The Benefits from Using Professionally Developed Models of Possible Hazardous Materials Accident Scenarios in Crime Scene Investigations

Abstract

Without the possibility of preliminary professional analysis of possible versions of scenarios of more complex accidents with hazardous materials, each crime scene investigation of causes and forensically relevant circumstances of their occurrence can be nearly impossible, with irreparable and fatal failures of securing the crime scene and in all phases of crime scene investigation process. The author analyzes some of the (possible) hazardous materials major accidents (with examples from Croatia) and explains the importance for investigation of easily accessible professionally made and updated some key documents. This includes documents of health, safety and security (HSS) hazards analysis and risk assessment, plans and programs for prevention and protection as well as plans for emergency preparedness and response, for all those companies that manufacture, store or transport hazardous materials. Police ability to locate documents and provide professional insight regarding investigations enables adequate forensic exchange of expert information among members of crime scene investigation teams and helps the quality planning of phases and procedures of crime scene investigation according to available knowledge about relevant features of the accident under investigation. This way, there will be less possibility of losing key evidence, redundant investigation procedures/costs, unnecessary dealing with less important parts of procedural, technical and operative documentation. It is necessary to update current education programs for all accident investigators. Analytical methods, techniques and software tools used for making those professional documents can be of great help in searching, finding and testing logical connections of relevant macro- and micro-traces at the scene of accident with other important clues.