| About This Archive | | DCHAS-L 2013 Index | | DCHAS-L Yearly Index | |
Check out Safety Emporium for your N95, N99, and face shield needs.
|
Previous by Date: Subject: [DCHAS-L] Application of Life-Cycle Assessment to Nanoscale Technology: Li-ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles Date: May 2, 2013 3:41:29 PM EDT Author: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" |
Next by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Chemistry Fume Hood Experience Date: May 5, 2013 3:35:34 PM EDT Author: Monona Rossol |
Again, there are a lot of local news stories reporting on the number of chemical facilities storing potentially explosive materials on site and local hazmat respect capabilities as reporters do follow up work on the West, TX event. I haven't included these in the list below.
- Ralph
Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, May 3, 2013 7:18:02 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)
CHEMICAL WAREHOUSE GUTTED IN KEAMARI
Tags: Pakistan, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
PEPCON ANNIVERSARY SERVES AS REMINDER: HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EMERGENCIES COULD OCCUR IN CLARK COUNTY
Tags: us_NV, industrial, follow-up, death, ammonium_perchlorate, chlorine, magnesium
EMERGENCY CREWS CONTAIN CHEMICAL SPILL INSIDE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP BUSINESS
Tags: us_PA, laboratory, release, response, epoxy
FORMOSA FLASH FIRE INJURES 16 WORKERS (VIDEO)
Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, injury, plastics
SUSPICIOUS POWDER EVACUATES 49 ORANGE COUNTY HOMES
Tags: us_FL, public, discovery, response, dust
FACTORY EVACUATED AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL NEAR PHILLY
Tags: us_PA, industrial, release, response, epoxy
UPDATE: STATE OFFICIALS TELL LEGISLATORS THAT EDUCATING WEST RESIDENTS ABOUT PLANT WAS LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Tags: us_TX, public, follow-up, death
HOW TO REPEL KIDS FROM SCIENCE: BY CHAINING CURIOSITY IN CUFFS
Tags: us_FL, education, follow-up, injury, metals, sodium
TIPTREE: FIVE FIRE CREWS CALLED TO SCHOOL AFTER LAB CHEMICAL SPILL
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, release, injury, phenol
COLLEGE LAB EXPLOSION CAUSED BY SUSPECTED THEFT
Tags: China, laboratory, explosion, death, unknown_chemical
ACID BOMB EXPLODES IN MAILBOX
Tags: us_FL, public, explosion, response, bomb
CHEMICAL REACTION CAUSES FIRE, EXPLOSION AT BRANCHBURG PLANT
Tags: us_NJ, laboratory, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
25 GALLONS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAK ON MAIN STREET IN HACKETTSTOWN
Tags: us_NJ, transportation, release, response, hydraulic_fluid
HAZMAT TEAM REMOVES BOMB FROM DEAD MAN'S HOME
Tags: us_GA, public, discovery, response, bomb
BLAST AT CHEMICAL FACTORY, 1 HURT
Tags: India, industrial, explosion, injury, toluene
FIRE AT MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY IN MOSCOW PUT OUT
Tags: Russia, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical
BOMBS FREQUENT IN U.S.; 172 ÔIED' INCIDENTS IN LAST 6 MONTHS, BY 1 COUNT
Tags: public, follow-up, environmental, bomb
'WHITE GRAPHENE' ABSORBS POLLUTANTS AND CAN BE RE-USED
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, discovery, response, other_chemical
HEARING SCHEDULED FOR DAVID SNYDER IN UC DAVIS EXPLOSIVES CASE
Tags: us_CA, education, follow-up, response, explosives, illegal
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL WAREHOUSE GUTTED IN KEAMARI
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-4-174944-Chemical-warehouse-gutted-in-Keamari
Tags: Pakistan, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
A massive fire broke out at a chemical warehouse in the West Wharf area of Keamari on Thursday, causing losses worth million of rupees.
According to the Karachi Port Trust (KPT), the fire started at about 2:15 am and spread to other parts of the premises within minutes, consuming goods worth millions in its wake.
As many as 16 fire engines of the KPT, Pakistan Navy and KMC reached the scene. The raging inferno was declared a No 3 fire.
The warehouse was closed at the time of the fire and thick black smoke could be seen from miles away. KESC officials also reached the spot and disconnected the power supply.
---------------------------------------------
PEPCON ANNIVERSARY SERVES AS REMINDER: HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EMERGENCIES COULD OCCUR IN CLARK COUNTY
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/may/03/clark-county-hazardous-material-sites/
Tags: us_NV, industrial, follow-up, death, ammonium_perchlorate, chlorine, magnesium
Twenty-five years ago this week Ñ on May 4, 1988 Ñ explosions at the Pacific Engineering Production Company of Nevada tore through the complex, killing two and injuring more than 300.
A dark column of smoke rose from the site, where ammonium perchlorate Ñ used to boost the performance of rocket fuel Ñ was produced. Debris rained down around the area. The force of the blasts shattered windows and doors around Henderson.
Three years after the PEPCON disaster, a 42-ton chlorine leak at Pioneer Chlor Alkali sickened more than 300 people and led to mass evacuations.
Pioneer was in the Basic Management Inc. complex, a 5,000-acre county island surrounded by the city of Henderson; PEPCON was situated nearby. A company originally called Basic Magnesium Inc. built the first chemical plants on the site in 1942.
---------------------------------------------
EMERGENCY CREWS CONTAIN CHEMICAL SPILL INSIDE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP BUSINESS
http://www.thereporteronline.com/article/20130502/NEWS01/130509964/emergency-crews-contain-chemical-spill-inside-montgomery-township-business
Tags: us_PA, laboratory, release, response, epoxy
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP Ñ A chemical spill Wednesday afternoon that forced employees of ITW Polymers Coatings to evacuate their building at 130 Commerce Drive in Montgomery Township Ñ in an industrial park off Stump Road Ñ was quickly contained by emergency responders, and no injuries were reported.
Shortly before 2 p.m. on Wednesday, a chemical reaction occurred in ITW's research and development lab that created a potentially dangerous vapor cloud, Fire Department of Montgomery Township Fire Chief Bill Wiegman said at the scene. "There was some off-gassing which we were concerned about," said Wiegman, who did not name the chemical but stated that it was utilized in the processing of an epoxy made by the company.
The building was evacuated; more than two-dozen employees milled about in a nearby parking lot as members of Montgomery County Hazmat Station 81 went into the building to do air and temperature checks. Ambulances from Volunteer Medical Service Corps stood by; joining FDMT crews was Wissahickon Fire Company with Ladder 7 to handle decontamination "in case anybody gets any product on them," Wiegman explained.
---------------------------------------------
FORMOSA FLASH FIRE INJURES 16 WORKERS (VIDEO)
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2013/may/02/chemical-explosion-reported-formosa-plastics/?news
Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, injury, plastics
POINT COMFORT - As emergency workers raced to the Formosa Plastics plant Thursday, many thought about a massive blaze there in 2005.
David Johnson, captain of the Port Lavaca Fire Department, drove the six miles to the plant with his crew, much like he did eight years ago.
"I was just thinking that I didn't want the same thing happening as the last explosion," Johnson said. "I looked at my guys and said, 'We're coming home tonight.'"
The fire began about 1:30 p.m. and was confined to the polyethylene No. 1 production unit, said Bill Harvey, Formosa communications manager. At a 4 p.m. news briefing, Harvey said nine people were injured. However, that number increased by the evening to 16 people, most of whom were treated for injuries ranging from smoke inhalation to serious burns.
---------------------------------------------
SUSPICIOUS POWDER EVACUATES 49 ORANGE COUNTY HOMES
http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2013/5/1/hazmat_called_to_hom.html
Tags: us_FL, public, discovery, response, dust
ORLANDO --
The bomb squad has removed all the chemicals they could find in that house in the Alafaya Palms subdivision after a suspicious powder was found. Residents will soon be allowed back in their homes.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office said at least 49 homes were evacuated surrounding a home on La Crosse Avenue, just north of where East Colonial Drive Meets the east end of State Road 408.
Responding deputies said a number of chemicals were found in a shed at the home.
According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, an elderly man passed away about a week ago and family members found the suspicious chemicals after they came to clean out his home.
Around 10:45 a.m., investigators were called to the scene and surprised by what they saw.
---------------------------------------------
FACTORY EVACUATED AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL NEAR PHILLY
http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20130502_ap_factoryevacuatedafterchemicalspillnearphilly.html
Tags: us_PA, industrial, release, response, epoxy
MONTGOMERYVILLE, Pa. - Officials say an unknown chemical spilled at plant in suburban Philadelphia, prompting employees to be evacuated. No injuries are being reported.
It happened at ITW Polymers Coatings in Montgomery Township on Wednesday afternoon. Montgomery Township fire Chief Bill Wiegman says the chemical that spilled was used in the processing of epoxy made by the company.
About 30 workers at the plant were evacuated when alarms went off around 1:45 p.m. and fire officials called in a hazardous materials team. A preschool in the area was also ordered to shelter in place while crews investigated.
Authorities eventually determined the gases given off weren't harmful and the spill was contained to the building.
---------------------------------------------
UPDATE: STATE OFFICIALS TELL LEGISLATORS THAT EDUCATING WEST RESIDENTS ABOUT PLANT WAS LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY
http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2013/05/state-house-members-begin-questioning-experts-on-west-explosion.html/
Tags: us_TX, public, follow-up, death
AUSTIN Ñ Texas Department of Public Safety officials this morning told state lawmakers that educating residents in West - and in other Texas towns - about possible dangers of chemicals stored in nearby facilities falls to local officials.
"It's a local up," DPS Director Steve McCraw said during a legislative hearing in Austin. "It's not a state down."
Those and other assessments of various state agencies' oversight and enforcement roles came during a Texas House committee hearing about the April 17 fertilizer plant explosion that killed 15 people, injured more than 200 others and damaged scores of houses in the small Central Texas town.
---------------------------------------------
HOW TO REPEL KIDS FROM SCIENCE: BY CHAINING CURIOSITY IN CUFFS
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/the-curious-wavefunction/2013/05/01/how-to-repel-students-from-science/
Tags: us_FL, education, follow-up, injury, metals, sodium
In his delightful memoir "Uncle Tungsten", the eminent neurologist and writer Oliver Sacks recounts the swashbuckling chemical adventures of his teenage years, sparked when a sympathetic uncle got him hooked on to the wonders of chemistry. For me the most memorable image from that book is one of the young Sacks standing on a bridge on a river and successively dropping a few grams of the alkali metals - from lithium to cesium - in the water to observe their reaction. Lithium causes little reaction, sodium dances on the surface with a flame while cesium roars like a beast with much sound and fury. Sacks says that after that incident he never forgot the trends in reactivity of the alkali metals, an important principle that's often taught in high school and college. Many prominent scientists, some of whom later won Nobel Prizes, remember similar exciting adventures with chemistry sets as teenagers.
It's a sad commentary on our alarmist society that a similar deed would probably land a modern day budding Oliver Sacks into jail. And that is exactly what it has done to a young aspiring scientist from Bartow High School in Florida, and in the process it has almost certainly deprived this country of exactly the kind of scientist whose shortage its politicians and educators are so fond of lamenting. The student conducted a common experiment mixing Drano and aluminum foil on the grounds of a school. The exact details are unknown but the incident led to a minor explosion, hurt nobody and damaged no property. This relatively harmless bit of curiosity led to the student being handcuffed, arrested and expelled from the school. Irrational State Overreach: 1, The Much Touted American Edge in Science: 0. Whatever else the school was trying to achieve, it definitely succeeded in squelching independent scientific curiosity in its students.
---------------------------------------------
TIPTREE: FIVE FIRE CREWS CALLED TO SCHOOL AFTER LAB CHEMICAL SPILL
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/tiptree_five_fire_crews_called_to_school_after_lab_chemical_spill_1_2176632
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, release, injury, phenol
FIREFIGHTERS and ambulance paramedics were called to a Tiptree high school this afternoon after two students spilled dangerous chemicals onto their arms.
....
An Essex Ambulance HART team was also sent to the school to treat the two 17-year-old students, who had spilled phenol crystals on their arms.
An Essex County Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "The classroom the spillage occurred in and the two adjacent classrooms were all evacuated.
"Firefighters in breathing apparatus then entered the classroom and cleared the spilled chemical away."
---------------------------------------------
COLLEGE LAB EXPLOSION CAUSED BY SUSPECTED THEFT
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-05/01/content_16466196.htm
Tags: China, laboratory, explosion, death, unknown_chemical
NANJING - An explosion that killed one person and injured three others at an East China university on Tuesday was allegedly caused by workers attempting to steal lab materials, a university spokesman said on Wednesday.
The blast occurred at 9 am in a disused laboratory at the Nanjing University of Science and Technology in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province, destroying the lab and shattering windows in nearby homes.
It is thought to have happened while five workers were using a flame cutting machine to incise the gate of Lab 319, said Gong Zaichun, spokesman for the university, at a press conference.
The workers, hired by the university to demolish another lab, are suspected of attempting to steal the metal materials stored in Lab 319, Gong said.
Both labs were owned by the university's chemical industry college.
It remains unclear what material had triggered the explosion, and police are still investigating the case.
---------------------------------------------
ACID BOMB EXPLODES IN MAILBOX
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-05-01/news/os-acid-bomb-orange-20130501_1_hazmat-team-nieves-bombs
Tags: us_FL, public, explosion, response, bomb
Acid bombs in water bottles were found on an Orange County street Tuesday, an Orange County Sheriff's Office statement said.
Police and the hazmat team arrived at 221 Red Rose Circle after the homeowners discovered a bomb exploded in their mailbox, the statement said.
Officials found "several suspect devices" including the bomb in the mailbox and one on the street, Captain Angelo L. Nieves said.
"The devices were no longer live, but had been placed to cause damage to the mail box," Nieves said.
The hazmat team determined that two chemical reaction bombs did limited damage, but caused no injuries, the statement said.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL REACTION CAUSES FIRE, EXPLOSION AT BRANCHBURG PLANT
http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2013/05/chemical_reaction_causes_explo.html
Tags: us_NJ, laboratory, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
BRANCHBURG Ñ A chemical reaction caused a small explosion and fire at a Meister Avenue plant that required a hazmat response Tuesday evening, fire officials said.
A small explosion with fire in a lab area was reported just after 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Voltaix chemical manufacturing facility in Branchburg, according to North Branch Fire Chief David Hickson, who worked as the incident commander at the scene.
Undisclosed chemical products combusted with a reaction to oxygen, and a small amount of the product escaped while servicing a compressor, he said.
Voltaix employees moved the two-gallon container to a hooded area, where the remaining product was burned off, he said.
"There were no injuries and no threats to any citizens at any time," he said.
Emergency responders from North Branch, Readington and Bradley Gardens fire departments were on scene for about one hour with Branchburg Police and the Somerset County Hazmat Team.
---------------------------------------------
25 GALLONS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAK ON MAIN STREET IN HACKETTSTOWN
http://www.nj.com/warrenreporter/index.ssf/2013/04/25_gallons_of_hydraulic_fluid.html
Tags: us_NJ, transportation, release, response, hydraulic_fluid
HACKETTSTOWN Ñ Cleanup crews were called to Main Street after a truck leaked 25 gallons of hydraulic fluid onto the walkways and into a drain, police said.
At about 6:45 a.m., police received a report of a fluid leak after a hose broke on a truck that was picking up used cooking oils from Leo's, police said.
The hydraulic fluid made it into the storm drain near Leo's and traveled to the catch basin near the intersection of West Plane Street and Route 46, where it was contained with absorbent pads and booms set up by Warren County HAZMAT.
---------------------------------------------
HAZMAT TEAM REMOVES BOMB FROM DEAD MAN'S HOME
http://mdjonline.com/view/full_story/22423739/article-Hazmat-team-removes-bomb-from-dead-man%E2%80%99s-home?instance=special%20_coverage_right_column
Tags: us_GA, public, discovery, response, bomb
SMYRNA Ñ The Cobb County Bomb Squad spent almost five hours Monday determining whether a bomb found in a dead man's home off Paces Ferry Road in Smyrna was a danger to area residents.
Officer Mike Bowman with Cobb Police said they received a call at about 4:30 p.m. from someone cleaning out the home.
They told 911 dispatchers that something resembling a bomb was found.
The house is located in the 3700 block of Tynemoore Trace inside the Paces Ferry Park subdivision.
"My understanding is that (the bomb) was inside a safe," Bowman said.
The bomb squad and hazmat team were called to the scene, and homes were evacuated within about half a mile of the area.
---------------------------------------------
BLAST AT CHEMICAL FACTORY, 1 HURT
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Blast-at-chemical-factory-1-hurt/Article1-1052987.aspx
Tags: India, industrial, explosion, injury, toluene
One person was injured when fire engulfed a chemical factory at Boisar's Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area following an explosion in a chemical reactor on Tuesday.
A chemical reactor is an apparatus that holds substances that are undergoing a chemical reaction.
According to the MIDC fire station, the fire started at around 8.50am at the Ganesh Plasto chemical company during the manufacture of benzoic acid from toluene.
Two fire tenders and five tankers were pressed into service. Fire brigade officials said the blaze was contained at 11.30am and cooling operations were on till 1.30pm.
Boisar police said the incident took place when the chemical was transferred from one reactor to another. Jitendra Phulchand Sharma, 24, an operator working at the reactor, was injured.
---------------------------------------------
FIRE AT MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY IN MOSCOW PUT OUT
http://www.spa.gov.sa/viewphotonews.php?id=1104774&pic=
Tags: Russia, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical
Moscow, Jumada II 20, 1434, Apr 30, 2013, SPA -- The fire alarm system, which was directly connected to the fire alert force, went off at the chemistry faculty of the Moscow State University (MGU) that permits to put out the fire quickly, chief press officer of the Moscow main department of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations Viktor Biryukov said on Tuesday.
The fire alarm call about the fire on the third floor of a five-storey MGU building on the Vorobyevy Hills came at 06:56 Moscow time to the fire alert force. The fire broke out at the chemical laboratory. The fire area reached 30 square metres. The fire was put out at 08:05 Moscow time.
No people were injured in the fire. About 60 firemen and 20 units of machinery were participating in the fire-fighting efforts, Itar-Tass quoted the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations as reporting.
--SPA
---------------------------------------------
BOMBS FREQUENT IN U.S.; 172 ÔIED' INCIDENTS IN LAST 6 MONTHS, BY 1 COUNT
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/04/16/188733/bombs-frequent-in-us-172-ied-incidents.html#.UYD9UaIce5I
Tags: public, follow-up, environmental, bomb
WASHINGTON Ñ The two explosions that killed three people and wounded more than 170 Monday in Boston were dramatic, the deadliest bombing in the United States since April 19, 1995, when a truck loaded with fertilizer blew up outside the federal building in Oklahoma City, killing 168. But the method of attack wasn't particularly surprising to anti-terrorism experts: a homemade bomb that officials refer to as an IED, or improvised explosive device.
In fact, in the last six months, there have been 172 IEDs reported in the United States, according to a government count that an official revealed Tuesday in answer to questions about U.S. preparedness. The official shared the figures, which were gathered before Monday's explosion, only on the condition that neither the official nor the official's office be identified.
The official shared information in an email that indicated most American IED attacks were small: "Homemade fireworks, childish pranks and other such non-terror related activities."
But the information also notes that American officials have long understood the threat, and includes a warning that's been distributed to other agencies: "Expect IED attacks by Homegrown Violent Extremists (HVEs) and individuals to continue throughout the United States. High profile events will present additional targets for HVEs and other individuals."
---------------------------------------------
'WHITE GRAPHENE' ABSORBS POLLUTANTS AND CAN BE RE-USED
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22351056
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, discovery, response, other_chemical
A next-generation material first earmarked for use in electronics has proven itself a capable clean-up agent for polluted waters.
Boron nitride, or "white graphene", is similar to its namesake: sheets of atoms laid out like a chain-link fence.
A report in Nature Communications shows the material can preferentially absorb organic pollutants such as industrial chemicals or engine oil.
However, it is easier to clean and re-use than other such "nanomaterials".
The family of these materials includes much-touted, carbon-based members such as graphene and nanotubes, and are notable in part for their surface area-to-weight ratio.
That allows them to absorb an incredible amount for their size, making them attractive for the clean-up of pollutants.
---------------------------------------------
HEARING SCHEDULED FOR DAVID SNYDER IN UC DAVIS EXPLOSIVES CASE
http://cenblog.org/the-safety-zone/2013/04/hearing-scheduled-for-david-snyder-in-uc-davis-explosives-case/
Tags: us_CA, education, follow-up, response, explosives, illegal
Former University of California, Davis, chemist David Snyder had a second prehearing conference today regarding charges of possessing and intending to make explosives on campus. The judge scheduled Snyder's preliminary hearing to start on July 26, says Michael Cabral, assistant chief deputy district attorney in the Yolo County District Attorney's Office.
As part of the case, the prosecution wants to review Snyder's medical records, a move that Snyder opposes. The judge scheduled a hearing on that matter for May 30.
---------------------------------------------
Ralph Stuart
secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Secretary
Division of Chemical Health and Safety
American Chemical Society
Previous post | Top of Page | Next post