| About This Archive | | DCHAS-L 2015 Index | | DCHAS-L Yearly Index | |
Check out Safety Emporium for your N95, N99, and face shield needs.
|
Previous by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] NMR Ventilation ? Date: Sunday, August 9, 2015 7:52:49 PM Author: George Walton <georgewalton**At_Symbol_Here**REACTIVES.COM> |
Next by Date: Subject: [DCHAS-L] CHAS at a Glance available Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2015 08:09:18 -0400 Author: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" |
Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, August 10, 2015 at 7:29:29 AM
A membership benefit of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
All article summaries and tags are archived at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__pinboard.in_u-3Adchas&d=BQIFaQ&c=lb62iw4YL4RFalcE2hQUQealT9-RXrryqt9KZX2qu2s&r=meWM1Buqv4IQ27AlK1OJRjcQl09S1Zta6YXKalY_Io0&m=7_D_0nGF9ckZeYRHTOH1g50NsksramCiGRbJkc__sC8&s=nO-aS0p2Csh2qbKNotjXGIexxmhH5H3VQtRYJWcsSSo&e=
Table of Contents (10 articles)
VERIFICATION OF PROTECTIVE PROPERTIES IS CRITICAL BEFORE USING ANY PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, discovery, response
MICROWAVING A DRY WASHCLOTH TOWEL CAN START A FIRE.
Tags: us_WA, laboratory, fire, response
MORE PROTECTIVE WORKER EXPOSURE LIMIT FOR BERYLLIUM PROPOSED
Tags: industrial, discovery, environmental, dust, metals
ANIMAS RIVER FOULED BY 1 MILLION GALLONS OF CONTAMINATED MINE WATER
Tags: us_CO, public, release, response, metals, waste
KCSE CANDIDATE DIES AFTER CONSUMING LAB CHEMICAL, THREE OTHERS HOSPITALISED IN ELDORET
Tags: Kenya, laboratory, release, death, unknown_chemical
POLICE LOOKING FOR DANGEROUS CHEMICAL DROPPED FROM TRUCK
Tags: New_Zealand, transportation, discovery, response, unknown_chemical
CHEMICAL SPILL IN W.VA. CITY CONTAINED, NO INJURIES REPORTED
Tags: us_WV, industrial, release, response, hydrochloric_acid
WORKERS INADVERTENTLY MIX MAGNESIUM PHOSPHIDE WITH WATER
Tags: Malta, industrial, release, injury, other_chemical
BEAR REPELLENT CAUSES HAZMAT INCIDENT AT SEATAC HOTEL
Tags: us_WA, public, release, injury, repellent
EAST RALEIGH WALMART REOPENS AFTER HAZMAT INCIDENT :: WRAL.COM
Tags: us_NC, public, release, injury, cleaners
---------------------------------------------
VERIFICATION OF PROTECTIVE PROPERTIES IS CRITICAL BEFORE USING ANY PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, discovery, response
Statement: Be sure to verify the protective properties of your personal protective equipment before using it. A vigilant employee noticed that three of pairs of laser protective eyewear collected for a new laser task looked similar to but slightly different from the many others collected for this task. A closer look at the protective properties marked on these three revealed that they would not provide protection from the frequencies that would be used on this new task.
Discussion: Workers were preparing to perform a new laser task which required different laser protective eyewear than what was previously in use. New laser protective eyewear was purchased and additional pairs were gathered from other work locations. As the laser protective eyewear was being shown, one of the workers noticed that three pairs of laser protective eyewear did not look quite like the rest. The filter media (lens) appeared to be lighter in color and was not labeled as providing coverage for the wavelengths in use (1053nm and 527nm). The worker ‰??paused‰?? work and requested that the Laser Safety Officer be contacted for clarification.
---------------------------------------------
MICROWAVING A DRY WASHCLOTH TOWEL CAN START A FIRE.
Tags: us_WA, laboratory, fire, response
Statement: Microwaving a dry washcloth towel can start a fire.
Discussion: On July 7, 2015, a worker microwaved a dry washcloth towel for approximately 2-1/2 minutes. When the towel was removed from the microwave, it had discolored and smelt of smoke. Seconds later the towel burst into flames and consumed the towel.
Analysis: Fire investigations revealed that this type of event is not uncommon. A Spokane Valley Fire Investigator confirmed through simple tests that heating hand towels in microwaves have been the catalyst for two recent house fires.
Recommended Actions: Inform employees of this particular hazard and provide instructions on proper use of microwaves, which would include hazardous activities not to be performed in microwaves. Be aware of what you place in a microwave and how long you microwave items. Always follow manufactures instructions.
---------------------------------------------
MORE PROTECTIVE WORKER EXPOSURE LIMIT FOR BERYLLIUM PROPOSED
Tags: industrial, discovery, environmental, dust, metals
The beryllium exposure limit for industrial workers would be slashed to a tenth of what it is now under an Aug. 6 proposal by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration.
OSHA proposed tightening the 8-hour exposure limit from 2.0 micrograms of beryllium per cubic meter of air to 0.2 ĺµg/m3. This more protective safety standard is backed by organized labor and the sole U.S. manufacturer of beryllium parts, which are used in applications that include particle accelerators.
‰??This rule will save lives and reduce suffering,‰?? says OSHA chief David Michaels. OSHA estimates that the new standard will cover about 35,000 workers nationwide and prevent 100 deaths and 50 illnesses each year.
Beryllium dust causes devastating lung disease in up to 15% of those who are exposed. It is best known for causing illness in nuclear weapons workers. But most worker exposure to this alkaline earth metal now occurs in operations such as machining, production of specialty ceramics and dental implants, and aircraft manufacturing.
The 2-ĺµg/m3 standard was set by the Atomic Energy Commission in 1948 and adopted by OSHA in 1971. But it soon became clear to the worker safety agency that the standard was not strict enough to protect workers from the risks of long-term beryllium exposure. OSHA proposed a change in 1975, but it never took effect because of opposition. Meanwhile, the Department of Energy, successor to the Atomic Energy Commission, ratcheted down its exposure limit for nuclear weapons workers to 0.2 ĺµg/m3 in 1999, when current OSHA head Michaels was assistant energy secretary for environment, safety, and health
After working for more than 40 years to update the beryllium safety standard, OSHA was pushed to action by an unusual industry-union collaboration.
In 2012, the United Steelworkers union, which represents many people who work with beryllium, and the only U.S. beryllium materials maker, Materion, came to an agreement on a new safety standard and offered it to OSHA.
The proposal shows that ‰??industry and labor can collaborate to protect workers and protect jobs at the same time,‰?? says Richard J. Hipple, chairman of Materion.
---------------------------------------------
ANIMAS RIVER FOULED BY 1 MILLION GALLONS OF CONTAMINATED MINE WATER
Tags: us_CO, public, release, response, metals, waste
DURANGO ‰?? A spill that sent 1 million gallons of wastewater from an abandoned mine into the Animas River, turning the river orange, set off warnings Thursday that contaminants threaten water quality for those downstream.
The Environmental Protection Agency confirmed it triggered the spill while using heavy machinery to investigate pollutants at the Gold King Mine, north of Silverton.
Health and environmental officials are evaluating the river as it flows through San Juan and La Plata counties. They said the wastewater contained zinc, iron, copper and other heavy metals, prompting the EPA to warn agricultural users to shut off water intakes along the river and law officials to close the river to recreational users.
People kayak in the Animas River near Durango on Thursday in water colored from a mine waste spill. (Jerry McBride, The Durango Herald)
"There's nothing that can be done to stop the flow of the river," said Joe Lewandowski, a spokesman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. "We can only wait until the flows slow down. We had a big heavy spring (of rain) here."
Lewandowski said the EPA is testing to determine the river's metal levels and results should be returned by mid-Friday.
Downstream in Durango, hundreds of people gathered along the Animas River to watch as the blue waters turned a thick, radiant orange and yellow just after 8 p.m., nearly 34 hours after the spill started.
---------------------------------------------
KCSE CANDIDATE DIES AFTER CONSUMING LAB CHEMICAL, THREE OTHERS HOSPITALISED IN ELDORET
Tags: Kenya, laboratory, release, death, unknown_chemical
ELDORET: A Form Four student at Seiyot secondary school in Uasin Gishu County has died after consuming laboratory re-agent during a practical lesson.
The 16-year-old identified as Oliver Kipkurui is alleged to have consumed an unknown chemical last week on Wednesday along with five other students before the institution closed for August holidays.
According to the deceased father Christopher Sang, his son came home and started complaining about stomach pains on Thursday.
"I was called by his mother that he was sick, when I saw him I thought he had consumed alcohol but to my surprise, he said he was forced by his friends to drink a chemical they stole from the lab," he said.
Sang explained that upon further probe, he was informed that five other students had consumed the chemical after the Biology practical lesso
---------------------------------------------
POLICE LOOKING FOR DANGEROUS CHEMICAL DROPPED FROM TRUCK
Tags: New_Zealand, transportation, discovery, response, unknown_chemical
A member of the public phoned police just before 5.30pm after she located the container on Evans Bay Parade in Wellington.
The container was intact and has now to returned to its owner.
Police were afraid members of the public could become sick if tampered with.
Hazardous material signs.
Source: Other
Some time between 8am and 11am this morning, a light truck travelling from Te Pene Ave in Titahi Bay and Kilbirnie in Wellington lost the 40-litre paint filled with chemicals.
Police did not want to reveal the exact contents, but said the chemical had the potential to make someone sick and urged the public not to tamper with it.
The tin was described as black in colour with a grey lid, and it had four grey-and-black clamps holding the lid in place.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL SPILL IN W.VA. CITY CONTAINED, NO INJURIES REPORTED
Tags: us_WV, industrial, release, response, hydrochloric_acid
A section of Weirton's Main Street is open again after a chemical spill from a steel plant closed it for most of Friday.
Media reports say the Fire Department reopened Main Street late Friday afternoon after the spill from the ArcelorMittal Steel plant.
According to Fire Chief Jerry Shumate, 200 to 400 gallons of hydrochloric acid leaked from a broken pipe at the mill.
Shumate says no workers or residents were treated for exposure.
No residents were evacuated and the chief says crews worked swiftly to contain the spill.
---------------------------------------------
WORKERS INADVERTENTLY MIX MAGNESIUM PHOSPHIDE WITH WATER
Tags: Malta, industrial, release, injury, other_chemical
The Police and members of the Civil Protection Department evacuated a factory in Mriehel over fears of chemical reaction, the police‰??s communications office told MaltaToday.
The area close to the Vernon factory was also evacuated.
Workers from the Hazmat unit were called in to secure the area and dispose of toxic material which two employees inadvertently threw away in a tank, and added water to it.
Albert Tabone, Hazmat unit officer in charge, explained that the company uses magnesium phosphide as part of their storage process. Four packets which were almost empty were thrown away in a tank. Two of the workers, inadvertently, threw water in the tank, unaware that mixing magnesium phosphide with water releases toxic gases.
The reaction between the chemical and the water resulted in ‰??steam‰??, and the workers threw in more water. Members of the Civil Protection Department were called in, but were not informed of what had been thrown inside the tank, releasing more steam when water was thrown in. The CPD immediately realised what happened and called in the Hazmat unit.
The unit buried the contents of the tank with sand to contain the release of the gases and was sealed for disposal. The factory employees were taken to the clinic for medical examination.
‰??The amount of gas release was minimal and it the area wasn‰??t affected,‰?? Tabone explained.
---------------------------------------------
BEAR REPELLENT CAUSES HAZMAT INCIDENT AT SEATAC HOTEL
Tags: us_WA, public, release, injury, repellent
SEATAC, Wash. ‰?? A canister of bear repellent that was discharged inside a SeaTac hotel sickened nine people and caused a hazmat response.
The Kent Fire Department was called to the Fairfield Inn Marriott in the 19600 block of International Boulevard at about 11 a.m. Friday.
Kent fire said a maid inside the hotel thought the canister was a water bottle and accidentally discharged it.
---------------------------------------------
EAST RALEIGH WALMART REOPENS AFTER HAZMAT INCIDENT :: WRAL.COM
Tags: us_NC, public, release, injury, cleaners
RALEIGH, N.C. ‰?? A Walmart located at 4431 New Bern Ave. was closed to customers and employees Friday for about three hours following a hazmat scare.
The store was evacuated after a hazmat team was called to the store at 11:20 a.m. after some employees were overcome by fumes in the back of the building.
According to Wake County EMS, six people were taken to WakeMed after exposure to fumes from a bathroom. Some employees had to be treated for breathing problems.
According to a Walmart spokesman, a chemical reaction related to bathroom cleaning supplies led to the evacuation
---------------------------------------------
Previous post | Top of Page | Next post