Preventing Before “Ignition”: On the Necessity of Banning Ordinary Transportation of Flammable and Explosive Gases

I. Preface: The “Combustion Code” of Flammable and Explosive Gases and the “Safety Blind Spots” in Ordinary Transportation

As essential materials in industrial production, energy supply, and other fields, flammable and explosive gases (such as hydrogen, acetylene, propane, ethylene oxide, etc.) contain extremely high chemical energy in their molecular structures. Once exposed to ignition sources, static electricity, or high temperatures, they rapidly release energy, causing combustion or even explosions. According to the Hazardous Chemicals Safety Situation Analysis Report released by the National Emergency Management Department in 2024, over the past five years, there have been 237 fire and explosion accidents caused by the transportation of flammable and explosive gases nationwide, resulting in 289 deaths, 456 injuries, and direct economic losses exceeding 2.5 billion yuan. Among these accidents, 82% occurred in ordinary transportation scenarios.

Ordinary transportation (referring to the transportation behavior using ordinary trucks, vans, and other vehicles without professional protective configurations and not following hazardous goods transportation regulations) forms a “fatal contradiction” with the high-risk characteristics of flammable and explosive gases. Ordinary transportation lacks core safety measures such as explosion prevention, static electricity prevention, and leak detection. Moreover, its transportation routes are random and the professionalism of personnel is low, making flammable and explosive gases like “mobile sparks” during transportation, which may ignite the surrounding environment at any time and trigger chain disasters. This article will comprehensively demonstrate the necessity of banning ordinary transportation of flammable and explosive gases from aspects of risk characteristics, transportation shortcomings, accident consequences, and alternative solutions, providing theoretical support for building a solid transportation safety line.

II. Core Risks: The “Threefold Ignition Characteristics” of Flammable and Explosive Gases, Which Ordinary Transportation Cannot Resist

The reason why flammable and explosive gases are strictly regulated lies in their threefold ignition characteristics of “low ignition energy, wide explosion limit, and strong diffusion capacity”. However, the simple conditions of ordinary transportation cannot resist these risks at all, and accidents are easily triggered.

1. Low Ignition Energy: Tiny Sparks Can Ignite, and “Ignition Sources Are Everywhere” in Ordinary Transportation

Most flammable and explosive gases have extremely low minimum ignition energy, far lower than the energy of static electricity and friction sparks commonly found in ordinary transportation scenarios. For example, the minimum ignition energy of hydrogen is only 0.017mJ, which is 1/6 of the static energy generated by friction of chemical fiber clothing (about 0.1mJ); the minimum ignition energy of acetylene is 0.02mJ, and even slight sparks from cylinder collisions can ignite it.

In ordinary transportation scenarios, ignition sources are almost “everywhere”: transportation vehicles are not equipped with anti-static grounding straps, so static electricity generated by friction between tires and the road cannot be discharged, and sparks will be generated when it accumulates to a certain extent; the compartments of ordinary trucks are not explosion-proof, and electric sparks generated by aging circuits may directly come into contact with gases; open flames generated by drivers smoking or using mobile phones are even direct ignition hazards. In a propane transportation accident in Guangdong in 2022, the involved vehicle was an ordinary van. The driver smoked during transportation, and the discarded cigarette butt ignited the propane gas leaking in the compartment. The vehicle exploded instantly, the driver died on the spot, and two nearby cars were burned. This characteristic of “accidents being triggered by tiny ignition sources” makes ordinary transportation a “ignition site” for flammable and explosive gases.

2. Wide Explosion Limit: Gas Concentration Easily Reaches Dangerous Range, and There Is “No Safety Buffer” in Ordinary Transportation

The explosion limit is a key indicator to measure the explosion risk of gases, referring to the concentration range in which a gas can cause an explosion when mixed with air. The explosion limits of flammable and explosive gases are generally wide, meaning that as long as their concentration in the air reaches a certain level, they meet the explosion conditions. For example, the explosion limit of propane is 2.1%-9.5%, that of methane is 5.0%-15.0%, and the explosion limit of acetylene is as wide as 2.5%-82%, which can explode at almost any mixing ratio with air.

Ordinary transportation has no ability to control concentration at all: transportation containers are mostly ordinary steel cylinders or plastic barrels with poor sealing, so gases are prone to slow leakage; the compartments are open or semi-open structures, and the leaked gas mixes freely with air, easily reaching the explosion limit. In an acetylene transportation accident in Jiangsu in 2021, the involved enterprise used an ordinary truck to transport 10 cylinders of acetylene. The valve of one cylinder was loose, causing gas leakage. The acetylene concentration in the compartment quickly rose to 5%-10% (within the explosion limit). When the vehicle was driving to a traffic light intersection, static sparks generated by braking caused an explosion. The truck disintegrated, and the explosion shockwave injured three pedestrians at the intersection. The “no safety buffer” characteristic of ordinary transportation makes the concentration control of flammable and explosive gases completely out of control, and they are always on the verge of explosion.

3. Strong Diffusion Capacity: Gases Spread Rapidly, and “Hazards Have No Boundaries” in Ordinary Transportation

Most flammable and explosive gases are light gases (such as hydrogen, methane) or volatile (such as propane, ethylene oxide). After leakage, they can spread rapidly at a speed of several meters per second, covering a large area in a short time and spreading risks from transportation vehicles to the surrounding environment.

The routes of ordinary transportation often pass through densely populated areas such as residential areas, commercial areas, and schools. After gas leakage, it will quickly penetrate into surrounding buildings and underground pipe networks, forming a “three-dimensional risk area”. In a methane transportation accident in Shandong in 2023, the methane cylinder transported by an ordinary truck leaked. The gas spread along the street to a residential area 500 meters away. Some methane seeped into the underground sewage pipe network. When it encountered biogas in the pipe network, it caused an explosion in the underground garage of the residential building, resulting in two private cars being burned and one resident being injured by the collapsed wall. The “no fixed route and no risk isolation” characteristics of ordinary transportation infinitely amplify the diffusion hazards of flammable and explosive gases, upgrading “vehicle accidents” to “regional disasters”.

III. The “Four Major Safety Shortcomings” of Ordinary Transportation, Which Are Completely Incompatible with Risk Requirements

Ordinary transportation has serious shortcomings in vehicle configuration, personnel qualifications, route planning, and emergency response, forming a “fundamental incompatibility” with the high-risk requirements of flammable and explosive gases, and becoming a “direct driver” of accidents.

1. Vehicle Configuration: No Professional Protection, “Unprotected Transportation” Is Like a “Time Bomb”

Compliant transportation vehicles for flammable and explosive gases need to be equipped with professional equipment such as explosion-proof compartments, emergency shut-off devices, gas leak detection alarms, anti-static grounding devices, and fire-fighting systems. However, ordinary transportation vehicles do not have these configurations at all and are in a state of “unprotected transportation”:

• No Explosion-Proof Design: The compartments, engines, and circuit systems of ordinary trucks are not explosion-proof. Once gas leaks and encounters an ignition source, the vehicle itself will become an “explosion carrier”, exacerbating the accident hazards;
• No Leak Detection: No gas leak detection alarms are installed. Drivers cannot detect gas leaks in a timely manner until the concentration reaches the explosion limit or an accident occurs;
• No Anti-Static Measures: No anti-static grounding straps or anti-static clothing are equipped, so static electricity generated during transportation cannot be eliminated, and static electricity becomes the main ignition source.

In an ethylene oxide transportation accident in Zhejiang in 2022, the involved vehicle was an ordinary box truck without a leak detection alarm. Ethylene oxide slowly leaked from the gaps of the steel cylinder, which the driver did not notice. When the vehicle was driving near a gas station, the leaked gas was ignited by the open flame of the gas station, causing a chain explosion. The roof of the gas station partially collapsed, but fortunately, no casualties were caused. The “unprotected” configuration of ordinary transportation vehicles turns the transportation of flammable and explosive gases from “controllable risks” into “inevitable hazards”.

2. Personnel Qualifications: Lack of Professional Ability, “Ignorant Operation” Aggravates Risks

The transportation of flammable and explosive gases requires drivers and escorts to have professional knowledge, including gas characteristics, safe operation specifications, and emergency response methods, and they must hold hazardous goods transportation qualification certificates. However, personnel engaged in ordinary transportation often lack these qualifications and abilities:

• Unqualified Employment: Most drivers engaged in ordinary transportation do not have hazardous goods transportation qualifications. Some even do not know the name and characteristics of the gas they are transporting, let alone how to deal with emergencies such as leaks and combustion;
• No Professional Training: Enterprises do not provide professional training for transportation personnel. Personnel do not understand key operations such as static electricity protection, cylinder fixing, and leak handling, and are prone to causing accidents due to operational errors;
• Weak Safety Awareness: To save time and reduce costs, some personnel illegally overload, overspeed, or smoke and use open flames during transportation, further amplifying risks.

In a propane transportation accident in Anhui in 2021, the driver had no hazardous goods transportation qualification and used an ordinary truck to transport 15 cylinders of propane. To prevent the cylinders from shaking, he randomly fixed them with iron wires. During the vehicle’s travel, friction between the iron wires generated sparks, igniting the leaked propane gas. The driver jumped out of the car in panic to escape, causing the vehicle to lose control and crash into the roadside guardrail, triggering a secondary explosion. The “ignorant operation” and “lack of safety awareness” of personnel add insult to injury to the transportation risks of flammable and explosive gases.

3. Route Planning: Strong Randomness, “Risky Routes” Pass Through Sensitive Areas

Compliant transportation of flammable and explosive gases requires advance route planning to avoid densely populated areas, ecologically sensitive areas, ignition points (such as gas stations, chemical plants), etc. However, the routes of ordinary transportation are completely determined by drivers at will, and they often pass through high-risk areas for convenience:

• Passing Through Residential Areas: Ordinary transportation vehicles often travel through residential areas such as urban alleys and township streets. Once gas leaks, it will directly threaten the lives of residents;
• Being Close to Ignition Points: To save time, vehicles often park near places with open flames such as gas stations and restaurants, increasing the risk of contact with ignition sources;
• Passing Through Complex Road Sections: When driving on complex road sections such as mountainous areas, steep slopes, and sharp turns, vehicle jolts are likely to cause cylinder collisions and tank ruptures, leading to leaks.

In an acetylene transportation accident in Hunan in 2023, the driver took a shortcut and drove an ordinary truck through the downtown residential area. During the vehicle’s travel, the cylinder valve was damaged due to jolts and collisions. The leaked acetylene was ignited by the open flame in the kitchen of a roadside restaurant. The explosion caused partial collapse of the restaurant’s wall, injured three diners, and evacuated residents within a 50-meter radius. The “random routes” of ordinary transportation make the transportation of flammable and explosive gases a “mobile bomb” threatening public safety.

4. Emergency Response: No Plans or Equipment, “Chaos After Accidents”

The emergency response to flammable and explosive gas leaks and combustion accidents requires professional plans and equipment, such as using dry powder fire extinguishers to put out fires, using explosion-proof plugging tools to block leak points, and setting up warning zones to evacuate personnel. However, ordinary transportation does not have these conditions at all:

• No Emergency Plans: Enterprises have not formulated emergency response plans. When encountering accidents, drivers are at a loss and cannot take correct measures to control risks;
• No Professional Equipment: Vehicles are not equipped with emergency equipment such as fire blankets, explosion-proof plugging tools, and gas masks. Even if a leak is detected, it cannot be effectively handled;
• No Collaboration Mechanism: Drivers do not know how to contact professional rescue forces such as fire and environmental protection departments, leading to delayed rescue and expanded accident hazards.

In a hydrogen transportation accident in Hebei in 2022, the hydrogen cylinder transported by an ordinary truck leaked. The driver had no emergency equipment and could only wave to signal passing vehicles to avoid. The leaked hydrogen was ignited by the exhaust spark of a truck, causing an explosion, resulting in two vehicles being burned and the road being closed for 6 hours. The “no emergency response capability” of ordinary transportation makes it impossible to control risks in a timely manner after accidents, and hazards can only be allowed to expand.

IV. Accident Consequences: From “Individual Casualties” to “Regional Disasters”, Ordinary Transportation Amplifies the Level of Hazards

When accidents occur in the ordinary transportation of flammable and explosive gases, the hazards are not limited to the transportation vehicles themselves. Through combustion, explosion, gas diffusion, and other forms, “chain reactions” are triggered, causing multi-level hazards from individual casualties to regional disasters, with extremely high social costs.

1. Personnel Casualties: “Instantly Fatal” with High Rescue Difficulty

The combustion and explosion speed of flammable and explosive gases is extremely fast, with flame temperatures reaching over 1000℃. The explosion shockwave can instantly destroy surrounding objects. Once personnel are at the accident site, they often have no time to escape, resulting in serious casualties. In a propane transportation accident in Shandong in 2021, the propane cylinder transported by an ordinary truck exploded. The flame instantly engulfed the vehicle, and the driver died on the spot. The explosion shockwave overturned a cyclist 50 meters away, causing multiple fractures; in an ethylene oxide transportation accident in Guangdong in 2022, the gas leaked and caused an explosion. Three nearby pedestrians were injured by flying cylinder fragments, and one of them died due to severe injuries.

More seriously, after the accident, the leaked gas may form toxic smoke (such as carbon monoxide produced by propane combustion), causing poisoning of surrounding personnel. In a methane transportation accident in Jiangsu in 2023, carbon monoxide produced by methane combustion spread to the surrounding residential area, causing five elderly people to show symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, and two of them needed to be hospitalized. This “instantly fatal + subsequent poisoning” dual hazard makes the casualty rate of ordinary transportation accidents far higher than that of other transportation scenarios.

2. Property Losses: “Three-Dimensional Damage” with High Repair Costs

The property losses caused by flammable and explosive gas accidents are “three-dimensional”, including the damage of transportation vehicles, the destruction of surrounding buildings, the damage of public facilities, etc., and the repair costs are extremely high:

• Vehicle and Cargo Losses: Accidents will cause transportation vehicles to be completely burned or disintegrated, and the gas cylinders and other goods on the vehicles will also be completely damaged. The loss of vehicles and goods in a single accident can reach hundreds of thousands of yuan;
• Damage to Surrounding Buildings: The explosion shockwave will destroy surrounding houses, shops, factories, and other buildings. In an acetylene transportation accident in Zhejiang in 2022, the explosion caused two civilian houses by the road to collapse and the glass of three shops to be completely broken, with direct property losses exceeding 2 million yuan;
• Damage to Public Facilities: Accidents will also damage public facilities such as roads, pipe networks, and power lines. In a propane transportation accident in Henan in 2023, the explosion caused the power lines within a 100-meter radius to be interrupted, three communities to be without power for 12 hours, and cracks to appear on the road surface, with repair costs reaching 500,000 yuan.

According to statistics, the average property loss of a single accident caused by the ordinary transportation of flammable and explosive gases is 1.5 million yuan, which is more than three times that of compliant transportation accidents. Moreover, the damage to historical buildings and ecological facilities caused by some accidents is even immeasurable in terms of money.

3. Environmental Hazards: “Fast Pollution Diffusion” with Difficult Ecological Restoration

Accidents involving flammable and explosive gases also cause serious pollution to air, soil, and water sources. The pollution has the characteristics of fast diffusion, long duration, and difficult restoration:

• Air Pollution: Gas combustion will produce toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, with a pollution range of up to several square kilometers. In an ethylene oxide transportation accident in Anhui in 2021, the toxic gases produced by combustion caused the air quality index (AQI) of the surrounding area to reach the “severe pollution” level. Residents had to wear gas masks when going out, and the pollution took 24 hours to ease;
• Soil and Water Pollution: Some gases (such as propane, ethylene oxide) will seep into soil and groundwater after leakage, causing long-term pollution. In a propane transportation accident in Shandong in 2022, the leaked propane seeped into the underground water source, causing the water quality of three nearby wells to exceed the standard. The supply of drinking water for residents was interrupted for three days, and soil restoration took one year with a cost of over 1 million yuan;
• Ecological Destruction: Accidents will also cause damage to surrounding vegetation and animals. In a methane transportation accident in Hunan in 2023, the fire caused by the explosion burned 2 hectares of forest around, killing a large number of birds and small mammals, and ecological restoration took more than 5 years.

The “no environmental risk control” characteristic of ordinary transportation makes the environmental hazards of flammable and explosive gas accidents far greater than those of compliant transportation, becoming