Chemical Safety Headlines =46rom Google
Friday, September 16, 2011 8:16:25 AM

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Table of Contents (17 articles)

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY LAB FIRE
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical

CREWS WORK TO CLEAN GAS SPILL ON HIGHWAY 70
Tags: us_CA, transportation, release, response, gasoline

IODINE TUBES FOUND ON 17TH STREET IN IDAHO FALLS
Tags: us_ID, transportation, discovery, injury, radiation

UPDATE: METH LAB FOUND INSIDE OMAHA APARTMENT
Tags: us_NE, public, discovery, injury, meth_lab

METH-LAB-FOUND-IN-FLEA-MARKET-BOOTH
Tags: us_TN, public, discovery, response, meth_lab

UPDATE: ELM BANK RESERVATION RE-OPENED AFTER HAZMAT TEMPORARILY SHUTS IT 
DOWN
Tags: us_MA, public, release, response, chlorine

MOLDY BANANAS LEAD TO HAZMAT SCARE AT TN HOSPITAL
Tags: us_TN, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

SUSPICIOUS PROPANE CYLINDER PROMPTS HAZMAT INVESTIGATION
Tags: us_MI, public, discovery, response, gas_cylinders, propane

WOMAN IN UAB BURN CENTER AFTER METH LAB FIRE
Tags: us_AL, public, fire, injury, meth_lab

AMMONIA LEAK AT SCOTIABANK PLACE SENDS 2 TO HOSPITAL
Tags: Canada, public, release, injury, ammonia

THREE HINSDALE SOUTH STUDENTS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER INHALING CHEMICAL 
FUMES
Tags: us_IL, education, release, injury, pesticides

CANBERRA CREWS BATTLING HUGE CHEMICAL FIRE
Tags: Australia, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical, toxics

SUBSTANCE IDENTIFIED IN HAZMAT INCIDENT
Tags: us_GA, public, release, death, carbon_dioxide, follow-up

POOL CHEMICALS POSSIBLE CAUSE OF PALO ALTO EXPLOSION
Tags: us_CA, public, explosion, response, pool_chemicals

A RISK-BASED APPROACH TO HAZMAT/WMD EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, planning

DAY AFTER HALOL FACTORY FIRE, FSL COLLECTS SAMPLES, SENDS THEM TO 
VADODARA
Tags: India, industrial, fire, death, unknown_chemical

FIRE AT ESSO REFINERY IN PORT DICKSON PUT OUT AFTER 3 HOURS
Tags: Malaysia, industrial, fire, response, petroleum

---------------------------------------------

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY LAB FIRE

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Messageboards/Blaze-takes-hold-in-uni
versity-lab-15092011.htm
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical

A BLAZE has broken out in a unviersity department housing dozens of 
chemicals.
 
Firefighters are in attendance trying to combat the fire which has taken 
hold at the Earth Sciences department of Downing College, in Downing 
Street, in the city centre.
 
Three fire engines, a turntable appliance and a specialist chemical unit 
were called out to the blaze at at 8.59pm.
 
The fire is not in contact with any chemicals at this stage and police 
are in attendance to assist firefighters in making the scene safe.

---------------------------------------------

CREWS WORK TO CLEAN GAS SPILL ON HIGHWAY 70

http://www.khsltv.com/content/localnews/story/Crews-Work-to-Clean-Gas-Spil
l-on-Highway-70/E_KqMvIfXUayONtv5Y-Hkg.cspx
Tags: us_CA, transportation, release, response, gasoline

Emergency crews spent five hours Wednesday clearing Highway 70 after an 
accident involving a tanker truck spilled 1,800 gallons of gas on the 
road, but that was just the beginning of their work.
"We are estimating up to 900 yards plus more contaminated soil," 
Caltrans Hazmat Manager Carl Snibbe said.
Hazmat crews spent Thursday cleaning up the mess after a tanker truck 
spilled 1,800 gallons of gasoline on the side of Highway 70 in Pulga.
CHP officers say the driver swerved off the road side swiping a snow 
plow parked on the shoulder Wednesday morning.

---------------------------------------------

IODINE TUBES FOUND ON 17TH STREET IN IDAHO FALLS
http://www.localnews8.com/news/29197421/detail.html
Tags: us_ID, transportation, discovery, injury, radiation

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho -- Idaho Falls Police detoured traffic on 17th Street 
for about an hour in front of the mall because a pedestrian found a 
couple of white tubes labeled with radioactive symbols.
The tubes were found laying in the gutter near Little Caesars Pizza 
parking lot.
Hazmat crews with the help of Idaho National Laboratory personnel tested 
the tubes and determined they were not radioactive.
The Division Chief for the fire department said the tubes are labeled 
with Iodine 131. Its used to treat thyroid conditions, he said.
They believe the tubes fell off a medical carrier truck, which was 
identified from the packaging and called to come pick them up.

---------------------------------------------

UPDATE: METH LAB FOUND INSIDE OMAHA APARTMENT

http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/Suspected_Meth_Lab_Found_Inside_Omaha_H
ome_129902748.html?ref=748
Tags: us_NE, public, discovery, injury, meth_lab

n Omaha man was arrested Thursday morning after a meth lab was 
discovered inside his apartment.

Police assisting a state probation officer checking on 46-year-old 
Steven Marcey at 41st and Cuming around 11:30 a.m. found the lab.

The probation officer was exposed to components used in the manufacture 
of methamphetamine inside a bag opened by the officer. She was taken to 
the Nebraska Medical Center for treatment and was later released.

---------------------------------------------
METH-LAB-FOUND-IN-FLEA-MARKET-BOOTH
http://www.waff.com/story/15471879/meth-lab-found-in-flea-market-booth
Tags: us_TN, public, discovery, response, meth_lab

ARDMORE, TN (WAFF) -
Ardmore, Tennessee police found a meth lab at a vendor booth at the Dog 
Days Flea Market Tuesday.

Police called Giles County Sheriff's Department for assistance. 
Investigators, fire and EMA officials responded to the scene and found 
an active meth lab.

Officers found the lab in a trailer on the property and disassembled it. 
Officers had to wear hazmat gear because of the toxicity of the 
chemicals used to make meth.

---------------------------------------------

UPDATE: ELM BANK RESERVATION RE-OPENED AFTER HAZMAT TEMPORARILY SHUTS IT 
DOWN

http://www.theswellesleyreport.com/2011/09/hazmat-incident-closes-elm-bank
-reservation/
Tags: us_MA, public, release, response, chlorine

Wellesley police are joining forces with Dover and Wellesley fire 
department personnel to address a hazardous materials problem at Elm 
Bank Reservation on the Wellesley/South Natick/Dover line at Rte. 16 
(technically, the incident is in Dover, though the Elm Bank entrance is 
in Wellesley).

According to the police, Elm Bank is closed until further notice to 
vehicle traffic due to a chlorine leak at a pumping station on the 
property. The leak is believed to be contained inside of a building, but 
a regional HazMat team is on the scene to address the problem.

---------------------------------------------

MOLDY BANANAS LEAD TO HAZMAT SCARE AT TN HOSPITAL

http://www.wbir.com/news/article/184251/2/Moldy-bananas-lead-to-hazmat-sca
re-at-TN-hospital
Tags: us_TN, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

A strange smell in a mail room caused a hazmat scare at a Chattanooga 
hospital on Thursday afternoon. 

According to WRCB, the source of the odor surprised pretty much everyone 
including the first responders. Several employees complained of scratchy 
throats after smelling what they described as a musty smell. 

The hospital called in hazmat just to be sure. During their third sweep 
of the area, crews found two moldy bananas. They said that is what 
caused all of the confusion. 

---------------------------------------------

SUSPICIOUS PROPANE CYLINDER PROMPTS HAZMAT INVESTIGATION

http://www.wnem.com/story/15477565/suspicious-propane-cylinder-prompts-haz
mat-investigation
Tags: us_MI, public, discovery, response, gas_cylinders, propane

ALPENA, MI (WNEM) -
A HAZMAT team was called to investigate after a suspicious propane 
cylinder was found under a bridge in Alpena, authorities say.

It happened at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday when officers from the Alpena 
Police Department noticed the 20-pound container under the Second Avenue 
bridge, located near Alpena Furniture.

According to a news release issued by the department, there were 
indications that the cylinder may have contained a hazardous material 
other then what it was designed to contain.

Officers then called in the Combat Readiness Training Center HAZMAT team 
in Alpena, who recovered the suspicious container.

---------------------------------------------

WOMAN IN UAB BURN CENTER AFTER METH LAB FIRE

http://www.whnt.com/news/whnt-woman-in-uab-burn-center-after-meth-lab-fire
-20110915,0,3437677.story
Tags: us_AL, public, fire, injury, meth_lab

A woman is recovering in the hospital after being burned by a fire in a 
meth lab.

Around 9:00 Wednesday night a one-pot meth lab caught fire inside a room 
at the Motel 6 in Madison.

Topics
Methamphetamine (drug)
Hospitals and Clinics
Sign up for news & weather email alerts from WHNT NEWS 19!

A woman who attempted to put out the fire suffered chemical burns on her 
arm, and she went to the hospital.

When she told authorities how the burns occurred, Madison Police went to 
investigate the scene.

One Madison Police officer became dizzy and light-headed after inhaling 
fumes in the room.  Another officer took him to the hospital.  He is 
expected to be okay.

---------------------------------------------

AMMONIA LEAK AT SCOTIABANK PLACE SENDS 2 TO HOSPITAL

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2011/09/15/ottawa-hazmat-scotia
-bank-minto.html
Tags: Canada, public, release, injury, ammonia

Two people were taken to hospital Thursday after they were exposed to 
ammonia at Scotiabank Place.

The building was evacuated after the chemical leak in the building's 
refrigeration room. The pipes were immediately shut off and Ottawa Fire 
Service's hazardous materials unit was called to the scene.

Paramedics said one man became trapped in an elevator near the leak 
after the fire alarm was pulled and as a result suffered a serious 
ammonia inhalation injury.

Another worker near the loading docks also had an asthma attack after 
exposure. Both were taken to hospital and were listed in stable 
condition.

Fire officials said the building had been completely checked and 
ventilated and allowed workers back into the building after about three 
hours. Some 500 people had been forced to leave the building.

---------------------------------------------

THREE HINSDALE SOUTH STUDENTS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER INHALING CHEMICAL 
FUMES

http://burrridge.patch.com/articles/three-hinsdale-south-students-taken-to
-hospital-after-inhaling-chemical-fumes
Tags: us_IL, education, release, injury, pesticides

Three Hinsdale South High School students were transported to Adventist 
Hinsdale Hospital in good condition Thursday morning after inhaling an 
herbicide being applied to a school courtyard, Tri-State Fire Protection 
District officials said.

Six people total, including three staff members, complained of nausea 
and headaches around 11:30 a.m. after the commercially available 
chemical came in through the windows and ventilation system, Tri-State 
Fire Chief Michelle Gibson said.

The students were taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure since 
their parents weren=92t available to discuss the situation, but they are 
expected to be fine, Gibson said.

=93They=92re in good condition, just a little panicky from the whole 
event,=94 Gibson said.

Classes in the three affected rooms in the Darien school's science wing 
will be relocated for the remainder of the day, Hinsdale South Principal 
Brian Waterman said in a statement.

---------------------------------------------

CANBERRA CREWS BATTLING HUGE CHEMICAL FIRE

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/85304/canberra-crews-battling-huge-che
mical-fire
Tags: Australia, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical, toxics

Canberra firefighters hope they will be able to extinguish a huge 
chemical fire in the Australian capital by Saturday.
The fire broke out at a building in an industrial estate at Dacre Street 
in the northern suburb of Mitchell about midnight on Thursday, sending a 
plume of potentially toxic smoke streaming the city.
Fire crews initially brought the blaze under control, but were forced 
back by a series of explosions which witnesses said sent flames shooting 
up to 200 metres into the air, the ABC reports.
Emergency services say the fire has been contained within the Mitchell 
industrial site by late afternoon on Friday.
Atmospheric monitoring shows one possible toxin indicator has been 
detected, but authorities say it is well within safe limits.
There have been two reported minor injuries and some minor leakage of 
water used to fight the fire into nearby ponds.
Emergency services say the smoke is potentially toxic but the risk to 
the public has been described as low. However, residents in Mitchell 
have been told to stay indoors.

---------------------------------------------

SUBSTANCE IDENTIFIED IN HAZMAT INCIDENT

http://www.wect.com/story/15461766/substance-identified-in-hazmat-incident

Tags: us_GA, public, release, death, carbon_dioxide, follow-up

POOLER, GA (WTOC) -
An improperly connected carbon dioxide line in the wall that connects to 
the soda machine was the cause of the hazmat incident last Wednesday at 
a McDonald's in Pooler, Pooler police said at a news conference 
Wednesday afternoon.

"We've been working with the owners of the facility to eliminate 
different causes. Last night, we were able to determine and found that 
there was a leak in the carbon dioxide system. Anything else form that 
we're release as we go," said Chief Wade Simmons, of the Pooler Fire 
Dept.

Slideshow
View photos from Sept. 7 incident

Anne Felton, of Ponte Verda, Fla., was in the bathroom at the time of 
the incident died Thursday. Police Chief Mark Revenew said her death was 
the result of an accidental discharge of carbon dioxide into the women's 
restroom.

Carol Barry, 56, of Jacksonville, Fla., had been in critical condition. 
She has since been released from the hospital. Nine people were taken to 
the hospital and everyone had to be decontaminated, including three 
Pooler firefighters.

---------------------------------------------

POOL CHEMICALS POSSIBLE CAUSE OF PALO ALTO EXPLOSION

http://www.examiner.com/crime-in-san-francisco/pool-chemicals-possible-cau
se-of-palo-alto-explosion
Tags: us_CA, public, explosion, response, pool_chemicals

Tuesday, September 13 was literally an explosive day in Santa Clara 
County.

A Palo Alto family was left homeless Tuesday night when a bucket of 
chlorine tablets blew up at the Midtown Court Apartments at 2727 Midtown 
Court at about 7:20 p.m.  According to the Palo Alto Fire Department, 
the explosion prompted a three-alarm response and resulted in the 
evacuation of several units.

Palo Alto police Sgt. Brian Philip told the San Jose Mercury News that 
emergency teams responded to the scene after receiving reports of an 
explosion and chemical smells coming from beneath a stairwell in the 
center of the complex.  Philip said investigators located the source in 
the complex=92s pool supply room.

=93It was a chlorine substance, possibly tablets, in a five-gallon 
container that was off-gassing,=94 Palo Alto Fire Battalion Chief Niles 
Broussard told the Mercury News.  Fire crews took the bucket to a 
neighboring parking lot and covered it to stop the gasses from spewing 
out.

---------------------------------------------

A RISK-BASED APPROACH TO HAZMAT/WMD EMERGENCY RESPONSE

http://www.fireengineering.com/articles/print/volume-164/issue-9/terrorism
-and-the-fire-service/a-risk-based-approach-to-hazmat-wmd-emergency-respon
se.html
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, planning

This article introduces a risk-based emergency response plan for 
hazmat/weapons of mass destruction (WMD) incidents that integrates 
facts, science, and circumstances to guide the operations-level 
responder in taking appropriate action at predetermined decision points. 
This decision-based approach differs from the traditional tactical-based 
approach in which responders take specific actions at specific points of 
the incident based on an assumption that incidents are similar enough to 
warrant a list of responses. Rather, each incident is dynamic and a 
function of all the on-scene indicators (product, container, 
environment), requiring the respondent to be able to adapt during the 
ongoing and often unpredictable event.

---------------------------------------------

DAY AFTER HALOL FACTORY FIRE, FSL COLLECTS SAMPLES, SENDS THEM TO 
VADODARA

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/day-after-halol-factory-fire-fsl-collect
s-samples-sends-them-to-vadodara/846970/
Tags: India, industrial, fire, death, unknown_chemical

Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) officials have collected as many as 11 
samples from the factory premises of Rubamin Limited in Panchmahals 
district where two persons died on Tuesday after a fire broke out.

According to the police, the fire broke out following a chemical 
reaction in a container during the renovation of bleaching process plant 
near Duniya village in Halol. =93We collected samples from different 
spots and sent them to the Vadodara FSL where detailed examination would 
take place. The report would be submitted to the investigating officer,=94
 said an official at the Halol police station.

The incident took place at around 11 am when the supervisor and a helper 
were transferring some chemical from the containers. While the 
supervisor, identified as Jaya Gopinath Amrutlingam from Chennai, died 
on the spot, Mohanlal Chauhan =97 a resident of Varanasi, UP =97 
succumbed to the burns injuries at the SSG Hospital in Vadodara during 
treatment.

---------------------------------------------

FIRE AT ESSO REFINERY IN PORT DICKSON PUT OUT AFTER 3 HOURS

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/9/15/nation/201109150833
56&sec=nation
Tags: Malaysia, industrial, fire, response, petroleum

ORT DICKSON: A fire at a shore-to-ship delivery pump at the Esso oil 
refinery here early Thursday morning saw workers running for their lives 
and flames visible from 2km away.

The fire, which started about 1am, was put out about three hours later 
and prevented from spreading to two oil refinery tanks and a nearby LPG 
bottling plant, said Negri Sembilan Fire and Rescue director Saadon 
Mokhtar.

He added that 32 firemen and 24 fire-fighters from Esso and Shell used 
foam to put out the burning nafta petroleum.

=93Our firemen, including those from the HazMat (hazardous materials) 
unit, were rushed to the location after we were summoned at 1.06am,=94 
he said, adding that the fire was put out at 4.17am.

Saadon said about 100 workers were on duty at the time of the fire. All 
are safe.

---------------------------------------------

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