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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google Monday, October 10, 2011 8:40:33 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) DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE HOTEL EVACUATED AFTER INADVERTENT DISCHARGE OF BEAR REPELLENT SPRAY Tags: us_UT, public, release, injury, chilis, repellent ADUGODI HIT BY SECOND CHEMICAL BLAST IN A WEEK Tags: India, industrial, explosion, response, unknown_chemical UPDATE: HAZMAT TEAM FINDS NO LEAK, BLAMES ALARM MALFUNCTION Tags: us_ME, laboratory, discovery, response FAIRFIELD OFFICIALS DETONATE EXPLOSIVE CHEMICAL Tags: us_CT, laboratory, discovery, response, waste HAZMAT TEAM RESPONDS TO CHICOPEE HOME Tags: us_MA, public, release, response, mercury HAZMAT TEAM CALLED TO BLEACH FIGHT AT MD. WALMART :: WRAL.COM Tags: us_MD, public, release, injury, bleach EAGLE COUNTRY 99.3 FM Tags: us_IN, public, fire, response, meth_lab, follow-up CHLORINE GAS RELEASE SPARKS EMERGENCY RESPONSE AT SCHOOL Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, release, response, chlorine MINOR EXPLOSION NEAR MARBLE FACTORY, IBN LIVE NEWS Tags: India, industrial, explosion, injury, flammables HAZMAT TEAM CALLED TO 17TH & MEHARRY Tags: us_IN, public, release, response, meth_lab HAZMAT INCIDENT AT COCA-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY IN EAST HARTFORD Tags: us_CT, public, release, response, ammonia SCIENTIFIC SETBACK Tags: us_IL, laboratory, fire, injury, unknown_chemical HAZMAT SPILL FORCES I-10 CLOSURE NEAR WILLCOX Tags: us_AZ, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical SAFETY ROLE IN HIGHER ED Tags: education, discovery, response, follow-up WASTEWATER TREATMENT PRODUCT SPARKED CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, response, water_treatment, follow-up --------------------------------------------- DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE HOTEL EVACUATED AFTER INADVERTENT DISCHARGE OF BEAR REPELLENT SPRAY http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705392190/Downtown-Salt-Lake-hotel-evacuated-after-inadvertent-discharge-of-bear-repellent-spray.html Tags: us_UT, public, release, injury, chilis, repellent SALT LAKE CITY ˜ Salt Lake firefighters evacuated a downtown hotel shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday after a housekeeper inadvertently discharged a canister of bear repellent spray in a hallway. According to a Salt Lake City Fire Department spokesman, the some 200 people were evacuated from the Marriott Hotel at 75 S. West Temple. One person was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment. Paramedics treated other people at the scene. Most bear sprays contain hot chili pepper extract or capsaicin. According to a U.S. Forest Service website, if a bear repellent spray canister inadvertently discharges in a vehicle, "the operator could become incapacitated or physically affected by the spray." When the spray comes in contact with skin, especially eyes or mucous membranes, it is painful. Breathing small particles of the spray as it disperses can cause difficulty breathing, according to Wikipedia. --------------------------------------------- ADUGODI HIT BY SECOND CHEMICAL BLAST IN A WEEK http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_adugodi-hit-by-second-chemical-blast-in-a-week_1596655 Tags: India, industrial, explosion, response, unknown_chemical A minor blast took place in Adugodi police limits on Saturday evening when a few workers who polish marble were disposing off the chemicals used for the purpose. People, who were near the blast site,chased and caught one of the three workers who were disposing the chemicals. The explosion took place at around 3.45pm near Mico signal at Govardhan Motor Factory. Luckily, no one was injured. The arrested was identified as Mrutyunjay Aradhya, an employee of Marble World. His colleagues Mehtab and Jameel managed to escape. The blast occurred shortly after the trio dumped the chemicals. Upon nabbing Aradhya, the public called up the police and handed him over to them. Aradhya was taken into custody and the police are on the look out for the other two workers. Later in the day, the police arrested Moin, an employee of the marble unit who had told the workers to dump the chemicals. The police said the officials of the Forensic Science Lab, Madiwala, collected samples of the chemical that triggered the explosion. --------------------------------------------- UPDATE: HAZMAT TEAM FINDS NO LEAK, BLAMES ALARM MALFUNCTION http://www.wabi.tv/news/24163/update-hazmat-team-finds-no-leak-blames-alarm-malfunction Tags: us_ME, laboratory, discovery, response Orono - University of Maine spokesman, Joe Carr, says a hazmat team found no trace of a gas leak at the school. They believe an alarm inside a first floor laboratory malfunctioned. Police and fire crews spent the afternoon investigating what triggered the alarm, which is typically used to signal the release of toxic gases. Hazardous Material Specialists with the Orono Fire Department responded to Barrows Hall around 2:15 p.m. Saturday. The hall is used as an engineering and sciences building. --------------------------------------------- FAIRFIELD OFFICIALS DETONATE EXPLOSIVE CHEMICAL http://www.ctpost.com/policereports/article/Fairfield-officials-detonate-explosive-chemical-2209287.php Tags: us_CT, laboratory, discovery, response, waste FAIRFIELD -- State Police detonated a glass pint container containing a potentially unstable, volatile chemical Saturday after it was brought to an otherwise routine hazardous materials collection day in Veterans Park. The incident started at about 1:15 p.m., when a woman brought the container of tetrahydrofuran, a laboratory solvent and an ingredient in creating polymers, which was identified as potentially hazardous by the collection contractor from Clean Harbor Inc. The unidentified woman said she had taken it from her husband's home laboratory. Police and firefighters closed part of Reef Road and established a 150-foot safety area around the collection area before the chemical was blown up by the State Police Emergency Services Unit. --------------------------------------------- HAZMAT TEAM RESPONDS TO CHICOPEE HOME http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/hampden/Hazmat-team-responds-to-Chicopee-home Tags: us_MA, public, release, response, mercury CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - Hazmat teams have responded to a second mercury spill in the past 24 hours. 15-year-old Damien Piechota told 22News that he and his mom were cleaning in the basement of their house at 43 Davenport Street in Chicopee when a 60-year-old bottle of liquid was knocked over. They called the Chicopee Fire Department and he and his mom were told that the bottle contained mercury. Damien was given a clean bill of health and his mom is still being checked. --------------------------------------------- HAZMAT TEAM CALLED TO BLEACH FIGHT AT MD. WALMART :: WRAL.COM http://www.wral.com/news/national_world/national/story/10236654/ Tags: us_MD, public, release, injury, bleach ARBUTUS, MD. ˜ Authorities in Maryland say two women threw bleach and another chemical on each other during a fight at a Walmart, prompting officials to evacuate the store for two hours and call in a hazardous materials team. Fire officials say 19 people had to be taken to hospitals, although only one was thought to have serious injuries. That person was taken to the Wilmer Eye Institute with a potentially serious eye injury. Fire officials were called to the store in the Baltimore suburb of Arbutus shortly before 11 a.m. Saturday. --------------------------------------------- EAGLE COUNTRY 99.3 FM http://www.eaglecountryonline.com/news.php?nID=2425 Tags: us_IN, public, fire, response, meth_lab, follow-up (West Harrison, Ind.) ˆ Two West Harrison residents are in jail after Indiana State Police found a methamphetamine lab Thursday. Troopers executed a search warrant at 2855 Pin Hook Road in West Harrison. The residents, Wayne W. Delong and his girlfriend Shawn M. Henry, were arrested. Investigators say this particular meth bust was a good example of just how dangerous the labs can be. „About a week earlier Delong caught himself on fire while involved in manufacturing a batch of meth,‰ Trooper Jeremy Franklin said. Delong and Henry, both 42, are charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine (Class B felony). Indiana State Police offer these tips on how to recognize a possible meth lab near where you live: Signs that could indicate the manufacture of methamphetamine include strange chemical odors coming from within a dwelling, barn, shed, trailer, or even an automobile. Trash indicating possible manufacturing of methamphetamine include: empty drain cleaner containers, discarded coffee filters with pasty residue, ether cans, numerous empty blister packs that once contained cold medicines such as ephedrine, pieces of lithium batteries, plastic tubing, or any other suspicious looking trash. --------------------------------------------- CHLORINE GAS RELEASE SPARKS EMERGENCY RESPONSE AT SCHOOL http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Chlorine-gas-release-sparks-emergency-response/story-13503643-detail/story.html Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, release, response, chlorine Chlorine gas escaped at a Gloucester school, causing a massive emergency response. Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Control were called at 12.17pm on October 7 to reports of a chemical release at Crypt School, Podsmead Road. A spokesman said: "Two fire appliances complete with nine firefighters attended the scene to investigate the alert. "After initial investigation it was confirmed that the incident had been caused by a leak of Chlorine Gas and the area was vented by the school and Fire Service staff. "Watch Manager Wright from Gloucester station stated that the leak was caused unintentionally by the school laboratory technician when preparing chemicals for lessons later that day." --------------------------------------------- MINOR EXPLOSION NEAR MARBLE FACTORY, IBN LIVE NEWS http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/minor-explosion-near-marble-factory/850824.html Tags: India, industrial, explosion, injury, flammables Bangalore, Oct 8 (PTI) A worker sustained minor injuries after a minor explosion occured near a marble factory here today, police said. He was discharged from hospital after administering first aid, police told PTI. According to police, the explosion occurred when the workers of the marble factory were throwing the remaining inflammable chemical used for marble polishing, in a dustbin outside the factory. A case has been registed against the factory owner. --------------------------------------------- HAZMAT TEAM CALLED TO 17TH & MEHARRY http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/local/hazmat-team-called-to-17th-&-meharry Tags: us_IN, public, release, response, meth_lab LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A surprise visit from police led to a meth lab seizure and forced the evacuation of several Lafayette homes. North 17th Street in Lafayette, just north of Greenbush was blocked off Friday afternoon. Several homes nearby had to be evacuated. But it's an apartment off the back alley that is the source of the problem. It all started because Tippecanoe County Community Corrections K9 Officer Jim Knogge made a surprise check to a woman on house arrest. What he found is certainly not allowed under the terms of her release. "I smelled an overwhelming smell of anhydrous ammonia," said Ofc. Knogge. --------------------------------------------- HAZMAT INCIDENT AT COCA-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY IN EAST HARTFORD http://articles.courant.com/2011-10-06/community/hc-east-hartford-hazmat-1007-20111006_1_coca-cola-officials-minor-ammonia-leak-end-subscription Tags: us_CT, public, release, response, ammonia EAST HARTFORD ˜ Police and fire crews responded to a minor ammonia leak at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company at 451 Main St., police said. The incident was reported at 8:09 a.m. by Coca-Cola officials. Fire Chief John Oates said the leak has been stopped and the Department of Environmental Protection is responding. The ammonia, which is used as a refrigerant, leaked from piping outside the building, Oates said. --------------------------------------------- SCIENTIFIC SETBACK http://www.olneydailymail.com/news/x663892132/Scientific-setback Tags: us_IL, laboratory, fire, injury, unknown_chemical Olney, Ill. ˜ A chemical reaction in a chemistry laboratory at East Richland High School on Thursday led to the evacuation of a classroom and minor injuries to some students and a teacher. The incident occurred between 8:30-9 a.m. in the Chemistry I class during first block in the southeast hallway of the school where science classes are located. Principal Chris Simpson said a chemical reaction in a beaker caused a fire. The chemicals sparked, causing another nearby beaker to catch fire, he said. The classroom was evacuated and the fire was doused with a fire extinguisher. No other classes were evacuated and Simpson said the biggest mess was from the fire extinguisher. „Fortunately, the teacher reacted very quickly and appropriately with what had taken place,‰ he said, adding that students also reacted quickly, safely and in an appropriate fashion. The teacher and students were wearing safety goggles. The teacher, who Simpson declined to identify, was stirring the chemicals in the beaker and suffered burns on her hands when the chemical reaction occurred. Three students had spots on their arms from the sparks and went to see the school nurse, who applied ointment to the affected areas, which were approximately the size of a pin, Simpson said. The teacher went to the emergency room at Richland Memorial Hospital to receive treatment for her burns and is back at work today. Simpson said the incident has been mischaracterized as an explosion or a fire. „It wasn't that severe,‰ he said, noting that no alarms were triggered. --------------------------------------------- HAZMAT SPILL FORCES I-10 CLOSURE NEAR WILLCOX http://www.kold.com/story/15642266/hazmat-spill-forces-i-10-closure-near-willcox Tags: us_AZ, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical WILLCOX, Ariz. (AP) - A crash involving two semis on eastbound Interstate 10 near Willcox has led to a shutdown of the interstate. The Department of Public Safety says one semi rear ended the other Thursday night. Both semis were carrying hazardous materials. The impact caused the materials to leak from containers. Both directions of the Interstate were closed. Traffic is being diverted off the interstate. The roadway remains closed at this time, with no anticipation on when it will re-open. --------------------------------------------- SAFETY ROLE IN HIGHER ED http://chronicle.com/article/Safety-First/129263/ Tags: education, discovery, response, follow-up A respected nuclear physicist mistakenly allows his graduate assistant to run a workshop at the university's small-scale version of a nuclear reactor and exposes the class to radiation. At another institution, a fume hood fails to contain an acrid gas in a chemistry laboratory, causing several students to be rushed to the hospital. With so many potential risks of serious health-and-safety problems at colleges and universities, you'd think that safety officers would be among the best-known administrators on any campus. Yet they have one of those jobs in higher education that tends to be invisible, much like auditors or institutional researchers: Everyone knows they're important, but no one quite understands what they do. In a June column, I explored the role of the college auditor. Many readers wrote to thank me for demystifying the craft and showing how an auditor's job is to protect not only the institution but also those who work there. So I'd like to take the same approach to health-and-safety officers. The sheer number of risks to health and safety˜especially at research universities˜is considerable. That's why most institutions support a health-and-safety officer, and often an entire office of them. The position has become indispensable, no matter that many people on campus are unaware of the safety officer's existence. --------------------------------------------- WASTEWATER TREATMENT PRODUCT SPARKED CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Wastewater-Treatment-Product-Sparked-Chemical-Plant-Fire-131299094.html Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, response, water_treatment, follow-up A wastewater treatment product never revealed to state regulators caused a massive fire at chemical plant in Waxahachie on Monday, according to the company. Magnablend CEO Scott Pendery said Thursday the fire occurred while the company was producing the 16th batch of the product. The production process caused excessive steam, and there was a spark nearby. "Clearly there's an unacceptable result here along the way, which we're trying to figure out what caused it," he said. "The product, as we understand it, should never have yielded that kind of result." The company had been making the product at the plant since August. Pendery said it is not clear whether the company is required to disclose ingredients of the product to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as must be done with many hazardous chemicals ---------------------------------------------
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