Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:22:35 -0500
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From: Ralph Stuart <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: Chemical Safety headlines from Google

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FIRE ERUPTS AT CHEMICAL STORAGE COMPANY IN AMSTERDAM - PEOPLE'S DAILY ONLINE, http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90853/7296519.html

There were no immediate reports of casualties after a major fire and explosions broke out at a chemical storage company in Amsterdam on Tuesday, authorities said.

Firefighters were on site to battle the flames that sent thick, black clouds of smoke into the sky.

Diergaarde Chemical Storage said the fire did not reach the department where chemicals are stored. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Diergaarde Chemical specializes in the transportation and storage of dangerous goods.

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BOTTLE OF GASOLINE SPARKS HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSES IN OXNARD =BB VENTURA COUNTY STAR, http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/22/chemical-exp osure-sparks-hazardous-materials-in/

The illness that sparked hazardous materials responses to three locations Tuesday in Oxnard was apparently caused by vapor from a 5-gallon water bottle filled with gasoline, according to the Oxnard Fire Department.

The incident began about 9 a.m. after an Oxnard Environmental Resources worker became ill after the trash truck he was on picked up a dumpster behind Transfresh Corp., 1001 Industrial Ave., said Deborah O'Malia, a spokeswoman for the Oxnard Fire Department. The man was taken to an occupational health clinic on Outlet Center Drive in Oxnard.

Early reports indicated the man was sickened by an unknown chemical, and authorities initially believed the chemical may have been in the dumpster, which was taken to the city's recycling facility, O'Malia said.

Because the chemical involved was unknown, hazardous materials teams responded as a precaution to all of the locations that could have been contaminated =97 standard protocol in such situations, O'Malia said. The recycling center was evacuated as a precaution; workers at Transfresh were asked to shelter in place.

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THE DAY - CONTRACTOR INJURED WORKING AT TREATMENT PLANT | NEWS FROM SOUTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT, htt p://www.theday.com/article/20110222/NWS04/302229962/-1/nws

New London - An independent contractor hired to paint the floor at the city's wastewater treatment plant was injured Monday and rushed to Lawrence &amp; Memorial Hospital.
Police and fire officials are investigating the incident which "appeared to be a chemical burn related to an accidental discharge,'' police said.
The accident occurred about noon at the plant on Trumbull Street in Fort Trumbull.
Barry Weiner, chairman of the Water and Water Pollution Control Authority said he could not disclose the nature of the injuries because the incident is under investigation.

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EXPLOSIONS AND A HAZMAT SITUATION STARTLED EMPLOYEES TUESDAY MORNING AT A SACRAMENTO HOME DEPOT. - KTXL, http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ ktxl-explosions-at-a-sacramento-home-depot-20110222,0,356373.story

SACRAMENTO =97 Explosions and a hazmat situation startled employees Tuesday morning at a Sacramento Home Depot.

Just after 2 a.m., employees who were inside stocking heard loud explosions in the parking lot along Meadowview Road. Responding officers discovered they were five homemade bombs, four had exploded, spread around the parking lot and garden center. 

Hazmat crews were called in to clean up the contents of the five bottle bombs -- toilet bowl cleaner and foil. No one was hurt, and the ones that exploded did not do any damage.

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JOURNAL ONLINE | CHEMICAL LEAK DOWNS QC FAMILIES, http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/metro/28785-chemi cal-leak-downs-qc-families-.html

AT least 300 families in Quezon City were evacuated from their homes after they fell ill after inhaling ammonia that leaked from a nearby ice plant Sunday night.

City police station 2 chief Supt. Audie Madrideo said the residents complained of vomiting, cold-like symptoms, dizziness and eye irritation after smelling ammonia.  

Madrideo said that police personnel and officials from Bureau of Fire Protection and city hall immediately inspected the VCNC ice plant located at 78 Bukidnon St., Ramon Magsaysay, Barangay Bago Bantay. 

He said the ice plant shut down its operations to ensure that there will be no more leakage. 

Families living within the 330 feet radius of the ice plant were evacuated to a nearby basketball court. 

Madrideo said that ammonia, which is used as a refrigerant at the plant, can cause difficulty in breathing, especially among children.

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THREE PEOPLE INJURED DURING HAZMAT SPILL IN ROANOKE, http://www.wset .com/Global/story.asp?S=14066979

Roanoke, VA - Three contractors are in the hospital after a hazmat spill in Roanoke on Sunday.

Roanoke EMS officials say the contractors were working on a Norfolk Southern railcar on 24th Street and Shenadoah Avenue when molten sulfur started to leak.

Officials say the contractors are being treated for respiratory and chemical burns at the Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. One person is listed in critical condition, and the other two are listed in serious condition.

Roanoke Police closed roads 17th street to Shenandoah avenue during the clean-up. The hazmat spill is contained, and the roads are back open.

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ACID SPILL CLOSES U.S. 278 | BLUFFTON TODAY, http://www.blufftontoday.com/news/2011-02-21/acid-spill-closes-us-278

HARDEEVILLE - The eastbound lanes of U.S. 278 was closed for more than two hours Monday morning after several containers of muriatic acid fell off the back of a truck, said Hardeeville Fire Chief Dan Morgan.
The concentrated acid created vapors, prompting officials to close U.S. 278 near Tradition at 7:30 a.m. Traffic was at a standstill and the road reopened after 10 a.m., Morgan said.
No one was injured and the Hilton Head-Bluffton HAZMAT Team was called in to clean up the spill, Morgan said.
Muriatic acid is typically used to clean masonry or brick work.
Firefighters from Hilton Head, Bluffton, Hardeeville and personnel with Jasper County EMS all responded.

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