Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:55:12 -0400
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Subject: Chemical Safety headlines from Google

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FIREFIGHTER MAIMED IN A FACTORY EXPLOSION SUES OVER CHEMICAL BLAZE | HERALD SUN, h ttp://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/firefighter-maimed-in-a-factory-e xplosion-sues-over-chemical-blaze/story-e6frf7kx-1225909145735

A FIREFIGHTER maimed in a factory explosion could have been spared his horrific injuries had there been warning signs about the dangerous chemicals inside, a coroner has found.

Veteran firefighter Richard Zapart almost died after chemical vapours caused a sudden blast at Japanese Screens and Interiors in Yarraville in October 2007.

The factory, which had just passed a council safety inspection, did not have external HAZCHEM signs despite using potentially explosive chemicals.

Coroner Heather Spooner yesterday said Mr Zapart and three colleagues who entered the factory to investigate a smouldering fan had no idea of the dangers that lay inside.

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SPONTANEOUS CHLORINE EXPLOSION IN SUPPLY BUILDING, http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/100823-spontane ous-chlorine-explosion

HOUSTON - Workers were evacuated from a building in southeast Houston for almost two hours after chlorine was released inside.

More than 100 employees were forced to leave the Handy Hardware Wholesale, Inc. building when firefighters arrived at approximately 9 p.m. Sunday.

Firefighters found a large pallet of boxed chlorine that had spontaneously exploded. The leaked chemical fell onto the ground and its fumes were released.

The Houston Fire Department Hazardous Materials Response Team cleaned the spill and allowed the chemical release to escape through the warehouse bay doors.

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CHEMICAL HAZARD IN FIRE, http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/chemical-hazard-in-fire-201 00823-13ilj.html

VICTORIAN authorities have new guidelines for chemical safety after a coroner's finding into a 2007 fire at a Yarraville factory

Coroner Heather Spooner yesterday found that nitrocellulose, commonly used as an ingredient in lacquer, was responsible for the ''extraordinary'' fire at the Hall Street factory that housed Japanese Screens and Interiors.

She found that the firefighters who fought the blaze were compromised by a lack of signs about the hazardous material on site. Under the new guidelines, suppliers of nitrocellulose products will be subject to checks to determine whether they are complying with occupational health and safety obligations and a register of known nitrocellulose product purchasers will be established.

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TWO NORTHBOUND I-95 LANES CLEARED AFTER VEHICLE ROLLOVER, CHEMICAL SPILL SOUTH OF CONGRESS AVENUE IN BOCA RATON, http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/tra ffic/two-northbound-i-95-lanes-cleared-after-vehicle-874604.html

Two northbound lanes of Interstate 95 have been cleared after a rollover crash and chemical spill near Congress Avenue caused delays for hours this afternoon.

The two blocked outside lanes, just south of Congress, were open as of 7 p.m., the Florida Highway Patrol web site indicated. Crews spent nearly four hours cleaning up the spill after a crash involving three vehicles shortly after 3 p.m.

There were no injuries reported, a Boca Raton Fire Rescue news release stated.

A pool cleaning truck, a medium-sized box truck and one car were involved, the release stated. The box truck, containing a small amount of resins and acetones in 5-gallon drums, rolled over and spilled a small amount of resin onto the roadway, the release stated.

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DEVELOPING: EMS TREATING MAN FOR CHEMICAL EXPOSURE AT CHARLESTON FIRE STATION | WCBD-TV 2, http://www2.counton2.com/news/2010/ aug/23/developing-ems-treating-man-chemical-exposure-char-ar-739416/

CHARLESTON, S.C. --
Charleston County EMS is treating a man exposed to an unknown chemical, after he slept in a boxcar.

According to Charleston Fire Department Spokesman Mark Ruppel, the man is isolated at the Fire Station on Wentworth Street. He is breathing, and appears to be ok.

Ruppel says the man walked into the CFD Headquarters this morning complaining that his skin is burning and his hair was falling out.

A Hazerdous Materials team is on the scene trying to determine what the chemical is.

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LAFD NEWS &AMP; INFORMATION: ODOR IN PANORAMA CITY APARTMENT BRINGS LAFD HAZMAT RESPONSE, http://lafd.blogspot.com/2010/08/odor-in-panorama-city-apartme nt-brings.html

Los Angeles Firefighters, dispatched to an odor investigation, arrived quickly at a three story garden-style apartment building to learn of an irritating odor in or near a 3rd floor unit undergoing renovation. 

With three persons from the premises initially complaining of respiratory irritation, first arriving crews immediately extracted and isolated the ill, while summoning an LAFD Hazardous Materials response. 

Occupants of the 64-unit building were calmly led upwind to fresh air in a well-coordinated fashion that kept them safe yet separate from those who exhibited minor illness following possible fume exposure. 

With a Command Post and perimeter established and key building systems secured, LAFD HazMat experts donned protective gear as their colleagues commenced a detailed medical assessment of all five residents now complaining of respiratory irritation.

A comprehensive sweep of the 42,000 square-foot building with sophisticated sensing devices yielded no immediate or escalating hazard. 

Following exposure to fresh air and the brief use of medical oxygen, the symptoms experienced by all five residents soon subsided, and each declined offered medical treatment and transportation. 

No other illness or injuries were reported. 

Though the odor dissipated and its source was undetermined, LAFD responders surmise it may have been related to aerosol insecticide or oven cleaner being used in the apartment undergoing renovation.

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FIRE CREWS, HAZMAT CREWS CALLED TO WATER PLANT FOR ACID LEAK | LAHONTANVALLEYNEWS.COM, http://www.lahontanvalleynews.com/artic le/20100823/NEWS/100829955/1055&amp;ParentProfile=1045

The Fallon/Churchill Volunteer Fire Department along with the Federal Fire Department at Naval Air Station Fallon responded to n hydrochloric acid leak at the city's water plant Monday afternoon.

Others called out included Fallon Police Department, paramedics from Banner Churchill Community Hospital and a HAZMAT response team.

Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford Jr. said the acid leaked from a holding tank. Employees were evacuated, and no injuries were reported. Tedford said the spill is under investigation. He could not elaborate on the cause of the leak.

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EMERGENCY CREWS CLEAN UP LIQUID OXYGEN SPILL NEWS TRIBUNE -LOCAL NEWS, http://newstribune.com/articles/2010/08/24/news_local/d oc4c72d0ddae075227883840.txt

A faulty valve caused about 3,000 galloons of liquid oxygen to leak onto Missouri Boulevard on Monday afternoon.

According to Jefferson City Fire Department reports, a valve broke on a truck hauling 6,000 gallons of liquid oxygen around 1:40 p.m. as it was traveling in the 500 block of Missouri Boulevard. This was near the rear of St. Mary=92s Health Center and across the street from the hospital=92s accounting building.

As a precaution, 50 people working in the accounting building were evacuated.

The Cole County HAZMAT Team was called in to stand by and officials with DNR were also called in.

Eventually the valve was repaired and the workers were allowed to return to their office building.

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SEVERAL SICKENED AT BUCKS CO. POOL | 6ABC.COM, http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&amp;id =7624516

As soon as local authorities realized what happened hazmat crews quickly descended upon the Quakertown Municipal Pool.

"Some of our employees were performing daily maintenance on the pool. Two regular chemicals that we use on a daily basis came together and had a reaction which turned into chlorine gas," said Quakertown Managing Director Scott McElree.

As a result, early responders immediately evacuated the pool area, Quakertown Memorial Park, several nearby homes, and a few buildings including the local public library.

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NATIONAL BRIEFINGS - SOUTH - ALABAMA - AMMONIA LEAK SICKENS 120 - NYTIMES.COM, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/24/us/24brfs-AMMONIALEAKS_BRF.html? _r=1

More than 120 people were sickened Monday by the leak of ammonia at the Millard Refrigerated Services plant in Theodore. Hospital officials in Mobile said 29 people were admitted, including four in intensive care. Scores of people were forced to remain in their homes and at a school after the leak was reported. The leak also forced workers to evacuate one of BP=92s main staging areas for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill cleanup. BP said dozens of cleanup workers from its Theodore site were among those taken to hospitals.

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DIESEL FUEL SPILL SHUTS DOWN SEVERAL LANES OF I-85 IN FULTON COUNTY - ATLANTA NEWS STORY - WGCL ATLANTA, http://www.cb satlanta.com/news/24720458/detail.html

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Fulton County Hazmat and HERO crews cleaned up diesel fuel spilled over several hundred yards of I-85 South near the Flat Shoals Road bridge.
Fulton County Chief Fire Marshal Keith Padgett told CBS Atlanta that a tractor trailer lost a tire, and shards from the tire apparently ruptured the truck's diesel 125 gallon fuel tank.
An estimated 40-50 gallons leaked across all four lanes of I-85 South.
Fulton County units have plugged the hole and worked with HERO units to suck up what they could and cover the rest with an absorbent.

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LOCAL FRED MEYER EVACUATED, HAZMAT SCARE - KTVA, http://www.k tva.com/ci_15860569?source=most_viewed

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTVA-CBS 11 News) Anchorage Police say they evacuated the Fred Meyer store off of Northern Lights Boulevard and New Seward, after a chemically activated bomb went off during a late night back to school shopping session on Saturday. APD says no one was hurt, however the people who were out late Saturday night back to school shopping, still got quite a scare.
Police say just before 11 pm, what looked like a plastic water container exploded from gas pressure in isle four in the Fred Meyer store. APD says the store was evacuated for a period of time, but they are not sure exactly how long that was.

Anchorage Fire Department officials say after everyone cleared out of harms way, they tested some samples from the bottle with their hazardous materials equipment. It tested 97% muriatic acid, a hydrochloric acid commonly used for industrial cleaning.

Fire officials say they were able to neutralize the substance with baking soda, provided by Fred Meyer. APD says this goes beyond a prank and is a very serious offense.

"Lots of times, young people especially, because that's who I am seeing on the internet constructing these kind of devices, young people think that either their a young person, or this is just a funny thing so it's not a serious offense. This caused a great deal of disruption, but it's also placing other peoples lives and well being in jeopardy, and we will prosecute criminally when we determine who is responsible for this act," said

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FEMA CENTER, MALL REOPEN AFTER HAZMAT SCARE - NASHVILLE NEWS STORY - WSMV NASHVILLE, http://www.wsmv.com /news/24712538/detail.html

A strange smell at the FEMA center in Antioch sent four people to the hospital Saturday and forced authorities to evacuate the building and Hickory Hollow Mall.
The FEMA Center is in the old J.C. Penney building at the mall. Employees there told emergency medical workers they felt sick from a strange smell.
Hazardous materials specialists and Homeland Security employees began evacuating the building and the mall at about 10:30 a.m.
Agents searched for a cause of the odor but didn't find anything. There was concern a gas leak may have occurred, but gas was not running to the building, authorities said.

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=91TANK TOWN=92 SPILLS ALMOST 20,000 GALLONS; CONNECTION BREAKS BETWEEN PIPES, http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/HazMat-crews-at-s cene-of-fuel-spill-in-Niles-101220244.html

NILES =97 A gasoline leak on Saturday morning on a section of Third Street referred to as "Tank Town" may have caused nearly 20,000 gallons of gas to spew onto the ground, authorities say.

The spill at a tank at the Niles North Terminal owned by Buckeye Partners, L.P., 2303 S. Third St., happened at 8:37 a.m. and was capped at 10:08 a.m.

Niles Township Fire Chief Gary Brovold said the spill may have occurred when a flange connecting pipes near the tank came apart, causing a spill six feet in diameter. The unleaded premium gas was being pumped to a tanker truck at a loading rack farther away.

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I-75 ONE LANE NORTH &AMP; SOUTH OPEN AT CRASH SCENE - NEWS STORY - WHIO DAYTON, http://www.whiotv .com/news/24713552/detail.html

AUGLAIZE CO., Ohio -- A two vehicle accident has shutdown all northbound lanes and all but one southbound lane of Interstate 75 near U.S. 33.
An SUV slid on wet pavement trying to enter I-75 south from U.S. 33 around 3:15 p.m., the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. A semi truck on the highway tried to avoid the SUV but went into the median, struck a barrier wire, and knocked down an overheard sign.
Auglaize County HazMat was called to the scene to clean up an estimated 60-100 gallons of diesel fuel spilled onto the way by the semi truck.
The semi truck was loaded with lime, but the substance does not pose a safety risk, OSP said.

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METH LAB TOSSED IN TRASH CAN NEAR GAS PUMP - KRMG LOCAL NEWS ON KRMG.COM, http://krmg.com/localnews/2010/08/meth-lab-tossed-in-trash-can-n.html

(TULSA)- Hazmat crews were called to the QuikTrip at 47th and Yale Ave. Saturday morning for a meth lab in a trash can.

An employee called authorities after noticing some unusual items.

Police say there were bottles, hoses abd other items that tested positive for a meth lab.

Crews cleaned up the scene and no one was injured.

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WETHERSFIELD CHEMICALS FOUND LEAKING IN HOME | WTNH.COM CONNECTICUT, http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/hartford_cty/Wethersfie ld-chemicals-found-leaking-in-home

Chemicals found leaking in home

Sulfur dioxide found leaking from old fridge

Wethersfield, Conn. (WTNH) - Hazmat crews responded to a home on Wolcott Road in Wethersfield due to an old fridge that was said to be leaking hazardous chemicals.

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PROFESSOR'S BOMB-MAKING SON: UCONN PHYSICS PROFESSOR ROUTINELY HELPED SON, 13, MAKE BOMBS - CTNOW, http://www.ctnow.com/news/connec ticut/tolland/hc-uconn-professor-bomb-arrest-0814-20100813,0,1043606.story

ROCKVILLE =97 A UConn physics professor whose Storrs neighborhood was evacuated when his 13-year-old son detonated a homemade bomb in January routinely helped the boy make bombs and had some of the ingredients shipped to his work address, police said.

That and other details of the state's case against Juha Javanainen are laid out in a warrant for his arrest. Javanainen, 56, was charged June 16 with first-degree reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a minor.

Javanainen appeared briefly Friday in Superior Court in Rockville, where his case was continued to Sept. 17. He continues to work as a professor at the University of Connecticut, his lawyer, Mark Hauslaib, said outside the courtroom.

Javanainen's son also was arrested; his case is in juvenile court.

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GULF OIL SPILL AFFECTS UTAH | STANDARD-EXAMINER, http://www.standard.net/topics/bp-oil-spill/2010/08/20/g ulf-oil-spill-affects-utah

The massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has had a trickledown effect in Utah.

A federal agency that has been asked to look into the April 20 spill from the BP oil rig has temporarily halted some of its smaller investigations, including one in the Top of Utah at the Silver Eagle Refinery.

Earlier this summer, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee asked the U.S. Chemical Safety Board to examine the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion.

The board, which investigates chemical accidents, had probed another accident at a BP plant in Texas.

But in taking on the Gulf spill investigation, the agency said it had to suspend and perhaps terminate other investigations because it was overburdened with cases.

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THE REPUBLIC - METH-LAB BLAST DESTROYS JENNINGS HOME, http://www.therepublic.com/view/local_story/Me th_lab_blast_destroys_Jennings_home_8_20_2010/

NORTH VERNON, Ind. =97 Sheriff=92s deputies suspect the explosion of a methamphetamine lab destroyed a Jennings County mobile home.

The explosion and fire occurred Thursday on Road 850W near Elizabethtown, according to Jennings County Sheriff=92s Department.

Once firefighters from Geneva Township extinguished the flames, deputies found what appeared to be the remains of a meth lab inside.

Investigators believe a chemical reaction from the meth production caused the explosion.

The home=92s occupants were gone by the time emergency workers arrived on the scene; no injuries were reported.

After obtaining a search warrant, deputies entered the remains of the home to find several items, including paint thinner and pseudoephedrine, associated with meth production.

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