Chemical Safety Headlines =46rom Google Friday, August 19, 2011 8:33:24 AM A service of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety Connecting Chemistry and Safety at http://www.dchas.org All article summaries and tags are archived at http://pinboard.in/u:dchas Table of Contents (15 articles) DOW SCIENCE COMPLEX CLOSED UNTIL MONDAY AFTER =91CHEMICAL EXPOSURE=92 Tags: us_MI, laboratory, release, response, unknown_chemical SMOKE FROM ELEVATOR MOTOR EVACUATES DOW SCIENCE COMPLEX Tags: us_MI, education, release, response, unknown_chemical THE PRESS ASSOCIATION: MAN DIES AFTER CHEMICALS INCIDENT Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, release, death, unknown_chemical CHEMICAL VAPORS SEND ONE PERSON TO HOSPITAL Tags: us_OH, transportation, release, injury, unknown_chemical AMMONIA LEAK FORCES EVACUATION OF PERDUE PLANT ON EASTERN SHORE Tags: us_VA, industrial, release, injury, ammonia 2 WOMEN KILLED IN CHEMICAL FACTORY EXPLOSION IN CITY Tags: India, industrial, explosion, death, hydrogen_peroxide, illegal, mek NY CELLPHONE WORKERS SICKENED IN CLEANER MISHAP Tags: us_NY, public, release, injury, cleaners THE MANEATER - BLOGS - POLICE BEAT - CHEMICAL SPILL SHUTS DOWN SIXTH STREET, CAUSES EVACUATION (AUG. 18, 2011) Tags: us_MO, laboratory, release, response, acetone, copper_sulphate, methanol 'ALL CLEAR' FOR CHESTER COUNTY CHEMICAL FIRE Tags: us_PA, transportation, fire, response, hydrogen HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL EVACUATES BUSINESS Tags: us_CO, industrial, fire, response, bromine PEARLAND: HAZMAT CREW RESPONDS TO SCENE OF CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT Tags: us_TX, public, release, response, unknown_chemical HAZ-MAT INCIDENT AT FAIRFIELD 5N PLUS, INC. Tags: us_CT, industrial, release, response, metals SOCCER-MARACANA WORKERS STRIKE AFTER ON-SITE BLAST Tags: Brazil, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical CHEMICAL EXPLOSION INJURES PITT GRADUATE STUDENT Tags: us_PA, laboratory, explosion, injury, explosives CHEMICAL SPILL AT MU DRAWS EMERGENCY RESPONSE Tags: us_MO, laboratory, release, response, unknown_chemical --------------------------------------------- DOW SCIENCE COMPLEX CLOSED UNTIL MONDAY AFTER =91CHEMICAL EXPOSURE=92 http://www.cm-life.com/2009/08/28/breaking-news-police-dow-science-comple- to-reopen-at-1-p-m-after-chemical-mishap/ Tags: us_MI, laboratory, release, response, unknown_chemical The university shut down the Dow Science Complex and canceled classes today after a base-filled beaker dropped to the ground, releasing potentially dangerous chemicals. Central Michigan University Police reopened the building at about 2 p.m. today, allowing students to retrieve materials left in the building =97 backpacks, laptops, purses and books. The building was officially reopened at about 4 p.m., but classes will not resume until Monday morning. =93Especially in a science building, people need to be ready to get out quickly,=94 said David Bailey, a Coldwater sophomore who was in class when the accident occurred. =93It=92s not as easy as spraying down a chemical fire with water. If you do that, the building could blow up. One drop of a vase, and the building could be shut down for five hours. Students need to be aware of that.=94 Steve Smith, director of public relations, said rooms 343, 344 and 345 on the third floor will remain closed for another 24 hours to help air out the partially airborne chemical exposure. Smith said anyone who needs their personal items before Monday can contact the CMU Police Department, but if students can wait until Monday, they need to proceed to the department of the class they were attending. Their belongings, he said, will be held safely during the weekend. --------------------------------------------- SMOKE FROM ELEVATOR MOTOR EVACUATES DOW SCIENCE COMPLEX http://www.cm-life.com/2011/08/18/smoke-observed-at-dow-hall-fire-departme nt-investigating/ Tags: us_MI, education, release, response, unknown_chemical There was smoke, but fortunately for the thousands working or moving in across campus Thursday, there was no fire. Faculty and graduate students were evacuated from the Dow Science Complex around 3:00 p.m. when the fire alarm was set off by smoke from an elevator motor, but there was no fire, said CMU Police Captain Fred Harris. Harris said the report of the fire alarm was received at 2:52 p.m. =93There was no damage to the building and no injuries,=94 Harris said. Physics professor Axel Mellinger was one of the first people to smell smoke within the building. =93It was coming from the elevator leading down to the mechanical room,=94 Mellinger said. =93Hopefully none of the smoke gets into my lab.=94 Mellinger said the campus police were the first to arrive, soon followed by the fire department. =93It=92s funny having this happen to Dow after the flooding and the chemical spill,=94 Mellinger said. =93There was even a fire drill scheduled for this Friday.=94 --------------------------------------------- THE PRESS ASSOCIATION: MAN DIES AFTER CHEMICALS INCIDENT http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5h6AgLToqAzn6zOOIECT r2MNQgONg?docId=N0467041313686731812A Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, release, death, unknown_chemical A man has died after he became unwell while working at an industrial estate. It is understood the man, believed to be in his 30s, had collapsed inside a chemical tank he had been working in. Four fire engines, a heavy rescue unit and an ambulance were sent to the scene at Diamond Wheels Technologies in Baird Avenue, Dryburgh Industrial Estate, in Dundee. He was taken to Ninewells Hospital in the city, where he died a short time later. Two other members of staff at the alloy wheel business, who had gone to their colleague's aid, were assessed at the scene by an ambulance crew before they were taken to the same hospital for checks. Police said there are no concerns for their health at this time. Emergency services were called at around 1.35pm on Thursday. A spokesman for Tayside Police said: "The area concerned was cordoned off and Tayside Fire and Rescue Service established a temporary exclusion zone around the affected area while the initial stages of the emergency were dealt with. --------------------------------------------- CHEMICAL VAPORS SEND ONE PERSON TO HOSPITAL http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/chemical-vapors-send-one-p erson-to-hospital-1233219.html Tags: us_OH, transportation, release, injury, unknown_chemical HUBER HEIGHTS -- Vapors from a hazardous chemical sent one person to a hospital and prompted a hazardous materials response at Veolia Environmental Services on Thursday. Executive Boulevard =97 the company is located in the 6100 block =97 was shut down for a short time while firefighters and a hazardous materials response team assessed the situation. City Fire Chief Mark Ashworth said the person overcome by fumes, who was identified as a worker, was taken to a hospital suffering from injuries that were not life threatening. Ashworth said the worker opened the rear doors of a trailer and was overcome by the vapors. The chemical was not identified. The chief praised officials at Veolia, which transports chemical waster, for their response and cooperation. --------------------------------------------- AMMONIA LEAK FORCES EVACUATION OF PERDUE PLANT ON EASTERN SHORE http://www.wvec.com/home/Perdue-plant-on-Eastern-Shore-evacuated-due-to-am monia-leak-128013243.html Tags: us_VA, industrial, release, injury, ammonia ACCOMAC - Workers at the Perdue plant in Accomac were evacuated for three hours because of an ammonia leak. Fire officials say Perdue's Haz Mat Team was trying to control the leak when crews from several areas arrived just before 8:00 p.m. Wednesday. More than a dozen workers were evaluated and none needed to be taken to hospitals, fire officials stated. Members of the Eastern Shore Regional HazMat Team, and other emergency personnel donned special suits before going in to isolate and control the leak. --------------------------------------------- 2 WOMEN KILLED IN CHEMICAL FACTORY EXPLOSION IN CITY http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/2-women-killed-in-chemic al-factory-explosion-in-city/articleshow/9655402.cms Tags: India, industrial, explosion, death, hydrogen_peroxide, illegal, mek HYDERABAD: Two daily-wage workers died in an explosion at a chemical unit in Amberpet on Thursday morning. The two victims were identified as Venkata Lakshmi, 45, and Kalpana, 30, of Venkatapuram Colony, who were working at Nagamani Chemicals owned by B Nanda Gopal from Bapu Nagar in Amberpet. The incident took place at 11.30am when the two workers were mixing hydrogen peroxide, methyl ethyl ketone and sodium sulphate to produce a chemical substance used in the manufacturing of asbestos sheet moulds and coolants. The high intensity of the explosion damaged a portion of the chemical unit's roof and severely injured both Venkata Lakshmi and Kalpana. "With critical burn injuries, Venkata Lakshmi died on the spot and Kalpana succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at a nearby private hospital," Amberpet inspector A Srinivas said. Police said that the chemical unit was an illegal one. Nanda Gopal, the owner of the unit, has been arrested and cases have been booked against him under section 304-A (Causing death due to rash or negligent act) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). --------------------------------------------- NY CELLPHONE WORKERS SICKENED IN CLEANER MISHAP http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/18/3847424/ny-cellphone-workers-sickened.htm l Tags: us_NY, public, release, injury, cleaners BOHEMIA, N.Y. -- Authorities say two chemical cleaning agents were inadvertently mixed at a New York cellphone business, sickening more than four dozen workers. The Suffolk County police say 54 workers at CWG Communications became ill Thursday afternoon. They showed symptoms of nausea, vomiting and respiratory distress. Two workers had mild convulsions. Hazardous material emergency responders responded to the business, which cleans and refurbishes cellphones. Many of the sickened were found on a lawn outside the facility. Authorities say a new cleaning agent apparently mixed with some residual solution on equipment, causing the reaction. Police Inspector Stuart Cameron says it "appears to be just an accident." --------------------------------------------- THE MANEATER - BLOGS - POLICE BEAT - CHEMICAL SPILL SHUTS DOWN SIXTH STREET, CAUSES EVACUATION (AUG. 18, 2011) http://www.themaneater.com/blogs/crime/2011/8/18/chemical-spill-shuts-down -sixth-street-causes-evac/ Tags: us_MO, laboratory, release, response, acetone, copper_sulphate, methanol MU Environmental Health and Safety personnel are still determining the cause of a chemical spill, which occurred Wednesday night in a laboratory in Thomas and Nell Lafferre Hall. "It was a rupture of a container," Battalion Chief Steven Sapp said. "When people think of an explosion, they think of what they see on television. This was a rupture." The incident shut down Sixth Street temporarily and caused the evacuation of fewer than 15 people from Thomas and Nell Lafferre Hall between 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. No one was injured. "We were very fortunate that there we no injuries," MU spokesman Christian Basi said. "Everyone was evacuated and safe." The incident occurred in room C-2266 and was reported by two students working in a nearby laboratory. The Columbia Fire Department responded with the assistance of MUPD and the MU Department of Environmental Health and Safety. "There was reported that a gallon-sized glass container stored in a cabinet had ruptured and that some of the material had spilled onto the floor of the lab," Sapp said. "When we got there, we went in with protective clothing and respirators and identified that is exactly what had taken place." MU officials have identified some of the chemicals involved in the spill, including: acetone, methanol and isopropyl alcohol, common cleaning solvents, potassium hydroxide, alumninum and copper sulfate, according to an MU News Bureau release. The cause of the spill is still undetermined. "The EHS are still looking into why it happened," Basi said. "When we have an incident in a laboratory with a spill, which is very rare, we will go back and try and determine how it happened. The event may have happened due to something we could have prevented; that is part of our investigation. It could have been something no one could prevent." --------------------------------------------- 'ALL CLEAR' FOR CHESTER COUNTY CHEMICAL FIRE http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/126707433.html Tags: us_PA, transportation, fire, response, hydrogen Residents in West Whiteland Township, Pa. who were ordered to immediately evacuate Wednesday afternoon because of a fire at a nearby specialty chemicals company have been given the "all clear" to return. The fire began in a trailer full of hydrogen at the Johnson Matthey plant at about 10:30 a.m. The trailer fire was contained as of about 2 p.m., officials say. The plant itself was evacuated, as well as some houses in the area earlier in the day. --------------------------------------------- HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL EVACUATES BUSINESS http://www.kjct8.com/news/28896342/detail.html Tags: us_CO, industrial, fire, response, bromine GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- Employees at a Grand Junction recycling business inadvertently cut into a pipe containing a chemical called Bromine Trifluoride. The chemical caught fire inside the pipe and caused employees to evacuate the business on Wednesday afternoon. The incident took place at Pacific Steel and Recycling, located at 2365 River Rd. Employees were recycling some metal pipe when when the chemical fire occurred. According to officials, the chemical Bromine Trifluoride is commonly used in oil field work to help drill through hard materials. The Grand Junction Fire Department says that because the smoke from the fire is a respiratory irritant, the business' yard, which is about 20-acres, had to be evacuated, including the 30 employees who were working there at the time. --------------------------------------------- PEARLAND: HAZMAT CREW RESPONDS TO SCENE OF CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT http://www.khou.com/news/neighborhood-news/Pearland-Hazmat-crew-called-to- scene-of-construction-incident-127953763.html Tags: us_TX, public, release, response, unknown_chemical PEARLAND, Texas - The Pearland Fire Marshal=92s Office responded to a Hazmat scene at Barry Rose Road and Pearland Parkway Wednesday morning. Officials said they were called to the scene after a contractor backed over a piece of equipment that contained a small amount of a hazardous chemical. It was unclear if the capsule containing the chemical was breached, so Hazmat crews responded as a precaution. The incident occurred in a vacant field. --------------------------------------------- HAZ-MAT INCIDENT AT FAIRFIELD 5N PLUS, INC. http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/fairfield_cty/haz-mat-incident-at-fairfield-5 nplus Tags: us_CT, industrial, release, response, metals Fairfield, Conn. (WTNH) - A Fairfield company is expected to open as usual today after an early morning hazardous materials incident. Fairfield firefighters were called to 5N Plus on Commerce Drive just after midnight. The company produces specialty metal and chemical products. The fire chief tells News 8 there was a chemical reaction. An employee responded and thought he fixed the problem, unaware there was a second chemical reaction also occuring. The scene was cleared shortly after 3:30 a.m. and the company will be able to open today. One firefighter was treated for possible exposure to chemical vapors. He got a clean bill of health and was back on the job in the morning. --------------------------------------------- SOCCER-MARACANA WORKERS STRIKE AFTER ON-SITE BLAST http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/18/soccer-world-brazil-strike-idUSL DE77H00H20110818 Tags: Brazil, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical Aug 17 (Reuters) - Construction workers refurbishing the giant Maracana stadium for the 2014 World Cup finals went on strike after one of their colleagues was badly burnt in an on-site explosion on Wednesday, the workers' union said. The worker's legs were also injured when an oil barrel with chemical residue exploded on Wednesday morning and he had been rushed to the city's Souza Aguiar hospital, the union added. "We must improve our working conditions which are not ideal. We'll only return to work when our demands have been heard," union director Romildo da Silva told Reuters. --------------------------------------------- CHEMICAL EXPLOSION INJURES PITT GRADUATE STUDENT http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_752069.ht ml Tags: us_PA, laboratory, explosion, injury, explosives A chemical explosion on Wednesday at the University of Pittsburgh's Chevron Science Center burned a graduate student on his face, chest and arms. The student, 30, was working in a hooded research area in Room 1123 about 10 a.m. when his beaker, which contained mercury perchlorate hydrate, broke. The chemical can explode if not handled properly, but the cause of the incident remains under investigation. The student was conscious when medics took him to UPMC Presbyterian in stable condition, said police, who did not release the man's name or say how severe his burns were. Safety officials evacuated the building at the corner of Bigelow Boulevard and Parkman Avenue. Pitt Police Chief Timothy Delaney did not know how many people were in the building at the time of the explosion. School is not in session. The building is the university's chemistry center and is a mix of classrooms and labs. Pitt spokesman John Fedele said researchers work at the center year-round. --------------------------------------------- CHEMICAL SPILL AT MU DRAWS EMERGENCY RESPONSE http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/08/17/chemical-spill-mu-dra ws-emergency-response/ Tags: us_MO, laboratory, release, response, unknown_chemical COLUMBIA =97 A hazardous materials spill at Lafferre Hall at MU drew emergency responders and environmental and health services officials for a cleanup on Wednesday evening. No injuries were reported. Firefighters responded to the call at about 8 p.m. at the building at 416 S. Sixth St. A glass container in a lab ruptured and spilled material on the floor, according to a news release from the fire department. The hazardous materials, which were not identified in the news release, were determined not to cause an "immediate threat to safety," and were contained within the lab space. About a half-gallon of the material was spilled. Research assistant Dan Howard discovered the spill while in the building, but the cause of the spill is under investigation. Officials from MU Environmental Health and Safety will investigate further, according to a news release from the MU News Bureau. The lab will be closed until MU Environmental Health and Safety officials conduct a secondary check of the lab Thursdy morning. ---------------------------------------------
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