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From: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines from Google (15 articles)
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2015 07:40:35 -0500
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 91D7DBC7-883A-4931-8225-EB5685B25C6F**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 7:40:13 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=GFhp-x1f6RgohmtND7MbJ4RLk2CFWXqSYF-W2dejO18&s=DIcl2ACxyON7t8cE23tZL1A9LRKVE0IJH8dnUarnJaw&e=
Table of Contents (15 articles)
3 WORKERS TREATED AFTER FRANKLIN HAZMAT INCIDENT
Tags: us_NH, transportation, release, injury, unknown_chemical
FIRE IN PACKARD LAB LEADS TO EVACUATION
Tags: us_PA, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical
FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS LOOKING INTO CHEMISTRY CLASS FIRE AT WOODSON HIGH SCHOOL
Tags: us_VA, laboratory, follow-up, injury, flammables
DANGEROUS AMMONIUM NITRATE FERTILIZER LOSING FAVOR IN TEXAS
Tags: us_TX, public, follow-up, environmental, ag_chems, ammonium_nitrate
AGAWAM FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO MINOR HAZMAT SPILL AT JUNIOR HIGH
Tags: us_MA, education, release, response, pool_chemicals
CHEMICAL LEAK CLOSES LAMBUTH BUILDING
Tags: us_TN, education, release, injury, chlorine, dust
TOXIC FERTILIZER CHEMICAL LEAKS TEMPORARILY CLOSE I-90 NEAR DEXTER
Tags: us_MN, transportation, release, response, ammonia
FIREFIGHTERS EXPOSED TO CHEMICALS AT GREEN ISLAND FIRE
Tags: us_NY, industrial, fire, response, acetone, methane
EXPLOSION AT MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL CO. PLANT IN IBARAKI PREFECTURE, JAPAN ‰?? REPORTS ‰?? RT NEWS
Tags: Japan, industrial, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
CHEMICAL SPILL PROMPTS EVACUATION AT WESTERN SCIENCE CENTRE
Tags: Canada, laboratory, release, response, unknown_chemical
CHEMICAL SPILL AT WAIKATO HOSPITAL
Tags: New_Zealand, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical
VA. HIGH SCHOOL CHEMISTRY LAB FIRE RAISES SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT 'RAINBOW EXPERIMENT'
Tags: us_VA, laboratory, follow-up, environmental, flammables
PHOENIX TRAFFIC: TANKER TRUCK FIRE CLOSES WB I-10 IN TEMPE
Tags: us_AZ, transportation, fire, response, ag_chems, pesticides
SCHOOL SYSTEM BANS OPEN-FLAME SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS AFTER ACCIDENT
Tags: us_VA, laboratory, follow-up, response, flammables
THREE INJURED IN HAZMAT INCIDENT AT ST. LUKE‰??S HOSPITAL
Tags: us_CA, industrial, fire, injury, fire_extinguisher, halon
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3 WORKERS TREATED AFTER FRANKLIN HAZMAT INCIDENT
Tags: us_NH, transportation, release, injury, unknown_chemical
FRANKLIN ‰?? Three workers were taken to the hospital after inhaling an unknown chemical from the back of a trailer at a local manufacturing plant Tuesday morning.
Fire Department Capt. Bruce Goldthwaite said first responders evaluated 10 people at the Watts Regulator Distribution Facility at 20 Industrial Park Drive after they reported bad effects from breathing odd-smelling fumes from a truck‰??s trailer.
Of the 10, three had to be taken to Franklin Regional Hospital for treatment, but all three were deemed to be in good health and released, he said.
Besides the immediate health concerns, there were worries about cleaning up the substance in the trailer. ‰??We had (hazardous material) teams come from Concord,‰?? Goldthwaite said. ‰??With a situation like that, there‰??s a lot that‰??s involved.‰??
Fire department crews were called to the plant, which makes industrial valves and other products, at 9:23 a.m., Goldthwaite said.
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FIRE IN PACKARD LAB LEADS TO EVACUATION
Tags: us_PA, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical
A fire on the second floor of Packard Laboratory led to the evacuation of the building around 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
The fire was extinguished, and students, faculty and staff were allowed to reenter the building, according to an email from Lehigh Chief of Police Edward Shupp.
No one was injured, according to the email. The Lehigh University Police Department and the Bethlehem Fire Department are working to determine the cause of the fire.
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FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS LOOKING INTO CHEMISTRY CLASS FIRE AT WOODSON HIGH SCHOOL
Tags: us_VA, laboratory, follow-up, injury, flammables
Federal investigators with the U.S. Chemical Safety Board are looking into Friday's chemistry class fire at W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax County, Virginia.
The investigators are questioning school officials and launching their formal "incident screening process."
School officials and agency leaders declined to specify the specific focus of the investigation, but the U.S. Chemical Safety Board said it's also considering expanding its warnings about the use of flammable chemicals in science experiments because of the fire, which injured five students and a teacher. Two of those students were burned so badly that they had to be airlifted from the scene.
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is an independent agency charged with investigating chemical accidents. The agency has not yet sent investigators to Woodson High School, the News4 I-Team has learned, but is considering launching an official investigation into the fire and explosion. If and when the agency initiates an official investigation, the review can last six to twelve months and lead to recommendations for changes in federal safety regulations.
---------------------------------------------
DANGEROUS AMMONIUM NITRATE FERTILIZER LOSING FAVOR IN TEXAS
Tags: us_TX, public, follow-up, environmental, ag_chems, ammonium_nitrate
In Texas, some of the most deadly explosions have been caused by a substance that otherwise plays a vital role in how we grow crops: ammonium nitrate fertilizer. It‰??s what blew-up in the small city of West two years ago, killing 14 people. But the use of the popular chemical has suddenly dropped significantly.
---------------------------------------------
AGAWAM FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO MINOR HAZMAT SPILL AT JUNIOR HIGH
Tags: us_MA, education, release, response, pool_chemicals
AGAWAM - Firefighters were called to Agawam Junior High School Tuesday afternoon for a report of a minor chemical spill in which amaintenence worker was exposed to fumes, officials said.
The worker was adding chemicals to the swimming pool when he was exposed to fumes from a chemical reaction. He was treated at the scene by paramedics but did not require further treatment.
Only the area around the mechanical room at the pool was affected. Firefighters and Agawam Building Maintenance are working to clean up the room.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL LEAK CLOSES LAMBUTH BUILDING
Tags: us_TN, education, release, injury, chlorine, dust
Lt. Col. Billy Garrett with Police Services confirmed one employee at the University of Memphis Lambuth campus was taken to the hospital Tuesday morning after being ‰??overcome‰?? with what they believe were chlorine chemical fumes in the basement of the recreational building on campus.
Jackson Fire Chief Max Stewart said the employee opened a can of powder chlorine, resulting in the employee inhaling a ‰??substantial amount‰?? of the chlorine but said he believes the employee will be ‰??just fine.‰??
University officials have not released the name of the employee bud did say he was in stable condition.
The recreational building houses the campus‰?? indoor pool.
Garrett said the Jackson Fire Department cleared the building to reopen at 1 p.m. but said there would be no classes held in the building for the remainder of the day Tuesday, ‰??just as a precaution.‰??
---------------------------------------------
TOXIC FERTILIZER CHEMICAL LEAKS TEMPORARILY CLOSE I-90 NEAR DEXTER
Tags: us_MN, transportation, release, response, ammonia
(ABC 6 News) -- A pair of toxic anhydrous ammonia leaks caused Interstate 90 between Dexter and Elkton to be shut down for hours while a cloud of the chemical moved through.
The first leak happened at 4 p.m. Monday in an Elkton farm field.
CHS, Inc., says two nursing tanks holding 2,000 gallons released the chemical after a hose failure. The tractor pulling the fertilizer equipment sustained significant damage from the anhydrous cloud.
Jeff Kinney was driving nearby when he saw the leak happen. He called 911 and helped at the scene.
"It sounds like a freight train,‰?? Kinney said. ‰??The amount of pressure coming out of the hose."
---------------------------------------------
FIREFIGHTERS EXPOSED TO CHEMICALS AT GREEN ISLAND FIRE
Tags: us_NY, industrial, fire, response, acetone, methane
GREEN ISLAND ‰?? Officials were still at the scene Tuesday around 9 p.m. in Green Island after a chemical fire exposed first responders to chemicals including acetone and methane.
Countywide firefighters were called to Crystal IS, a manufacturer of ultraviolet LED lighting located at 70 Cohoes Ave. around 4:45 p.m. for a chemical fire in a ventilation hood, which then spread throughout the exhaust system, Green Island Fire Chief Robert Bourgeois said.
According to Bourgeois, a hazmat team was called in about 45 minutes into fighting the fire. About 30 firefighters from the Cohoes, Watervliet, and Green Island departments were then sent to Albany Medical Center for decontamination. However, no injuries were reported.
"We use every precaution to make sure our firefighters are safe," he said.
Bourgeois said that the fire was contained within a couple hours.
---------------------------------------------
EXPLOSION AT MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL CO. PLANT IN IBARAKI PREFECTURE, JAPAN ‰?? REPORTS ‰?? RT NEWS
Tags: Japan, industrial, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
An explosion has occurred at Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company in Kamisu, Japan, according to reports. There are fears that toxic gas has been released and gone into Kashima plant.
A fire brigade has arrived at the scene. There is so far no information on whether anyone was injured in the explosion.
The plant says there is no risk of hazardous substances being released as a result of the blast.
The blast was heard by residents living nearby, one of which described it as a ‰??tremendous explosion,‰?? Daily Current Affairs News reported.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL SPILL PROMPTS EVACUATION AT WESTERN SCIENCE CENTRE
Tags: Canada, laboratory, release, response, unknown_chemical
No injuries were reported Monday afternoon after a minor chemical spill prompted the evacuation of the Western Science Centre.
Fire and hazmat crews were called to the building on the Western University campus around 4:15 p.m. Monday.
Details about the incident remain limited.
The spill has since been cleared, and the building has re-opened, Western University officials said.
‰??There were no injuries involved,‰?? said John Carson, Director of Western Campus Police. ‰??Hazmat, London Fire Hazmat and Western University Hazmat have been into the building and have contained the minor leak, and everything is stabilized right now. We‰??re just in clean-up mode at this moment.‰??
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL SPILL AT WAIKATO HOSPITAL
Tags: New_Zealand, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical
Emergency services are responding to a chemical spill on the third floor at Waikato Hospital.
Northern Fire Communications shift manager Steve Smith said the chemical had been taken away for analysis.
"There's a chemical spill on the third floor, whatever the substance is they've taken it away for identifying and it's going to take about 45 minutes," he said.
"Brigade standing by and taken in place of evacuation."
At least three fire crews are at the hospital on Pembroke St, Hamilton.
Hamilton police Senior Sergeant Andrew Townsend said police received a report of a chemical spill inside the hospital at 11.45am.
He was not aware of any evacuation at this stage.
---------------------------------------------
VA. HIGH SCHOOL CHEMISTRY LAB FIRE RAISES SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT 'RAINBOW EXPERIMENT'
Tags: us_VA, laboratory, follow-up, environmental, flammables
WASHINGTON - A chemistry lab fire that injured five students and a teacher at W.T. Woodson High School in Virginia has led to questions about the safety of the experiment that was being demonstrated in this classroom. One woman who knows this story all too well lived out this very tragedy in her own high school.What do you think?
Calais Weber said it is outrageous that these preventable accidents just keep happening.What do you think?
Weber was just 15 years old when her life changed forever. She explained in a video made by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board what happened to her that day nearly ten years ago in chemistry class.What do you think?
Va. high school chemistry lab fire raises safety concerns about 'rainbow experiment'
‰??It was called the rainbow experiment,‰?? said Weber. ‰??It was meant to show how different chemicals burn at different light frequencies, so the flames end up being different colors when you burn them.‰??
---------------------------------------------
PHOENIX TRAFFIC: TANKER TRUCK FIRE CLOSES WB I-10 IN TEMPE
Tags: us_AZ, transportation, fire, response, ag_chems, pesticides
A tanker truck engulfed in flames closed the westbound lanes of Interstate 10 in Tempe for several hours Monday morning, officials said.
Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Raul Garcia said the commercial truck tractor was possibly carrying herbicide. A DPS hazmat team responded to the blaze. The freeway was reopened just before noon after responders cleared the road and ensured no chemicals were released. The far-right lane remained closed.
---------------------------------------------
SCHOOL SYSTEM BANS OPEN-FLAME SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS AFTER ACCIDENT
Tags: us_VA, laboratory, follow-up, response, flammables
The superintendent of one of the nation‰??s largest school districts suspended all science experiments involving open flames Monday, days after a fire during a chemistry demonstration went out of control and burned five high school students, two of them seriously.
Friday morning‰??s blaze at W.T. Woodson High School raised questions about safety protocols in science labs across Virginia‰??s Fairfax County, which has 22 high schools. Students who said they were in the class described a ‰??splash of fire‰?? when a teacher was using a flammable liquid to demonstrate how chemicals can change the color of a flame. Five students were hospitalized, the teacher running the demonstration was burned, and the school was evacuated.
Students said neither the teacher nor the students were wearing protective gear.
[6 injured in chemistry classroom fire at Woodson High in Fairfax]
Fairfax County Schools Superintendent Karen Garza announced the open-flame ban in an e-mail to parents late Monday afternoon, and the school system said it is poised to conduct a thorough review of the county‰??s science curriculum and its safety guidance to science teachers. The county also plans to require safety updates for all science teachers by the end of the semester.
‰??We will do everything we possibly can to ensure that this never happens again,‰?? Garza wrote.
While the district said the ban would remain while it reviews its safety procedures, the sweeping move could have far-reaching effects in the school system‰??s science classrooms and could hamper science instruction, particularly for high school students. Lab activities in physics, biology and chemistry classes can all involve open flames, according to longtime teachers.
Ken Roy, chief science safety compliance adviser for the National Science Teachers Association and a former high school physics teacher, warned that if the ban is long term, it could put Fairfax County students academically behind. He said there‰??s a growing expectation that college-bound students, particularly those who want to study science, have experience handling open flames in laboratories.
---------------------------------------------
THREE INJURED IN HAZMAT INCIDENT AT ST. LUKE‰??S HOSPITAL
Tags: us_CA, industrial, fire, injury, fire_extinguisher, halon
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON/BCN) ‰?? Smoke coming from part of an MRI machine at California Pacific Medical Center‰??s St. Luke‰??s campus Monday morning sent three maintenance workers to the emergency room, a hospital spokesman said.
Firefighters initially responded to what was reported as a hazardous materials incident involving possible exposure to halon, a fire extinguishing chemical, at the hospital at 3555 Cesar Chavez St., San Francisco fire department spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge said.
The incident occurred in a mobile trailer used for MRI scans at the hospital, Talmadge said.
Fire and hospital officials responded and determined there was no hazardous materials spill, but that a compressor motor on an MRI machine burned out and caused smoke to fill part of the trailer, CPMC spokesman Dean Fryer said.
Three maintenance workers who responded to the trailer inhaled the fumes and had to be treated in the hospital‰??s emergency room, Fryer said. He said the workers are expected to be released shortly.
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