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Previous by Date: Subject: [DCHAS-L] Laboratory Coordinator/CHO position at Wittenberg University Date: Thursday, April 19, 2018 at 2:45:44 PM Author: David C. Finster <dfinster**At_Symbol_Here**WITTENBERG.EDU> |
Next by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (15 articles) Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2018 12:15:11 +0000 Author: Wayne Wood |
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Table of Contents (15 articles)
CHEMICALS THAT COULD SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST FOUND THROUGHOUT NORTH SACRAMENTO HOME
Tags: us_CA, public, fire, response, unknown_chemical
LANES RE-OPENED ON I-480 WEST AT RIDGE ROAD AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL; PHOTOS
Tags: us_OH, transportation, release, response, other_chemical
SCIENTISTS WARN OF NERVE AGENT POTENCY AS SALISBURY CLEAN-UP BEGINS
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical
HENRY COUNTY CLEANING UP AFTER FIRE AT CHEMICAL COMPANY
Tags: us_IA, industrial, fire, response, other_chemical, runoff
TYSON FOODS PLANT FIRE SPURS EVACUATIONS, SCHOOL CLOSURES
Tags: us_GA, industrial, fire, response, ammonia, hvac_chemicals
VALERO PLANT WHERE EXPLOSION OCCURRED HAS HISTORY OF OSHA VIOLATIONS
Tags: us_TX, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
FINAL WARNING LETTERS ISSUED OVER FLARING AT MOSSMORRAN CHEMICAL PLANT
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, follow-up, environmental, petroleum
EXPLOSION, LARGE FIRE AT TEXAS CITY PLANT
Tags: us_TX, industrial, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
FIVE KILLED IN AMMONIA GAS EXPOSURE IN RUBBER FACTORY
Tags: Sri_Lanka, industrial, release, death, ammonia
BROKEN THERMOMETER SHUTS DOWN SCHOOL
Tags: us_OR, education, release, response, mercury
6 HOSPITALIZED WHEN TRUCK FIRE CAUSES HAZMAT SITUATION
Tags: us_FL, transportation, fire, injury, unknown_chemical
FIRE AT CHEMICAL PLANT IN ORION
Tags: us_IL, industrial, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
DRAMATIC PICTURES SHOW BOMB SQUAD BLOWING UP 'UNSTABLE' CHEMICALS FOUND IN A UNIVERSITY FREEZER
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, discovery, response, waste
CSB RELEASES ANIMATION OF 2017 PCA PAPER MILL EXPLOSION
Tags: us_LA, industrial, follow-up, death, flammables
PLUTONIUM PLANT REMOVAL HALTED AFTER RADIATION RELEASES•ČŔ•ČŔ
Tags: us_WA, industrial, follow-up, response, paints, radiation
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CHEMICALS THAT COULD SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST FOUND THROUGHOUT NORTH SACRAMENTO HOME
http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018/04/19/chemicals-that-could-spontaneously-combust-found-throughout-home-that-caught-fire/
Tags: us_CA, public, fire, response, unknown_chemical
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ‰?? FBI and Sacramento county hazmat personnel are investigating chemicals found in a North Sacramento home that caught fire Thursday morning.
Around 6 a.m., firefighters responded to a fire at the home on Bogle Court and were able to contain the flames to the structure, but unknown chemicals were later found throughout the home that could spontaneously combust, according to a Sacramento Fire Department statement.
Authorities have not identified the chemicals found in the home, which is said to be for sale.
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LANES RE-OPENED ON I-480 WEST AT RIDGE ROAD AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL; PHOTOS
http://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cleveland/lanes-re-opened-on-i-480-west-at-ridge-road-after-chemical-spill-photos/95-543238125
Tags: us_OH, transportation, release, response, other_chemical
The cleanup of a hazmat spill on I-480 westbound at Ridge Road continues on Thursday evening.
After a closure of more than three hours, the left lanes of I-480 were finally re-opened just before 10:30 p.m. Cleveland Police and Fire say 300 gallons of aluminum chloride was spilled in the incident.
ODOT says all lanes are expected to be open by the morning rush hour.
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SCIENTISTS WARN OF NERVE AGENT POTENCY AS SALISBURY CLEAN-UP BEGINS
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/19/scientists-warn-of-nerve-agent-potency-as-salisbury-clean-up-begins
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical
The residue of the nerve agent used in the attempted murder of the Skripals in Salisbury could still be as potent as it was when it was deployed more than six weeks ago, government scientists believe.
Experts responsible for the decontamination effort in the cathedral city said there could still be ‰??hotspots‰?? yet to be discovered where the novichok agent remains in high concentrations.
The revelations were made at a public meeting held in Salisbury as new barriers were put in place around key sites connected to the attack on the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, signalling the start of the lengthy clean-up process. Almost 200 military personnel in protective suits and boots will spend months decontaminating nine sites.
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HENRY COUNTY CLEANING UP AFTER FIRE AT CHEMICAL COMPANY
http://qconline.com/news/henry-county-cleaning-up-after-fire-at-chemical-company/article_c79a6820-cad9-59a7-99d8-84506e050d3e.html
Tags: us_IA, industrial, fire, response, other_chemical, runoff
ORION ‰?? Henry County workers are attempting to contain runoff tainted with chemicals from Wednesday‰??s fire at Helena Chemical Co.
Authorities were alerted around 12:30 p.m. to the fire at the site, 2929 N. 1300th Ave., Orion, according to officials. Witnesses said flames towered more than 100 feet, and several explosions were heard.
The concern Thursday was that water used to fight the fire is now runoff, and it has signs of chemicals from the site in it, according to Mat Schnepple, Henry County‰??s director of emergency management. Runoff in that area follows a specific drainage system, and workers have erected an earthen dyke at a key point to contain it.
‰??Everything should run off to this downstream point,‰?? Mr. Schnepple said.
There was no immediate threat to public safety Thursday morning, but the runoff could have long-term environmental impacts, he said.
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TYSON FOODS PLANT FIRE SPURS EVACUATIONS, SCHOOL CLOSURES
http://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/news_home/Business/2018/04/Tyson_Foods_plant_fire_spurs_e.aspx?ID=%7BBEA0A406-674D-436D-AB7C-34560762B1E3%7D&cck=1
Tags: us_GA, industrial, fire, response, ammonia, hvac_chemicals
DAWSON, Ga. ‰?? Multiple crews of firefighters responded to a chemical fire in the dock area of a Tyson Foods Inc. poultry processing plant in Dawson, Georgia, on April 18.
Dozens of homes were evacuated, but no injuries were reported. As a precautionary measure, local schools were closed on April 19 because of the schools‰?? proximity to the plant.
‰??Our team members were evacuated and there were no injuries,‰?? Tyson Foods said in a statement. ‰??We‰??re grateful for area fire departments and their quick response. The incident involved the release of ammonia, which is used as a refrigerant at the plant. The leak has been isolated and we‰??re working to determine the root cause. The plant will not operate the rest of this week. We‰??re evaluating the damage and will determine when we might resume operations sometime next week.‰??
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VALERO PLANT WHERE EXPLOSION OCCURRED HAS HISTORY OF OSHA VIOLATIONS
http://www.khou.com/article/news/local/valero-plant-where-explosion-occurred-has-history-of-osha-violations/285-543302501
Tags: us_TX, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
TEXAS CITY, Texas - The Valero plant where an explosion occurred Thursday has a history of work safety issues, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Texas City officials say all employees were accounted for, and no one was hurt.
Related: Explosion at Valero plant rocks Texas City; no one hurt
OSHA records show in 2009, an employee was killed in a boiler explosion and another was injured. According to the report, the boiler failed, and it was considered an accident. The company was fined $4,500.
In the past three years, there have been two serious injuries reported to OSHA. In 2016, an employee was descending a ladder when he lost his footing falling 12 to 15 feet. The employee sustained a broken left wrist, dislocated his right shoulder and fractured the right side of his face and jaw. Valero was fined $21,000 for serious violations.
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FINAL WARNING LETTERS ISSUED OVER FLARING AT MOSSMORRAN CHEMICAL PLANT
http://www.thenational.scot/news/16170188.Final_warning_letters_issued_over_flaring_at_Mossmorran_chemical_plant/
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, follow-up, environmental, petroleum
TWO major petrochemical companies have been served with final warning notices over an unplanned flaring incident at the Mossmorran complex in Fife.
Black smoke was seen coming from the chemical plant with nearby residents complaining of noise and vibration during the incident in June 2017.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) received 74 complaints.
Following an intensive investigation, Sepa found that environmental controls were breached during the incident and has served ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd and Shell UK Limited with Final Warning Letters.
It found that whilst flaring is an important safety feature in the event of a process fault, a series of maintenance failures led to elevated levels of unplanned flaring in breach of environmental controls between June 12 and 18, 2017 following the breakdown of a condensate pump.
---------------------------------------------
EXPLOSION, LARGE FIRE AT TEXAS CITY PLANT
https://www.chron.com/houston/article/Reports-Plant-fire-at-Texas-City-12849010.php
Tags: us_TX, industrial, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
A large fire broke out Thursday afternoon at a Texas City plant, city officials said.
The explosion was reported at the Valero plant on Loop 197 in Texas City, officials said. Witnesses said the explosion happened around 4:45 p.m.
The fire has been contained but fire crews will remain on site until it is fully extinguished, according to city officials.
---------------------------------------------
FIVE KILLED IN AMMONIA GAS EXPOSURE IN RUBBER FACTORY
http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Five-killed-in-ammonia-gas-exposure-in-rubber-factory-148814.html
Tags: Sri_Lanka, industrial, release, death, ammonia
At least five people were killed and 11 hospitalized after being exposed to Ammonia gas at a rubber factory in Bellapitiya, Horana today.
Police said an employee of the factory had accidentally fallen into a tank containing Ammonia gas outside the factory this afternoon while attempting to clean the tank.
Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said several others including residents in the area who attempted to rescue the employee had become unconscious due to the inhalation of ammonia gas and were admitted to the Horana Base Hospital.
Five of the victims had died while undergoing treatment at the hospital.
The victims were identified as residents of Bellapitiya.
---------------------------------------------
BROKEN THERMOMETER SHUTS DOWN SCHOOL
http://www.argusobserver.com/independent/news/broken-thermometer-shuts-down-school/article_7b0dd290-4328-11e8-b493-fb4f969962e1.html
Tags: us_OR, education, release, response, mercury
A science teacher‰??s discovery of a broken mercury thermometer in a drawer at Payette High School led to the school‰??s closure on Monday.
No students were exposed to mercury when the broken thermometer was discovered in a science classroom at the school.
A teacher noticed the broken mercury thermometer in a drawer as she was cleaning it out. This information was sent in an email to Payette Superintendent Robin Gilbert by high school principal Jason Dransfield at 11:52 a.m. Monday, and at 12:30 p.m., was also sent to parents.
According to the email, the teacher who discovered the broken thermometer reported to administrators that mercury may have spilled inside the drawer.
‰??Poison control, DEQ, and local fire department were contacted,‰?? Dransfield wrote in his email to Gilbert. ‰??The drawer was sealed shut, students were relocated, the doors to the room were sealed and ventilation to the room was shut off.‰??
The reason the ventilation was shut off, according to Payette Fire Chief Steve Castenada, was to prevent the mercury spill from becoming airborne, thereby potentially spreading to the rest of the school.
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6 HOSPITALIZED WHEN TRUCK FIRE CAUSES HAZMAT SITUATION
https://www.wftv.com/news/local/6-hospitalized-when-truck-fire-causes-hazmat-situation/734361061
Tags: us_FL, transportation, fire, injury, unknown_chemical
DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. - At least six people were hospitalized and a stretch of busy road was shut down for nearly eight hours Wednesday after a truck fire led to a hazmat situation.
Part of Atlantic Avenue between Moor Avenue and Bridgeport Road was shut down, but reopened late Wednesday.
The truck caught fire outside Perry‰??s Ocean Edge Resort.
Crews had the fire out within about 30 minutes, but they found the truck contained numerous chemicals and deemed the area unsafe.
‰??It was very tense. You never know with these things. They always have the possibility of exploding, so we were very cautious in our approach,‰?? said Bill Frank of the Daytona Beach Shores Department of Public Safety.
Among those who were taken to the hospital with respiratory issues were several hotel guests, a worker at a nearby hotel who was trying to help evacuate people and some of the rescue workers.
---------------------------------------------
FIRE AT CHEMICAL PLANT IN ORION
http://www.ourquadcities.com/news/fire-at-chemical-plant-in-orion/1128761916
Tags: us_IL, industrial, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
Chemical runoff is the big concern surrounding the fire at a plant in Orion tonight.
Firefighters are also watching the wind.
It broke out at the Helena Chemical plant. People say they heard small explosions coming from the facility.
Local 4's Owen Hoke was the first reporter on the scene.
The fire raging at Helena Chemical, on U.S. Highway 150 just outside of Orion, closed the highway for a while but it's now back open.
They say the fire was started when workers were out and there are no reported injuries.
Fire departments from all over responded: Colona, Orion, Cambridge, Kewanee and Coal Valley.
They've been filling water in town because it doesn't appear that there was a water source available for them on the scene.
The chief here said that there was no immediate danger to the public that the fumes went off into a field away from towns.
---------------------------------------------
DRAMATIC PICTURES SHOW BOMB SQUAD BLOWING UP 'UNSTABLE' CHEMICALS FOUND IN A UNIVERSITY FREEZER
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/dramatic-pictures-show-bomb-squad-14548426
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, discovery, response, waste
This is the moment ‰??unstable‰?? chemicals found in a university freezer were blown up by the bomb squad on a playing field down the road.
Dramatic images show officers from the Royal Logistic Corps Bomb Disposal unit burying the chemicals on Hough End playing fields in Chorlton before carrying out a controlled explosion.
The chemicals, described as ‰??unstable‰??, were found at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, on Princess Street in Manchester city centre, at around 2.15pm on Wednesday.
Hundreds of staff and students were evacuated from University of Manchester buildings - and other nearby sites, including a hotel - following the discovery at one of the institute‰??s laboratories.
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CSB RELEASES ANIMATION OF 2017 PCA PAPER MILL EXPLOSION
http://www.powderbulksolids.com/news/CSB-Releases-Animation-of-2017-PCA-Paper-Mill-Explosion-04-18-2018
Tags: us_LA, industrial, follow-up, death, flammables
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released an animated video this month illustrating the causes of an explosion at the Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) pulp and paper mill in DeRidder, LA on Feb. 8, 2017 that killed three workers and injured seven other people.
Taking viewers through a digital rendering of the Louisiana plant, the CSB‰??s video illustrates the agency‰??s position that hot work activities near a foul condensate tank containing a flammable atmosphere led to the deadly blast.
‰??Hot work accidents can be catastrophic. This video animation demonstrates that a more robust hazard analysis is necessary when hot work activities are located on or near storage containers with volatile materials,‰?? CSB Chairperson Vanessa Allen Sutherland said in a press release announcing the video.
The explosion was reported as the mill was engaged in a scheduled annual shutdown, which required workers to perform maintenance and upgrading tasks throughout the facility, according to the CSB.
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PLUTONIUM PLANT REMOVAL HALTED AFTER RADIATION RELEASES•ČŔ•ČŔ
https://cen.acs.org/safety/Plutonium-plant-removal-halted-radiation/96/i17
Tags: us_WA, industrial, follow-up, response, paints, radiation
The Department of Energy (DOE) has called for 42 actions to correct safety deficits that led to a series of radioactive releases during demolition of the now-closed plutonium processing facility at the former Hanford nuclear weapons production site in Washington state.
The actions include better application of coatings and use of other technologies to control spread of radioactive contamination, broader radiation boundaries, improve air dispersion measurement and modeling, greater involvement of employees as demolition moves ahead, and better training of and communication with site workers to solicit their input.
Following the releases, site remediation halted last December. Several hundred workers were tested for radiation exposure. Test results showed that several dozen workers had inhaled or ingested detectable radiation but at levels acceptable to the department.
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