Chemical Safety Headlines =46rom Google Monday, August 22, 2011 8:15:01 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 (22 articles) SUSPECTED METH LAB DISCOVERED AT KINGSPORT MOTEL- KINGSPORT TIMES-NEWS Tags: us_TN, public, release, response, meth_lab CONTAMINATED STAFF RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL Tags: New_Zealand, industrial, release, injury, unknown_chemical CHEMICAL LEAK SENDS WOODLAND CANNERY EMPLOYEES TO AREA HOSPITALS Tags: us_CA, industrial, release, injury, chlorine HOSPITAL WORKERS TREATED AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL IN ESSEX Tags: United_Kingdom, public, release, injury, solvent GRASSFIRE BURNS CHEMICALS, SLOWS TRAFFIC Tags: us_CA, industrial, fire, response, waste MAN'S LEGS BLOWN OFF IN BACKYARD EXPLOSION Tags: Australia, public, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical HAZMAT TEAM RESPONDS TO INSECTICIDE SPILL AT CLARINDA FARM Tags: us_IA, industrial, release, response, pesticides FAIRVIEW CITY HALL EVACUATED AFTER MOBILE METH LAB BUST NEARBY Tags: us_TN, public, release, injury, hydrochloric_acid, meth_lab WATER SUPPLY IS 'SAFE' AFTER STOREY ARMS CHEMICAL SPILL Tags: United_Kingdom, transportation, release, response, copper_carbonate TWO DIE IN CHEMICAL FACTORY BLAST Tags: India, industrial, explosion, death, sodium_sulphate FIRE IN VASCO AS NAPHTHA LINE LEAKS Tags: India, industrial, fire, injury, naphtha BUFFALO GROVE CRASH LEADS TO HAZMAT SPILL Tags: us_IL, public, release, injury, hydrochloric_acid 18-WHEELER CARRYING HAZARDOUS MATERIAL OVERTURNS NEAR HUEY P. LONG BRIDGE Tags: us_LA, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical, Tetrabutylin_Chloride HAZMAT SITUATION CLEARED, I-95 REOPENED Tags: us_PA, transportation, release, response, acetic_anhydride 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 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 CHEMICAL SPILL SHUTS DOWN SIXTH STREET, CAUSES EVACUATION (AUG. 18, 2011) Tags: us_MO, laboratory, release, response, acetone, copper_sulphate, methanol --------------------------------------------- SUSPECTED METH LAB DISCOVERED AT KINGSPORT MOTEL- KINGSPORT TIMES-NEWS http://www.timesnews.net/article/9035002/suspected-meth-lab-discovered-at- kingsport-motel Tags: us_TN, public, release, response, meth_lab KINGSPORT -- Four suspects are in custody following the discovery of a meth lab Saturday afternoon at the West Side Inn on Stone Drive. Personnel with the Kingsport Police Department, Sullivan County EMS and the Kingsport Fire Department=92s HazMat unit responded to a suspicious odor complaint at the inn around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. A nearby resident made the call, saying the foul odor was coming from Room 309. --------------------------------------------- CONTAMINATED STAFF RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/five-contaminated-chemical-spill-in-timaru -4360266 Tags: New_Zealand, industrial, release, injury, unknown_chemical Staff contaminated by a chemical spill at a Timaru factory have been released from hospital. An alkaline substance leaked from the New Zealand Light Leathers facility on Meadows Road at about 12.25pm today. The chemical was meant to go into a treatment plant but a system failure resulted in the substance overflowing and running onto a driveway and down an effluent drain. Four staff started feeling unwell and an ambulance and fire crews were called to the scene. The affected people were decontaminated at the site and were treated at hospital for breathing problems. --------------------------------------------- CHEMICAL LEAK SENDS WOODLAND CANNERY EMPLOYEES TO AREA HOSPITALS http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/21/3851995/chemical-leak-sends-woodland-cann ery.html Tags: us_CA, industrial, release, injury, chlorine More than 40 employees at a Woodland cannery were taken to Sacramento area hospitals and close to 800 to 1,000 people were evacuated shortly after noon today when a chemical used in tomato processing leaked into a work area, authorities said. Two employees of Pacific Coast Producers were seriously affected from exposure to the gas, chlorine dioxide, according to Greg Robinson, battalion chief for the Woodland Fire Department. He put the number of patients at 43. A dozen ambulances transported 22 employees to area hospitals. The other 21 were taken to hospitals by bus. Company spokeswoman Mona Shulman said chlorine dioxide leaked into the work area in the form of "off-gassing," apparently when an injection system carrying the gas became overloaded. Chlorine dioxide is routinely injected during processing "to keep the water and tomatoes sanitary as they go into canning," Shulman said. She said work is under way to detect the reason for the overload. --------------------------------------------- HOSPITAL WORKERS TREATED AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL IN ESSEX http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-14607532 Tags: United_Kingdom, public, release, injury, solvent Two workers from a hospital in Essex are being treated for the effects of a chemical spillage. The incident happened at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford where they were exposed to acidic chemical fumes following a spillage in a storage area. Fire crews were called to the incident on Saturday afternoon involving a canister of the citrus fragranced solvent d-Limonene. Firefighters said the spillage was small and straightforward to deal with. --------------------------------------------- GRASSFIRE BURNS CHEMICALS, SLOWS TRAFFIC http://www.turnto23.com/news/28928342/detail.html Tags: us_CA, industrial, fire, response, waste BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A grassfire in central Bakersfield got into a building storing chemicals Saturday afternoon, and the smoke slowed traffic way down on Highway 99. As traffic crawled through the smoke southbound on Highway 99, fire crews had to shut down the on-ramp to Golden State Highway as they worked. Fire crews said there were actually two fires. The first was burning near Landco Road, along some train tracks in that area. That fire burned about seven acres. The second fire was on Standard Drive, and got into the railroad ties and other items being behind some businesses, including an outbuilding at B.C. Labs, a chemical company. Environmental health investigators say flames got close to some "chlorinated hazardous waste," but it was contained and nothing was released. --------------------------------------------- MAN'S LEGS BLOWN OFF IN BACKYARD EXPLOSION http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-22/backyard-chemical-explosion-melbourn e/2849354/?site=melbourne Tags: Australia, public, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical The Victoria Police arson squad says two men who were critically injured in a backyard explosion south-east of Melbourne last night were experimenting with chemicals. A 24-year-old Pakenham man and a 23-year-old man from Cannons Creek are undergoing emergency surgery after the chemicals they were mixing exploded. The arson squad says the men planned to bury an improvised explosive device they had made, but it blew up earlier than they had expected. --------------------------------------------- CLARINDA HERALD JOURNAL > ARCHIVES > CLARINDA > COUNCIL BLUFFS HAZMAT TEAM RESPONDS TO INSECTICIDE SPILL AT CLARINDA FARM http://www.southwestiowanews.com/articles/2011/08/19/clarinda/doc4e4c2569c 756c731158288.txt Tags: us_IA, industrial, release, response, pesticides A torn bag of insecticide created a potentially dangerous situation near Clarinda Monday night, Aug. 15, requiring the response of the Council Bluffs Fire Department Hazmat Team. Page County Emergency Management Coordinator Rod Riley said he was notified by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources at approximately 7:50 p.m. that Robert Henke had reported the spill of a hazardous material at his farm two and one-half miles east of Clarinda. Riley said a bag containing approximately 10 pounds of Thimet 15G broke open while the owners of the farm were cleaning a barn where the material was stored. =93The owners estimated the bag had been there 30 to 35 years and had not been opened until they were cleaning. Due to the age, the bag broke open when they moved it,=94 Riley said. =93One of the residents came in contact with the dry powder. It had a strong, pungent odor that drew her attention. When they saw what it was they exited the barn and she immediately washed it off. She had no symptoms. --------------------------------------------- FAIRVIEW CITY HALL EVACUATED AFTER MOBILE METH LAB BUST NEARBY http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110819/NEWS03/308190076/Fairview-City- Hall-evacuated-after-mobile-meth-lab-bust-nearby?odyssey=nav%7Chead Tags: us_TN, public, release, injury, hydrochloric_acid, meth_lab Fairview City Hall had to be evacuated and 13 people were taken to local hospitals after an acid obtained during a meth lab bust was released into the air. Fairview Police Sgt. Pat Stockdale said officers made a traffic stop at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday near City Hall, where the police offices are housed. During the stop a =93shake and bake=94 or =93one pot=94 meth lab was found inside the car. Four suspects were taken into custody, Stockdale said, and charges are pending. =93After the stop, one of the components from the vehicle was brought to City Hall for field testing,=94 Stockdale said. =93The officer did not know it was hazardous.=94 The ingredient, muriatic acid, is commonly sold in hardware stores. --------------------------------------------- WATER SUPPLY IS 'SAFE' AFTER STOREY ARMS CHEMICAL SPILL http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-14592807 Tags: United_Kingdom, transportation, release, response, copper_carbonate Police and firefighters were called at 08:50 BST after around 500 litres of copper carbonate leaked from a parked container on the A470 near Storey Arms. About 250 litres ran into surface water drains and the Beacon Reservoir. Officers from Environment Agency Wales said there has been "minimal impact to fish life". The spill has so far had a localised impact on wildlife, with seven dead fish reported where the chemical entered the reservoir. John Harrison, of Environment Agency Wales, said the lack of damage was "thanks to the vehicle driver who acted quickly to help contain the spill". Surface drainage system The agency said it will continue to monitor Beacon Reservoir and the nearby stream to make sure there is no further impact over the next few days. The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the leak was contained with the help of the Environment Agency. The road was closed for about three hours. Fire service hazardous materials officer David Sheppard said: "Crews were called to leak of approximately 500 litres of copper carbonate from a ruptured bulk container. "The leakage entered the surface drainage system, but was contained using Environment Agency grab packs, dam mats, and absorbent granules. "Six sets of breathing apparatus were used, along with hazardous material decontamination equipment." --------------------------------------------- TWO DIE IN CHEMICAL FACTORY BLAST http://ibnlive.in.com/news/two-die-in-chemical-factory-blast/176866-60-121 .html Tags: India, industrial, explosion, death, sodium_sulphate YDERABAD: A major explosion in a chemical factory at Bapunagar in Amberpet on Thursday claimed the lives of two women. The incident at Nagamani chemical factory occurred while the women employees were mixing chemicals to prepare sodium sulphate in a 20-litre container. Around 11.30 a.m when both the employees=97 35-year-old V Venkata Lakshmi and 29-year-old B Kalpana=97 were mixing the chemicals in the container, an explosion took place which ripped apart the container. Both suffered severe injuries as they took the direct impact of the explosion. While Venkata Lakshmi died on the spot, Kalpana died while undergoing treatment at a corporate hospital. Both were residents of Venkataram Colony in Ramanthapur. Police arrested Nandagopal and registered a case. --------------------------------------------- FIRE IN VASCO AS NAPHTHA LINE LEAKS http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Fire-in-Vasco-as-naphtha-line- leaks/articleshow/9668989.cms Tags: India, industrial, fire, injury, naphtha VASCO: Vasco was hit by a major fire in the naval area at Varunapuri, Mangor, Friday night due to a suspected naphtha leak. More than 200 persons were evacuated from the navy's residential quarters close to the fire site. Five persons were injured, one of them seriously, when they were hit by sparks from the fire. Fourteen fire tenders including those from the navy, Goa Shipyard Limited, Zuari Industries Limited, Mormugao Port Trust and fire services were fighting the fire with chemical foam, whose flames rose as high as 20 metres, till late night. At around 8.10pm some persons near the naval colony gate noticed sparks and smoke, which soon turned into flames near a trench dug for road widening off the national highway. Within minutes the fire extended creating panic in the area. Authorities were alerted and the valves from the pumping station and at the port side shut. The pipeline goes to ZIL. --------------------------------------------- BUFFALO GROVE CRASH LEADS TO HAZMAT SPILL http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110805/news/708059693/ Tags: us_IL, public, release, injury, hydrochloric_acid Hazardous materials teams were called to a Buffalo Grove driveway after an elderly woman crashed her car into her garage, causing a lawn chemical to spill and create fumes, authorities said. The driver plowed the car through her closed garage door after 1 p.m. Friday on the 600 block of Bernard Drive. As the car went through the garage, it made contact with a chemical and fertilizers commonly used for lawns, according to Sgt. Scott Eisenmenger of the Buffalo Grove Police Department. Fumes from spilled hydrochloric acid overcame some of the police officers as they attempted to get the woman out of the vehicle. Three officers and the woman were treated at the scene for respiratory issues, and another officer was transported to the hospital for observation, Eisenmenger said. Hazardous materials teams from Buffalo Grove and two other area fire departments were able to neutralize the acid, which was bubbling in the middle of the garage. Authorities were concerned that the acid could have mixed with torn bags of fertilizer, but the two substances never made contact, said Battalion Chief Shawn Collins of the Buffalo Grove Fire Department. --------------------------------------------- 18-WHEELER CARRYING HAZARDOUS MATERIAL OVERTURNS NEAR HUEY P. LONG BRIDGE http://www.wwltv.com/news/Crews-working-to-clear-18-wheeler-accident-that- shut-down-parts-of-Huey-P-Long-128106933.html Tags: us_LA, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical, Tetrabutylin_Chloride JEFFERSON, La. -- Hours after it overturned, the Jefferson Parish Fire Department and Louisiana State Police were still on the scene of a wrecked semi just east of the Huey P. Long Bridge. State Police say the cargo on-board is hazardous, but doesn=92t pose as a threat ....=93There is a chemical inside the truck the chemical is called Tetrabutylin Chloride, it is a dangerous chemical it can cause skin burning, blindness if you get close to the chemical,=94 said Trooper Melissa Matey, a spokeswoman for State Police. =93If we do find that it=92s leaking, we=92re looking at possibly an overnight clean-up. If not, hopefully we can get the truck upright, and get that cleaned up.=94 --------------------------------------------- HAZMAT SITUATION CLEARED, I-95 REOPENED http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=8317188 Tags: us_PA, transportation, release, response, acetic_anhydride TINICUM TWP., Pa. August 19, 2011 (WPVI) -- A chemical leak from a southbound tanker truck on I-95 shut down the highway and Route 420 in both directions for several hours. Related Content MORE: Send a Breaking News alert MORE: Report a typo MORE: Sign up for 6abc Newsletters MORE: See more Action News slideshows Other motorists noticed a leak at approximately 4:45 p.m. Friday and pulled the tanker over at the Tinicum exit. "It was leaking for about five or ten minutes after they pulled him over and then it stopped by itself," said Tinicum Assistant Fire Chief Jonathan Buschmeier, who was among the first to arrive on the scene and made the decision to close the roadways. According to Delaware County Emergency Services Executive Director Ed Truitt, the tanker truck is owned by New Jersey-based Dana Transport, Inc, and was bound for St. Louis with 44,000 pounds of acetic anhydride. Officials report that the leak has been capped, but the roads remained closed for several hours while a decontamination unit can assessed the damage and Dana representatives offloaded the tanker. Firefighters evacuated dozens of residents from Colonial Park West to Interboro High School. There were concerns about wind shifts and the chemical reacting with the rainwater. "It worries me, you know, when you have three kids and you have to think about how they're going to be and make sure they're safe, because your kids are your first concern before yourself, and you have to make sure they're safe," said Chrissy Welsh. I-95 has reopened and those evacuation have been allowed to go back into their homes. Acetic anhydride, used by companies for the coating of photographic film, can be corrosive and noxious. Truitt said the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is aware of the incident and a Department of Environmental Protection representative has been dispatched to the scene. --------------------------------------------- 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." ---------------------------------------------
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