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Previous by Date: Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines from Google (20 articles) Date: October 26, 2012 7:59:05 AM EDT Author: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" |
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Sodium hydroxide, a cleaning ACID???? (See mustard plant accident below ...)
-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2012 7:59 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines from Google (20 articles)
Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, October 26, 2012 7:58:53 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 (20 articles)
AFTER CANYON COUNTRY EXPLOSION, DEPUTIES FIND POT GROW, 'EXTRACTION' LAB
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, explosion, response, drugs, illegal
CHEMICAL SPILL AT SOUTH TYNESIDE DISTRICT HOSPITAL
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, release, injury, nitrous_oxide
RECKITT-BENCKISER PLANT, CHEMICAL SPILL, THREE WORKERS INJURED, MERCY HOSPITAL, HAZMAT CREWS
Tags: us_MO, industrial, follow-up, injury, sodium_hydroxide
CORONA: WORKER BURNED BY ACID AT CITY POOL
Tags: us_CA, industrial, release, injury, hydrochloric_acid
BOSTON CREWS RESPOND TO HAZMAT SITUATION AT GAS STATION
Tags: us_MA, public, release, response, dust, fire_extinguisher
CHEM LAB MISHAPS IN ACADEMIC SETTINGS HAPPEN FREQUENTLY
Tags: us_PA, education, follow-up, response
CHEMICAL SPILL CONTAINED AT MUSTARD PLANT; 3 EMPLOYEES TREATED FOR BURNS
Tags: us_MO, industrial, release, injury, sodium_hydroxide
CENEX FACES FINE FOR NOT REPORTING CHEMICAL RELEASE IN MALTA FIRE, 14 CALVES DIED DOWNWIND
Tags: us_MT, public, follow-up, response, illegal, pesticides
ROCK HILL: NO INJURIES REPORTED AFTER ROCK HILL PLANT EVACUATION
Tags: us_SC, industrial, release, response, peroxide
CHEMICAL FIRE IN HEANOR
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, fire, response, epoxy, resin
DRIVER DIES AS TANKER CATCHES FIRE IN MISHAP
Tags: India, transportation, release, death, unknown_chemical
EXPLOSION VICTIM IN CRITICAL CONDITION IN DULUTH HOSPITAL
Tags: us_MN, industrial, explosion, injury, dust
9 HURT IN TEXAS CITY CHEMICAL LEAK, SHELTER-IN-PLACE FOR AREA LIFTED EARLY THURSDAY
Tags: us_TX, public, release, injury, hydrochloric_acid
CHLORINE LEAK AT LA GRANGE PUMPING STATION TUESDAY MORNING
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, response, chlorine
UPDATED: BAY BRIDGE REOPENS AFTER - HAZMAT INCIDENT ON SHORE SIDE
Tags: us_MD, transportation, release, response, propane
RADIOACTIVE MEDICAL WASTE IN DUMPSTER CLOSES ALBERTSONS
Tags: us_CA, public, discovery, response, radiation
PHILLYBURBS.COM: BURLINGTON COUNTY TIMES: POLICE, RIVERSIDE, NORTH PAVILION AVENUE, WATCH CASE BUILDING, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Tags: us_NJ, public, discovery, environmental, cyanide, hydrochloric_acid
ROUTE 22 REOPENED AFTER CHEMICAL THAT CLOSED ROAD IS IDENTIFIED AS BLEACH
Tags: us_PA, public, release, response, bleach
SMALL ACID LEAK AT SUN CHEMICAL CONTAINED QUICKLY, ENDANGERED NONE
Tags: us_MI, industrial, release, response, hydrochloric_acid
DERRY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER HURT WHEN CHEMISTRY EXPERIMENT EXPLODES
Tags: us_PA, laboratory, explosion, injury, potassium_nitrate
---------------------------------------------
AFTER CANYON COUNTRY EXPLOSION, DEPUTIES FIND POT GROW, 'EXTRACTION' LAB http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21852761/after-canyon-country-explosion-deputies-find-pot-grow
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, explosion, response, drugs, illegal
An apartment that was the source of an explosion in Canyon Country, displacing two neighboring families, was being used as a "marijuana grow house and a THC extraction laboratory," the Sheriff's Department said Thursday.
The blast at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday severely burned one man, whose name and condition were not available Thursday.
Another man, 29-year-old Stephen Schilling of Canyon Country, was arrested on suspicion of cultivation of marijuana and manufacturing a controlled substance. The latter charge carries up to seven years in prison. He was being held Thursday afternoon on $75,000 bail.
The explosion apparently resulted from a chemical extraction process used to make concentrated cannabis, Sgt. Daniel Stanley at the sheriff's Santa Clarita Valley station said. He said it wasn't clear how long people had been been doing so in the apartment.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL SPILL AT SOUTH TYNESIDE DISTRICT HOSPITAL http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2012/10/02/chemical-spill-at-south-tyneside-district-hospital-72703-31951182/
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, release, injury, nitrous_oxide
TWO firefighters and a laboratory assistant took ill after a chemical alert in a hospital.
The incident happened in the histopathology department of South Tyneside District Hospital, after two chemicals reacted with each other, producing nitrous oxide gas.
Fire crews arrived at the scene in Harton Lane, South Shields, at about 12.13pm yesterday and went into the building wearing breathing apparatus.
They placed the chemicals into oversized drums and took them outside, where a 30m exclusion zone had been set up, to allow the gases to evaporate naturally.
The lab assistant and two firefighters, who complained of sore throats, were taken to hospital and later discharged after check-ups.
---------------------------------------------
RECKITT-BENCKISER PLANT, CHEMICAL SPILL, THREE WORKERS INJURED, MERCY HOSPITAL, HAZMAT CREWS http://www.ky3.com/news/ky3-reckittbenckiser-plant-chemical-spill-three-workers-injured-mercy-hospital-hazmat-crews-20121025,0,2699770.story
Tags: us_MO, industrial, follow-up, injury, sodium_hydroxide
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- A chemical spill happened Thursday morning at a Springfield factory that makes mustard, barbeque sauce and french fried onions.
Workers evacuated the plant, and three people were treated at the hospital, but emergency responders are concerned that no one called 911.
The injuries were not serious, and the incident did not cause big problems here at Mercy Hospital. But emergency responders want to remind everyone that when hazardous materials are involved, it's best to call for help.
Workers evacuated one area of the Reckitt-Benckiser plant after a pipe broke, releasing the chemical sodium hydroxide. It's an industrial chemical used for cleaning. "Not unlike coming in contact with Drano, it would cause tenderness or abbrasions or even minor burns to your skin," says Springfield Assistant Fire Chief David Pennington.
Three workers suffered chemical burns and showed up at the Mercy Hospital's emergency room.
"Immediately, we identified them as a chemical exposure and we took them directly to our Hazmat area to have them decontaminated," says Mercy Burn Surgeon Dr. Brian Tibbs.
Mercy then contacted Springfield Hazmat crews. "Generally if it's a larger incident, they call 911, not certain why it didn't happen in this case, but they happened to show up and it evolved from there," says Pennington.
---------------------------------------------
CORONA: WORKER BURNED BY ACID AT CITY POOL http://www.pe.com/local-news/breaking-news-headlines/20121025-corona-fire-department-at-hazmat-spill-at-city-park.ece
Tags: us_CA, industrial, release, injury, hydrochloric_acid
A Corona city employee suffered a minor acid burn on his arm Thursday, Oct. 25, when he was exposed to a chemical used to clean pools.
Employees were repairing pipes in the building next to the pool at City Park at Grand Boulevard and Quarry Street about noon when one worker accidentally stepped on and cracked a pipe containing hydrochloric acid, said Lynn Mata, the Corona Fire Department's emergency services coordinator.
The employee was treated by a city doctor.
---------------------------------------------
BOSTON CREWS RESPOND TO HAZMAT SITUATION AT GAS STATION http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/19920091/2012/10/25/boston-crews-respond-to-hazmat-situation-at-gas-station
Tags: us_MA, public, release, response, dust, fire_extinguisher
BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) Patrons at a Boston gas station got an unwelcome car wash on Thursday night after an overhead fire extinguishing system was accidentally set off.
Boston Fire officials tell FOX 25 a release button was mistakenly pushed inside an office at Prime Gas Station on the corner of Adams Street and Gallivan Boulevard. That resulted in the release of a dry powder-type system.
Three drivers were evaluated by Boston EMS at the scene. They are all reportedly okay following the incident.
A cleanup crew was sent to the scene to wash down the entire area, including the three cars.
---------------------------------------------
CHEM LAB MISHAPS IN ACADEMIC SETTINGS HAPPEN FREQUENTLY http://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/2834482-74/safety-chemistry-lab-accidents-kaufman-incidents-langerman-students-teacher-based#axzz2AP6q6qnM
Tags: us_PA, education, follow-up, response
Accidents in academic chemistry labs - like the explosion that injured a Derry Area High School teacher on Wednesday - aren't few and far between.
Based on the news headlines collected over the last few years by the American Chemical Society, based in Washington, such incidents occur quite frequently.
"It just seems like there are several of them a week," said Neal Langerman, an officer with the society's Division of Chemical Health and Safety who works in San Diego, Calif. "We publish those headlines three times a week and there seems to be something always in the K through 12 environment.
"It's disturbing that it's occurring so frequently, and they shouldn't be occurring," he said.
Accidents in school labs typically fall under two categories - runaway reactions and spills, Langerman said.
Both have occurred at high schools in the region this month.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL SPILL CONTAINED AT MUSTARD PLANT; 3 EMPLOYEES TREATED FOR BURNS
http://ozarksfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=719622
Tags: us_MO, industrial, release, injury, sodium_hydroxide
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A chemical spill at a mustard plant in northeast Springfield sends three employees to the hospital.
Asst. Fire Chief David Pennington with the Springfield Fire Department says Mercy Hospital called crews to the Reckitt Benckiser plant at 4343 East Mustard Way around 7:30 a.m.
There was a report that a pipe burst at the French's Mustard plant, spewing out sodium hydroxide, a cleaning acid, that may have exposed up to 20 people inside the building.
Pennington says Mercy Hospital at E. Cherokee prepared for the arrival of dozens of people, and was ready to call in extra staff to make sure no one else was contaminated. That didn't end up being the case.
Only three people complained of contact burns or redness after being exposed to the chemical. They were taken to Mercy hospital by private vehicle.
---------------------------------------------
CENEX FACES FINE FOR NOT REPORTING CHEMICAL RELEASE IN MALTA FIRE, 14 CALVES DIED DOWNWIND http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/2e0bfc0bd5d046939e07a00f63dd10fc/MT--CHS-Chemical-Release
Tags: us_MT, public, follow-up, response, illegal, pesticides
GREAT FALLS, Mont. - The U.S. Attorney's Office in Montana says Cenex Harvest States Inc. faces a possible $500,000 fine after pleading guilty to a criminal charge for not properly reporting the extent a chemical release near Malta.
Federal officials said Thursday a general manager from Cenex's Malta Milk Cooperative downplayed the risk of a November 2009 fire that burned large volumes of herbicides, including 2,4-D.
Hundreds of cattle on a ranch downwind of the blaze were exposed to the smoke. Fourteen calves later died of a lung ailment.
Prosecutors say CHS paid the owners of the calves market value for the dead animals and purchased about 475 head of cattle that had been exposed to smoke from the fire.
Sentencing is set for Jan. 22 before U.S. District Judge Sam Haddon in Great Falls.
---------------------------------------------
ROCK HILL: NO INJURIES REPORTED AFTER ROCK HILL PLANT EVACUATION http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/10/25/4365813/crews-called-to-chemical-reaction.html
Tags: us_SC, industrial, release, response, peroxide
ROCK HILL - Several employees were safely evacuated Thursday afternoon from Oerlikon Balzers Coating Services in Rock Hill when a peroxide-based solution began to bubble, emergency officials say.
The Rock Hill Fire Department, York County Office of Emergency Management and a hazardous materials team responded to the business at 463 Lakeshore Parkway.
Officials worked with the tool coating company's chemists to contain the problem and ensure that no vapors put people at risk.
Cotton Howell, emergency management director, said the chemical bubbling does not pose a serious "life-safety" risk.
There were no injuries reported. Howell wasn't sure how many workers where in the facility the chemical began bubbling.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL FIRE IN HEANOR
http://www.ripleyandheanornews.co.uk/news/local/chemical-fire-in-heanor-1-5066748
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, fire, response, epoxy, resin
Fire fighters were called to Heanor Gate Industrial Estate on Thursday, when 30 kilos of chemicals had caught fire.
The crews from Ilkeston and Heanor attended the scene at 5.30pm and put foam on a container of epoxy resin at Slack Lane, which was still smouldering when they arrived.
The container was moved to the open air and a water hose was used to cool the substance.
---------------------------------------------
DRIVER DIES AS TANKER CATCHES FIRE IN MISHAP http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Driver-dies-as-tanker-catches-fire-in-mishap/articleshow/16964867.cms
Tags: India, transportation, release, death, unknown_chemical
JAIPUR: Panic gripped Jaipur-Agra National Highway near Bassi on Thursday morning after a driver was brunt alive and his helper sustained serious burn injuries in a collision between their chemical-laden tanker and a stationed truck.
---------------------------------------------
EXPLOSION VICTIM IN CRITICAL CONDITION IN DULUTH HOSPITAL http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/247594/group/news/
Tags: us_MN, industrial, explosion, injury, dust
The worker injured in an apparent coal-dust explosion at Minnesota Power's Taconite Harbor Energy Center in Schroeder remained in critical condition Tuesday at a Duluth hospital.
A spokeswoman for Essentia Health Duluth, the former Miller-Dwan Medical Center, said Joe Fredrickson, 41, of Silver Bay was in critical condition. The blast was reported about 9:20 a.m. Monday in the plant's coal storage area.
A Minnesota Power spokeswoman said a Minnesota state fire marshal was on the scene Tuesday trying to determine the cause of the flash explosion and ensuing small fires. The Schroeder fire chief said he thought the explosion was caused when coal dust ignited, but that the ignition source was not clear. Firefighters battled several small fires in the coal after the explosion.
Minnesota Power also was conducting an internal investigation of the accident, trying to determine what went wrong. It was unclear Tuesday if officials of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were at the scene. The accident, similar to a 2002 explosion at the site, has not affected the company's ability to supply electricity to customers.
---------------------------------------------
9 HURT IN TEXAS CITY CHEMICAL LEAK, SHELTER-IN-PLACE FOR AREA LIFTED EARLY THURSDAY http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/2d36eec6ca2944e4ba17fea4bc354e50/TX--Texas-Chemical-Leak
Tags: us_TX, public, release, injury, hydrochloric_acid
TEXAS CITY, Texas - Officials say nine people have been slightly hurt in a chemical tank leak that restricted outdoor activities in a Southeast Texas city.
Emergency authorities in Texas City lifted the shelter-in-place order shortly after 5 a.m. Thursday in a storage tank spill involving hydrochloric acid.
Diane Tracy with New Jersey-based Dallas Group of America Inc. says company officials are investigating Wednesday night's accident.
Tracy says one Dallas Group employee, four workers with a neighboring transportation company and four firefighters were injured. Tracy says all nine victims were treated and released from a hospital.
Homeland Security coordinator Bruce Clawson says the victims suffered acid exposure in the leak around 11 p.m. Wednesday. A shelter-in-place order was issued just before midnight Wednesday.
---------------------------------------------
CHLORINE LEAK AT LA GRANGE PUMPING STATION TUESDAY MORNING http://westernsprings.patch.com/articles/chlorine-leak-repaired-at-pumping-station
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, response, chlorine
A Hazmat team responded to a chlorine leak at the La Grange pumping station at 5038 East Ave. on Tuesday morning between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
La Grange personnel said that elevated chlorine levels came from a leak on one of the fittings on the chlorine gas system.
"The reason to initiate a box alarm was just to manpower in just to make sure everything was safe," said La Grange fire chief Bill Bryzgalski. "There was no harm to any residents; no need for evacuation. This was just a small, minor leak."
Bryzgalski said that only a trace amount of chlorine would have escaped the building, posing no danger, and that crews had repaired the problem before 9:00 a.m.
---------------------------------------------
UPDATED: BAY BRIDGE REOPENS AFTER - HAZMAT INCIDENT ON SHORE SIDE
http://wp.wgmd.com/?p=71673
Tags: us_MD, transportation, release, response, propane
ORIGINAL STORY: Both spans of the Bay Bridge are closed On the Eastern Shore side of the bridge traffic is also not moving. MD State Highway officials have closed Route 50 to all traffic including the shoulders because of a HAZMAT Incident. State Highway Administration says that a 9,000 gallon propane tank is leaking gas through a valve that either became loose or broke. Traffic is not passing over the Bay Bridge - Traffic headed east is sitting at Sandy Point like a parking lot.
---------------------------------------------
RADIOACTIVE MEDICAL WASTE IN DUMPSTER CLOSES ALBERTSONS http://santamonica.patch.com/articles/hazmat-team-called-to-albertsons
Tags: us_CA, public, discovery, response, radiation
A HazMat team investigated Wednesday morning radioactive medical waste detected in a trash bin behind an Albertsons at Lincoln and Ocean Park boulevards in Santa Monica, temporarily closing the grocery store.
The source was a bag of medical grade Iodine 131 used to treat thyroid cancer, according to Santa Monica Fire Chief Judah Mitchell.
The store at 2627 Lincoln Blvd. was not evacuated as Haz Mat personnel wearing protective suits combed the area using "highly sophisticated monitors and detectors." The readings inside the store were normal, so customers were allowed to continue shopping, but new customers were not allowed to go inside, Mitchell said.
---------------------------------------------
PHILLYBURBS.COM: BURLINGTON COUNTY TIMES: POLICE, RIVERSIDE, NORTH PAVILION AVENUE, WATCH CASE BUILDING, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/burlington_county_times_news/unknown-chemicals-found-inside-riverside-watch-case-building/article_e5de0b0f-0755-5e14-898d-47ce1c00999b.html
Tags: us_NJ, public, discovery, environmental, cyanide, hydrochloric_acid
RIVERSIDE - State and county officials are investigating the origin of several containers of chemicals that were discovered Wednesday morning inside the historic Watch Case building on Pavilion Avenue.
The chemicals were found in the building's basement during a routine fire inspection, Police Chief Paul Tursi said.
Preliminary reports were that some of the containers contained hydrochloric acid and cyanide solution, said Larry Hajna, spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Employees from the Lippincott-Jacobs Consulting Engineers were evacuated from their ground-floor offices as a precaution, Tursi said.
The Burlington County Health Department was notified of the discovery and sent a hazardous materials team to investigate, county spokesman Ralph Shrom said. There was no evidence of a spill or danger, but Health Department officials were trying to determine why the chemicals were left there, Shrom said.
---------------------------------------------
ROUTE 22 REOPENED AFTER CHEMICAL THAT CLOSED ROAD IS IDENTIFIED AS BLEACH http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2012/10/route_22_reopening_after_bleac.html
Tags: us_PA, public, release, response, bleach
Authorities reopened Route 22 in Easton following an early afternoon chemical spill that closed traffic in both directions.
Two containers of what was determined to be sodium hypochlorite -- or bleach -- spilled shortly after noon on Route 22 West in the area of Cemetery Curve, Northampton County Emergency Management Director Bob Mateff said about 2:40 p.m.
"It's more or less like Clorox," Mateff said from the scene.
An unknown amount of the material spilled from two 5-gallon containers. Some of the substance remained in the containers, and it was unknown whether they were full initially.
---------------------------------------------
SMALL ACID LEAK AT SUN CHEMICAL CONTAINED QUICKLY, ENDANGERED NONE http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2012/10/small_acid_leak_at_sun_chemica.html
Tags: us_MI, industrial, release, response, hydrochloric_acid
EGELSTON TOWNSHIP, MI - Emergency officials say no one was endangered by a minor, quickly controlled spill of liquid hydrochloric acid late Tuesday at Sun Chemical's plant on Evanston Avenue.
According to Egelston Township Fire Department officials, approximately 10 gallons of the acid spilled inside the company's diked area around 10:30 p.m. Sun's safety workers called local emergency authorities and contained and cleaned up the spill before outside agencies arrived.
The entire incident was confined to Sun property and did not endanger neighbors, Muskegon County Emergency Services Director Dan Stout said.
---------------------------------------------
DERRY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER HURT WHEN CHEMISTRY EXPERIMENT EXPLODES http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/2831483-74/clawson-barnhart-students-chemistry-teacher-experiment-explosion-really-student-derry#axzz2AJEPtGaO
Tags: us_PA, laboratory, explosion, injury, potassium_nitrate
His face and hands burned and shirt collar ablaze, a popular Derry Area High School teacher hurried students away from an explosion in a chemistry lab Wednesday before he thought of himself, a student who witnessed the incident said.
Brian Clawson, 35, of Mt. Pleasant Township, a teacher in the district for about five years, was in fair condition in UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, according to a spokeswoman.
Paul Barnhart, a junior, was standing "4 or 5 feet" from Clawson as he mixed potassium nitrate and table sugar. Clawson was not wearing protective face gear as he stirred the mixture with a rod in a skillet-like container when it exploded about 11:40 a.m., Barnhart said.
"It was really, really startling," Barnhart said. "His shirt collar was on fire, and he was covered in black stuff. After a minute or two, it ignited in his face.
"I was impressed he was more worried about getting the kids out (than about himself)," Barnhart said.
Another teacher ran to help Clawson, who was trying to pat out the flames on his clothing.
"'I'm not doing good," Barnhart heard Clawson say.
Clawson suffered burns to his face, neck, chest and hands, said Superintendent David Welling.
The explosion blew a powdery substance onto Barnhart's clothes and skin, and he suffered a minor burn to a leg. He sought medical attention as a precaution but said he and the other three or four students near Clawson were all right.
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