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Previous by Date: Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines from Google (14 articles) Date: June 22, 2012 8:13:32 AM EDT Author: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" |
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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, June 25, 2012 7:51:22 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 (19 articles)
HOMES EVACUATED IN SUMMIT TOWNSHIP
Tags: us_MI, public, release, response, chlorine, water_treatment
CHEMICAL SPILLAGE ALERT (FROM DORSET ECHO)
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, release, injury, ammonia
FIRE AT CHEMICAL GODOWN
Tags: Pakistan, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
RESEARCHERS RELEASE STUDY FINDINGS ON CHEMICAL PLANT EXPLOSION
Tags: us_WV, industrial, follow-up, response, methyl, isocyanate
UNMARKED OLD CESSPIT CAUSES BIG EXPLOSION
Tags: Malta, public, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
OAKDALE: SMALL FIRE BRIEFLY SHUTS DOWN FLEET FARM
Tags: us_MN, public, fire, response, pool_chemicals
FIRE ERUPTS AT CHESTER COUNTY CHEMICAL COMPANY
Tags: us_PA, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
FAISALABAD FACTORY FIRE PUT OUT, BUILDING CAVES IN
Tags: Pakistan, industrial, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
I-15 REOPENS AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL NEAR STATELINE
Tags: us_NV, transportation, release, response, corrosives
LIQUID CHEMICAL TANK OF ELECTRONICS FACTORY DESTROYED IN BLAZE
Tags: Malaysia, transportation, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
DEQ INVESTIGATES BENZENE SPILL AT EXXONMOBIL BR
Tags: us_LA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, benzene
MAN BEING TREATED IN HOSPITAL FOLLOWING EXPLOSION AT GAS PLANT OUTSIDE CORK CITY
Tags: Ireland, industrial, explosion, injury, gas_cylinders
POOL CHEMICALS CAUSE EXPLOSION AT HOME IN CORNERSBURG
Tags: us_OH, public, explosion, response, pool_chemicals
VAN FILLED WITH CHEMICALS CATCHES FIRE; LOCAL HAZMAT TEAM RESPONDS
Tags: us_TX, transportation, fire, response, chlorine
UPDATE: WORKER INHALED CHEMICAL FUMES AT HIGH SCHOOL
Tags: us_NY, education, release, injury, cleaners
900 GALLON CHEMICAL SPILL AT 3M IN MERIDEN WILL TAKE HOURS TO CLEAN
Tags: us_CT, industrial, release, response, methanol
TOXIC CHEMICAL SPILL FORCES NORTHEAST RESIDENTS TO STAY INDOORS
Tags: us_TX, public, release, response, pesticides
OXFORDSHIRE FIRE CREWS TACKLE BANBURY CHEMICAL BLAZE
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
CHEMICALS SPREAD CHAOS AT GARFIELD PARK POOL
Tags: us_IN, public, release, injury, pool_chemicals
---------------------------------------------
HOMES EVACUATED IN SUMMIT TOWNSHIP
http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/160194525.html
Tags: us_MI, public, release, response, chlorine, water_treatment
Several homes in Summit Township have been evacuated due to a chlorine leak at a water treatment plant.
It started Sunday evening near Christopher Street.
A staff member at the Jackson Fire Department says dozens of people have been moved into the Westwinds Community Church as a precaution.
Summit Township Hazmat teams are on the scene trying to contain the leaks.
Another Hazmat team from Leslie is being called in to assist.
Residents in other homes have been told to shut their windows and close their doors.
Jackson County Sheriffs Office estimates residents will be able to return around 2 a.m.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL SPILLAGE ALERT (FROM DORSET ECHO)
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/9779334.Chemical_spillage_alert/?ref=nt
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, release, injury, ammonia
A LEAKING refrigeration unit sparked an emergency response to the London 2012 shop in Weymouth.
Dorset Fire and Rescue Service were alerted to the possible chemical spillage at the old Tourist Information Centre on the Esplanade just before 10.30am this morning.
A fire service spokesman said: "Crews were on the scene within five minutes and investigated the smell of ammonia using two breathing apparatus.
"The cause was ascertained to be a leak from a refrigeration unit in the basement, the unit was removed from the property by crews and the local authority arranged disposal.
"The basement was ventilated as best as possible, eight members of staff on the scene were complaining of sore eyes but no one was taken to hospital or treated on the scene."
---------------------------------------------
FIRE AT CHEMICAL GODOWN
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/karachi/25-Jun-2012/fire-at-chemical-godown
Tags: Pakistan, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
KARACHI - Firefighters on Sunday were able to control blaze which broke out in chemical godown of the building and they also saved nearby buildings from the fire. Darwesh Godown where the fire broke out at wee hours of Sunday is situated in Sector 6-B in Industrial Area of New Karachi. According to the fire brigade officials, at first, two fire tenders were rushed to the site and later six more fire tenders along with equipment were sent to the site to extinguish the blaze. The fire also engulfed the storehouse, the building and later its spread in other parts of godown.
The electricity supply was also disconnected by the KESC while the nearby buildings were also evacuated. Nobody was hurt in the incident. The firefighters controlled blaze with the hectic efforts of five hours. Fire brigade officials further informed that another similar incident happened in wood godown in the same area on Sunday.
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RESEARCHERS RELEASE STUDY FINDINGS ON CHEMICAL PLANT EXPLOSION
http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/Researchers_Release_Study_Findings_on_Chemical_Plant__Explosion__160136325.html
Tags: us_WV, industrial, follow-up, response, methyl, isocyanate
DUNBAR, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- It's been nearly four years since a chemical plant explosion in Institute rocked the community and alarmed health experts across the country.
A panel of researchers studied the incident at Bayer CropScience and released their findings to the community Saturday at West Virginia State University in Dunbar.
They offered recommendations for safer manufacture of a dangerous chemical called methyl isocyanate (MIC) at the plant.
"There are a set of protocols that allow one to be able to do chemical manufacturing in a safer environment," research chair Elsa Reichmanis said.
Their suggestions included changes in technology and equipment design, hoping to minimize the risk of error in the process.
Community members attending said they appreciated the work but were more interested in hearing about the reason behind all of the research.
"I don't think they emphasized the effect on people," attendee Greggsuzanne McAllister said. "I think everything should be couched in terms of the human factor.
---------------------------------------------
UNMARKED OLD CESSPIT CAUSES BIG EXPLOSION
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120623/local/Unmarked-old-cesspit-causes-big-explosion.425558
Tags: Malta, public, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
A chemical reaction in an unmarked cesspit caused an explosion as work on the BioMalta life sciences centre in San Gúwann was under way yesterday.
No one was injured and the site was cordoned off for testing, with experts giving the all-clear for work to continue some distance away from the explosion site.
An excavator operated by 37-year-old James Bonavia from Xemxija uncovered the cesspit at about noon, causing a strong chemical reaction.
"I was operating the machine as I do every day, collecting debris and, all of a sudden, there was an explosion and I saw a thick, yellowish plume," Mr Bonavia, the managing partner of 3Bees Joint Venture Construction Company Ltd, said soon afterwards.
Stones went flying and one large brick penetrated the temporary boundary wall around the site.
Workers who were on site during the explosion said the stone had missed a woman walking on the pavement by hardly more than just a metre.
Mr Bonavia said he considered himself lucky to be alive and that no one was injured, adding that no damage was done to the machinery either.
The explosion halted excavation work on the former Malta National Laboratories site, which is making way for the new biopark project, partly funded by European Union funds.
---------------------------------------------
OAKDALE: SMALL FIRE BRIEFLY SHUTS DOWN FLEET FARM
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_20919339/oakdale-small-fire-briefly-shuts-down-fleet-farm
Tags: us_MN, public, fire, response, pool_chemicals
small fire likely caused by a chemical spill at Fleet Farm in Oakdale closed the store for about an hour Friday, June 22. No one was injured.
Oakdale Fire Chief Jeff Anderson said the department received a call around 1:40 p.m. about a possible chemical reaction at the store, which is at Hadley Avenue and Minnesota 36. An employee had inadvertently spilled a small amount of swimming pool chemicals into the trash compactor. Anderson said the chemicals likely interracted with organic materials to spark the blaze.
The fire was contained to the trash compactor and a nearby Dumpster, Anderson said. Some smoke did seep into the store's warehouse.
---------------------------------------------
FIRE ERUPTS AT CHESTER COUNTY CHEMICAL COMPANY
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=8711861
Tags: us_PA, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
WAYNE, Pa. - June 23, 2012 (WPVI) -- Officials are working to determine if lightning was to blame for a fire at a Chester County chemical company.
It happened just after 9:00 Friday evening at the Johnson-Matthey Chemical Company on the 400 block of Devon Park Drive in Wayne.
Heavy flames were reported upon arrival and the fire was brought under control within an hour.
No injuries were reported.
The cause remains under investigation but authorities say thunderstorms were in the area at the time of the blaze.
---------------------------------------------
FAISALABAD FACTORY FIRE PUT OUT, BUILDING CAVES IN
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/national/24-Jun-2012/faisalabad-factory-fire-put-out-building-caves-in
Tags: Pakistan, industrial, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
The boiler of a paint factory exploded here in Faisalabad on Sunday causing fire in the chemical warehouse that completely gutted the building.
Rescue officials said that a boiler of a paint factory located at Rachna Town exploded with a big bang that sparked a huge fire engulfing the chemical warehouse. Despite fire fighters best efforts the inferno could not be controlled until the building was completely razed to the ground.
However, no loss of life took place, as the workers inside the factory rushed out no sooner the fire started.
Faisalabad DCO, Nasim Sadiq said that the factory was being run illegally in the residential area and a report has been called for from the concerned departments.
---------------------------------------------
I-15 REOPENS AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL NEAR STATELINE
http://www.8newsnow.com/story/18855461/breaking-news-chemical-spill-south-of-stateline
Tags: us_NV, transportation, release, response, corrosives
Primm, Nev. -- Things are finally moving again on I-15 near Primm after a nearly nine hour long closure. Crews shut down the road to clean up thousands of gallons of a corrosive chemical that spilled after a truck tipped over.
The closure left thousands of motorists stuck for hours, unable to even get off the highway. The Nevada Highway Patrol and California authorities took no chances risking anybody's safety. The chemical is used in the treatment of sewage and is considered very corrosive and toxic.
The delicate operation went better than expected and crews were able to open some lanes of I-15 ahead of the initial timeframe.
At it's height, traffic backed up for miles on both sides of the state line. Some drivers caught up in the parking lot of cars lost their patience and headed into the desert. Others say they saw no signs and they had no idea what they were heading into.
"Everyone was assuming it was construction until we got here and then we found out the truth," said driver Richard Scott.
Some signs where illuminated warning drivers about the delay, but tourists say they had no idea what the alternative route was until it was too late. Some people even broke down just waiting hours in line or running out of gas.
---------------------------------------------
LIQUID CHEMICAL TANK OF ELECTRONICS FACTORY DESTROYED IN BLAZE
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/414421
Tags: Malaysia, transportation, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
MELAKA (June 22, 2012): A factory was almost burned down when an explosion occurred during transfer of a liquid chemical from a lorry to a tank at the Batu Berendam Free Industrial Zone, here, today.
In the 10.15am incident at a ceramics electronics component factory, one of the valves channelling the chemical emitted sparks and ingnited an explosion causing a fire in the tank located 15 feet underground.
Melaka Fire and Rescue Department assistant director Lokman Hakim Sulaiman said the department, which received a call at 10.20am, despatched eight fire engines and a Hazardous Material Hazmat) unit to the scene within five minutes.
"When the firemen arrived, the fire was burning fiercely destroying the 15,000 litre capacity tank but it was brought fully under control in 10 minutes," he told reporters here. He said 20 per cent of another tank, nearby, was also razed by the fire.
He said the fire also caused the chemical to spill into the drain in the compound of the factory for a distance of 300 metres. Lokman Hakim said the Hazmat unit and factory workers were able to contain the spilled liquid by 4.18pm.
---------------------------------------------
DEQ INVESTIGATES BENZENE SPILL AT EXXONMOBIL BR
http://washingtonexaminer.com/deq-investigates-benzene-spill-at-exxonmobil-br/article/feed/2005320
Tags: us_LA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, benzene
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Ñ ExxonMobil says the benzene release June 14 at its chemical plant in Baton Rouge was far bigger than the 10 pounds reported then, and could be as much as 28,700 pounds.
That estimate is in a required report to the state Department of Environmental Quality about the spill of naphtha, which contains benzene.
The Advocate (http://bit.ly/O34dzK ) reports that DEQ began an investigation Thursday, one day after getting the report.
Assistant Secretary Cheryl Nolan says part of the investigation is finding out when ExxonMobil Chemical Plant officials learned how much bigger the spill actually was.
Inspection division administrator Chris Piehler says initial estimates of releases are usually inaccurate as facilities work to get information out fast. But he says companies must report changed estimates as they learn them.
---------------------------------------------
MAN BEING TREATED IN HOSPITAL FOLLOWING EXPLOSION AT GAS PLANT OUTSIDE CORK CITY
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/man-being-treated-in-hospital-following-explosion-at-gas-plant-outside-cork-city-3146162.html
Tags: Ireland, industrial, explosion, injury, gas_cylinders
A MAN is being treated in hospital following an explosion at a gas bottling plant on the outskirts of Cork city today.
The man is believed to have suffered minor injuries in the incident, which occurred at Irish Oxygen Company, Waterfall in the western suburbs around 2.20pm.
Four units of the fire service, as well as HSE ambulance personnel are attending the scene.
Three units of the Cork city fire brigade responded to the alarm as well as one unit from Ballincollig, Co. Cork.
The HSA is expected to carry out an investigation.
Irish Oxygen Company Ltd, which was founded in 1949, has two plants in Cork City producing oxygen and nitrogen gases by extraction from air, and acetylene gas chemically.
The gases are used in welding and cutting metal, blanketing and inerting chemical reactions, purging pipelines, laboratory equipment, education and DIY.
---------------------------------------------
POOL CHEMICALS CAUSE EXPLOSION AT HOME IN CORNERSBURG
http://www.wfmj.com/story/18847174/pool-chemicals-cause-explosion-at-home-in-cornersburg
Tags: us_OH, public, explosion, response, pool_chemicals
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio -
After running errands, Barbara Eck just happened to swing by her Briarwood Lane home in Austintown before heading to work. Within minutes of walking in the door she heard an explosion in the basement. She immediately called 911.
"We had a strong odor of some type of swimming pool chemical and we immediately just started clearing out some of the people around and just cornered the area off and called for hazmat," said Austintown Fire Department Captain Don Conroy.
Once hazmat arrived on scene and set up two team members entered the basement, where Barbara and her son saw smoke coming from a bottle of pool chemicals. For nearly 20 years the family had relied on their airconditioned basement to store their chemicals, but authories says that the sun shining through the basement window overheated the bottle.
"It appears one of the containers got hot due to the sun coming in the window, blew the cap off and got us to where we are now," said Mahoning County Hazmat Team Lt. Adam Noble.
After their sweep of the home, hazmat found no visible damage. Although, the gas did filter throughout the entire home. Crews are relying on fans to clear the odor.
"We've got some windows open down in the basment to try and get the remainder of the odor out. All of the containers themselves that were involved have been packed up and are sitting off to the side outside of the house," said Noble.
---------------------------------------------
VAN FILLED WITH CHEMICALS CATCHES FIRE; LOCAL HAZMAT TEAM RESPONDS
http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/Van_Filled_With_Chemicals_Catches_Fire_Local_Hazmat_Team_Responds_159904775.html
Tags: us_TX, transportation, fire, response, chlorine
HALLSBURG (June 21, 2012)--A swimming pool service company van burst into flames Thursday while parked in front of home in Hallsburg and there was some concern that the chemicals it was carrying might be dangerous.
Just after noon Thursday, firefighters from Hallsburg and Elk and a hazardous materials team from the Waco Fire Department were sent to 6688 East Highway 6 where the first crew on the scene reported the van was engulfed in flames.
The pool service technician was able to remove all the chlorine from the truck before the fire got too intense, but after dousing the flames, crews found two bottles of muriatic acid still inside.
The Waco Fire Marshal's office said firefighters tested the area around where the acid was found and determined it to be safe.
---------------------------------------------
UPDATE: WORKER INHALED CHEMICAL FUMES AT HIGH SCHOOL
http://easthampton.patch.com/articles/hazmat-team-responds-to-high-school
Tags: us_NY, education, release, injury, cleaners
Update, 11:00 a.m.: Fire officials said that a worker at East Hampton High School inhaled some noxious fumes after a small amount of floor stripper and cleaning solutions were inadvertently mixed together in a Dumpster on Thursday morning.
East Hampton Fire Department Chief Thomas Bono said his department was initially called because of smoking coming out of a compacting Dumpster behind the school, at about 9:45 a.m. He called for the hazardous materials team due to the chemical component.
The East Hampton Village Ambulance Association transported the worker, who inhaled the fumes, to Southampton Hospital. "I don't know their condition right now," Bono said after the call, "But I don't think it's life threatening or anything like that."
---------------------------------------------
900 GALLON CHEMICAL SPILL AT 3M IN MERIDEN WILL TAKE HOURS TO CLEAN
http://www.myrecordjournal.com/meriden/article_f095c214-bbae-11e1-b819-001a4bcf887a.html
Tags: us_CT, industrial, release, response, methanol
MERIDEN - The Meriden Fire Department responded to a methanol spill at 3M Corporation at 400 Research Parkway that is likely to take several hours to clean up.
Assistant Fire Chief Russ Donovan said the department has evacuated the room and where the spill occurred, containing the spill and harmful vapors.
No one was in the room at the time of the spill and there were no injuries, Donovan said. The cause is under investigation.
Methanol is a liquid used to make plastics used to manufacture 3M's water and air filters.
---------------------------------------------
TOXIC CHEMICAL SPILL FORCES NORTHEAST RESIDENTS TO STAY INDOORS
http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/news/local/toxic-chemical-spill-closes-northeast-neighborhood/nPbfQ/
Tags: us_TX, public, release, response, pesticides
EL PASO, Texas Ñ Residents in one Northeast El Paso neighborhood were awakened Wednesday evening by police and firefighters after a chemical spill at a home at Bainbridge Avenue and McCombs Street forced residents to stay indoors, police said.
Fire officials said chemical spills like this one are common this time of year because of the heat.
The spill happened in a backyard shed around 3 p.m. Wednesday but was barely reported overnight, police said.
Fire crews spent about five hours safely removing a chemical from the shed, and throughout Wednesday, people complained of being dizzy, nauseous and vomiting, officials said.
The chemical spill was a highly concentrated form of malathion, a common pesticide that can be bought at any hardware store. The chemical became unstable because of the heat and caused it to eat through the bottom of the container, spilling into the shed, officials said.
The owner said he threw the pesticide out, which caused the odor to spread to the neighbors.
Officials said that people should buy only small quantities of those kinds of products for the job at hand because of these types of issues.
---------------------------------------------
OXFORDSHIRE FIRE CREWS TACKLE BANBURY CHEMICAL BLAZE
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-18531876
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
Firefighters have tackled a chemical fire at a factory in north Oxfordshire.
The fire service was called to AAC Cyroma Ltd, on the Beaumont Road Industrial Estate in Banbury, at 22:02 BST on Wednesday.
It took crews two hours to bring the blaze. Fifteen people who had been in the building were helped to safety.
Group manager Pete Graham called it a "serious incident". The fire service stayed on site through the night.
Firefighters had to wear protective chemical clothing when entering the premises.
'Chemical issues'
Mr Graham added: "The preplanning carried out by the site's management, and the fire protection measures and procedures in place, ensured the safety of their staff as well as assisting our firefighters in tackling this serious incident.
"The sprinkler system made a significant difference and prevented the fire developing significantly and enabled us to concentrate on dealing with the potential chemical issues."
Rob David, managing director of AAC Cyroma Ltd, said the company was "operational" on Thursday.
He added: "Due to having chemicals on site the incident is different to other fires.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICALS SPREAD CHAOS AT GARFIELD PARK POOL
http://www.indystar.com/article/20120621/NEWS/120621039/14-taken-to-hospitals-after-chemical-leak-into-Garfield-Park-pool?odyssey=tab%7Cmostpopular%7Ctext%7CNEWS
Tags: us_IN, public, release, injury, pool_chemicals
At the same time Ñ across a pool that features shallow wading areas, two large water slides and a children's playhouse Ñ others were making the same discovery.
Mayhem ensued.
Jamie Rahmany, in the baby pool with her son, noticed kids coughing around her. Patricia Tanner, a mother of three sitting just out of the pool, saw children vomiting. And Shari Patton, a mother with two children at the pool, smelled a sharp odor that was likened to ammonia, or chlorine.
"The lifeguard was running around yelling at everybody: ÔGet out of the pool! Get out of the pool!'?" she said. "I didn't know what was going on."
Patton yanked her kids out of the water and rushed them to a shower room for a rinse. Around her, swimmers were leaving the pool and grabbing shirts, towels, whatever they could to cover their faces and shield them from the smell. Pool staff quickly began giving the children water, with kids drinking from the same cups.
The source of the chaos was what officials described as a toxically out-of-balance mixture of pool chemicals that were pumped into the water around 2 p.m. Thursday. The solution sickened scores and sent more than 80 people Ñ most of them children Ñ to four local hospitals. Most were treated and released within a couple of hours. Some were being kept Thursday evening for observation, but there was no indication that anyone had been seriously harmed.
---------------------------------------------
Ralph Stuart
secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Secretary
Division of Chemical Health and Safety
American Chemical Society
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