TY - JOUR
T1 - Time dynamics of emergency response network for hazardous chemical accidents : a case study in China
AU - Du, Lei
AU - Feng, Yingbin
AU - Tang, LiYaning
AU - Lu, Wei
AU - Kang, Wei
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Since currently hazardous chemical accidents occur frequently around the world, how to build up an effective emergency response network (ERN) for hazardous chemical accidents become an urgent issue. Given the truth that previous static ERN research could not reflect the dynamic interaction patterns among actors in emergency response process, this paper studied the emergency response network for hazardous chemical accidents from the perspective of temporal dynamics. Jiangsu Xiangshui 3.21 chemical plant explosion accident, a major hazardous chemical accident just happened in March 2019, was selected as a case in this paper. Based on the time slices of the accident emergency response process, the dynamic evolution of emergency response network, organization functions, and organization positions over time were analyzed by social network analysis (SNA). The results revealed the dynamics of emergency response network in the context of centralized administrative systems. Emergency response network became more decentralized over time, rather than centralized; central organization functions varied depending on the response needs in each period; and positions of participants in network changed as time passed. The results also showed that under the centralized administrative systems, public-sector organizations were the core of emergency response network; whilst non-profit organizations and private organizations were largely marginalized. A hybrid network with centralization and decentralization complement each other may be more effective. ERN for hazardous chemical accidents should be considered in a time-dynamic way and collaborations among public sector organizations, NPOs and private organizations should be paid more attention to improve the emergency response efficiency. These findings may expand knowledge for researchers and practitioners to understand emergency response network of hazardous chemical accidents from dynamic perspectives, having an important significance for reducing and controlling economic losses, social risks and environmental damage caused by hazardous chemical accidents.
AB - Since currently hazardous chemical accidents occur frequently around the world, how to build up an effective emergency response network (ERN) for hazardous chemical accidents become an urgent issue. Given the truth that previous static ERN research could not reflect the dynamic interaction patterns among actors in emergency response process, this paper studied the emergency response network for hazardous chemical accidents from the perspective of temporal dynamics. Jiangsu Xiangshui 3.21 chemical plant explosion accident, a major hazardous chemical accident just happened in March 2019, was selected as a case in this paper. Based on the time slices of the accident emergency response process, the dynamic evolution of emergency response network, organization functions, and organization positions over time were analyzed by social network analysis (SNA). The results revealed the dynamics of emergency response network in the context of centralized administrative systems. Emergency response network became more decentralized over time, rather than centralized; central organization functions varied depending on the response needs in each period; and positions of participants in network changed as time passed. The results also showed that under the centralized administrative systems, public-sector organizations were the core of emergency response network; whilst non-profit organizations and private organizations were largely marginalized. A hybrid network with centralization and decentralization complement each other may be more effective. ERN for hazardous chemical accidents should be considered in a time-dynamic way and collaborations among public sector organizations, NPOs and private organizations should be paid more attention to improve the emergency response efficiency. These findings may expand knowledge for researchers and practitioners to understand emergency response network of hazardous chemical accidents from dynamic perspectives, having an important significance for reducing and controlling economic losses, social risks and environmental damage caused by hazardous chemical accidents.
KW - China
KW - accidents
KW - chemical plants
UR - https://hdl.handle.net/1959.7/uws:55086
U2 - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119239
DO - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119239
M3 - Article
SN - 0959-6526
VL - 248
JO - Journal of Cleaner Production
JF - Journal of Cleaner Production
M1 - 119239
ER -