, including using vehicles suitable for the weight and nature of the substances being carried.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Henderson Patrick made the appeal against the backdrop of Thursday’s incident at the Norman Niles Roundabout, where a truck carrying 800 gallons of chlorine overturned, rupturing two of four chemical totes.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of Fire Service Week 2026’s Health and Open Day at the Barbados Fire Service Headquarters at the Cadogan, Mayers, Marshall (CMM) Emergency Services Complex, Patrick said the Fire Service was concerned about the vehicle used to transport the chlorine.

“The fire service certainly, just like many other Barbadians, do have a concern in this particular instance because what we observed is that the vehicle which was transporting the substance, in our judgment, it was not as suitable for the weight that was placed on it and carrying that particular substance,” he said.

Patrick said the vehicle appeared unsuitable for the load, noting that each of the four totes contained more than 200 gallons of product.

“It seemed to be an anomaly because we have not experienced this [often]. Perhaps they have done it before and were successful, but we have not observed in the past vehicles of that nature and that weight carrying a substance like this,” he said.

“It was our view that that type of product and the weight should be on a vehicle that is more substantial.”

Patrick also urged companies to consider the timing of hazardous-material transportation, particularly when moving through areas with heavy traffic.

“What is also important is the time of day that we choose to transport these products,” he said, suggesting that companies consider moving such substances “a little late in the evening” or “early in the morning” when traffic is lighter.

He stressed that the issue ultimately came down to assessing the risks posed to the wider public.

“It’s about safety, it’s about calculating the risks, it’s about appreciating that other people are in the space,” Patrick said.

“It’s having an appreciation for what the substance that you’re carrying can do to the general public and making better decisions at transporting, both in terms of the vehicle that you’re using and also at the time of the day that you’re carrying that particular substance.”

(SB)