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From: DCHAS Membership Chair <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (14 articles)
Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2018 07:15:56 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: 0780DFF4-C056-48D0-A5DE-7524EE7B6B55**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, September 24, 2018 at 7:15:44 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 (14 articles)
DEMOLITION OF A MERCURY CONTAMINATED FACILITY
Tags: industrial, discovery, response, mercury
FAILURES OF SKC LAPEL SAMPLER MODEL 224
Tags: industrial, discovery, response, radiation
EXTENSION CORD CONCERNS AND CAUTIONS
Tags: us_CA, public, fire, discovery
HAZMAT CREWS CLEAN UP AFTER ROWLETT FIRE
Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, response, runoff
POSSIBLE HAZMAT SITUATION FORCES EVACUATIONS AT LEXINGTON HOSPITAL
Tags: us_KY, public, release, response, phenol
EMERGENCY CREWS RESPOND TO HAZMAT SITUATION ON SUBWAY IN BROOKLYN
Tags: us_NY, transportation, release, injury, pepper_spray
FIRE RAZES ONDO FACTORY, DESTROYS N100M WORTH OF PRODUCTS
Tags: Nigeria, industrial, fire, response, paints, solvent
AFR: 1 POSSIBLY INJURED AFTER FREON LEAK
Tags: us_NM, public, release, injury, freon
UPDATE: UNIVETER ROAD RE-OPENED AFTER SPILL OF CHEMICALS OUTSIDE POULTRY PLANT
Tags: us_GA, transportation, release, injury, acids, peroxide
MYSTERY ODOR BRIEFLY EVACUATES CLASSES AT WASHINGTON HIGH IN CEDAR RAPIDS
Tags: us_WA, laboratory, release, response, unknown_chemical
ONE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER EXPOSURE TO CLEANING SUPPLIES NEAR GOTHA
Tags: us_FL, public, release, injury, acetone
CHILDREN SICK AFTER MYSTERY SUBSTANCE DROPPED OVER WAIRARAPA PRIMARY SCHOOL
Tags: New_Zealand, education, release, injury, unknown_chemical
WORKER'S EYE REMOVED AFTER CHEMICAL ACCIDENT
Tags: New_Zealand, industrial, release, injury, corrosives
NORTH CAROLINA COLLEGES DEAL WITH THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE FLORENCE
Tags: us_NC, laboratory, discovery, environmental
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DEMOLITION OF A MERCURY CONTAMINATED FACILITY
https://opexshare.doe.gov/lesson.cfm/2018/9/21/23566/Demolition-of-a-Mercury-Contaminated-Facility
Tags: industrial, discovery, response, mercury
URS / CH2M Oak Ridge LLC was awarded a contract to perform demolition of the West COLEX process system that was shut down in the 1960s. Only residual amounts of mercury were thought to remain in the facility. That proved not to be the case. Lessons Learned: D&D is a unique subset of construction requiring skill sets and expertise not otherwise needed in other construction fields. When initiating work on a facility with chemicals and configurations that are different from those previously worked around, it is critical to have a full understanding of the challenges and limitations present throughout the whole life cycle of the project.
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FAILURES OF SKC LAPEL SAMPLER MODEL 224
https://opexshare.doe.gov/lesson.cfm/2018/9/17/23556/Failures-of-SKC-Lapel-Sampler-Model-224
Tags: industrial, discovery, response, radiation
Identification of increased failures of the SKC Lapel Sampler Model 224 has initiated a STOP WORK for issuance of the lapel samplers. There have been several lapel sampler faults that have occurred over past months. The main concern is the lapel sampler units that failed or flow faults occurred while workers were in an Airborne Radiation Area/Contamination Area.
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EXTENSION CORD CONCERNS AND CAUTIONS
https://opexshare.doe.gov/lesson.cfm/2018/9/17/23545/Extension-Cord-Concerns-and-Cautions
Tags: us_CA, public, fire, discovery
Electrical cords, including extension cords, have been involved in several electrical shock, overheating, and smoke/fire incidents in the DOE complex. The typical contributor is damage that is visually apparent and which resulted from a single action. Extension cords present special concerns - concealed damage and improper use. Damaged plugs, receptacles and cords can result in higher and possibly damaging temperatures at the compromised locations and in the remaining unbroken conductor strands.
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HAZMAT CREWS CLEAN UP AFTER ROWLETT FIRE
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Hazmat-Crews-Clean-Up-After-Rowlett-Fire-494090421.html
Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, response, runoff
There was heavy smoke in the sky as firefighters battled a business fire in Rowlett Sunday afternoon. The call came into the fire department at 4:50 p.m. Sunday as a building in an industrial area on Grisham Drive burned.
The fire department said the fire started at Gleco Plating.
No one was hurt, but hazmat crews will be on scene much of the night to make sure chemicals released in the fire don't leak into the water.
"As the sprinkler system activated, we had to use a lot of water to put the fire out," said Rowlett Fire Chief Neil Howard. "We still have a lot of runoff and we are working very diligently at containing it and keeping it out of the water system."
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POSSIBLE HAZMAT SITUATION FORCES EVACUATIONS AT LEXINGTON HOSPITAL
https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Possible-hazmat-situation-forces-evacuations-at-Lexington-hospital-494104961.html
Tags: us_KY, public, release, response, phenol
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Crews are investigating a possible chemical spill inside UK Good Samaritan Hospital.
Firefighters were dispatched to the hospital on South Limestone around 5:40 a.m. Monday.
It was reported a small amount of liquid phenol was spilled in the basement. The chemical, common in hospitals, is both corrosive and toxic.
Firefighters said some people were being evacuated from the basement.
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EMERGENCY CREWS RESPOND TO HAZMAT SITUATION ON SUBWAY IN BROOKLYN
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/09/22/subway-hazmat-situation/
Tags: us_NY, transportation, release, injury, pepper_spray
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) ‰?? Emergency crews were called to a hazmat situation on the subway late Saturday night in Brooklyn.
Police said passengers were exposed to a noxious substance on board a 2 train near the Beverly Road station on Nostrand Avenue in East Flatbush.
Sources told CBS2 two people were fighting when one discharged pepper spray.
Police said approximately 20 people were treated on the scene.
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FIRE RAZES ONDO FACTORY, DESTROYS N100M WORTH OF PRODUCTS
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/fire-razes-ondo-factory-destroys-n100m-worth-of-products/
Tags: Nigeria, industrial, fire, response, paints, solvent
CHEMICAL products and other valuables worth over N100 million were razed by an inferno in a company, Megadot Nigeria Limited, Akure, Ondo state capital.
The company, located within the premises of the state Trade Fair Complex, Akure, housed chemicals used for the production of paints, wood finishers and thinner lacquer, among others.
Sunday Vanguard learnt that the fire incident started around 10pm on Friday as a result of alleged power surge.
An eye witness account, Kolawole Bello, said that high voltage from public power source caused the inferno, adding that‰?? the timely response of Fire Service men saved the Trade Fair Complex from burning‰??.
Bello said the inferno started from the chemical company before extending to other places.
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AFR: 1 POSSIBLY INJURED AFTER FREON LEAK
https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/afr-1-possibly-injured-after-freon-leak/5080068/
Tags: us_NM, public, release, injury, freon
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. ‰?? Hazmat units are responding to a northeast Albuquerque Costco Friday afternoon after a Freon leak at the store may have injured one person, according to Albuquerque Fire Rescue.
AFR says multiple teams are responding to the leak at the store off Renaissance Boulevard. It's unclear at this time what may have caused it.
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UPDATE: UNIVETER ROAD RE-OPENED AFTER SPILL OF CHEMICALS OUTSIDE POULTRY PLANT
https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/ledger/update-four-taken-to-hospital-in-relation-to-acid-spill/article_057f9a26-bdc7-11e8-9b0d-d7393270cd21.html
Tags: us_GA, transportation, release, injury, acids, peroxide
CANTON ‰?? An acid spill at the Pilgrim's Pride chicken processing plant near Canton shut down Univeter Road, Interstate 575 and forced evacuations earlier this afternoon. Four people were taken to Northside Hospital Cherokee with breathing difficulty.
The situation was contained and Univeter Road reopened about 7:15 p.m.
Hazardous materials personnel are evaluating how to clean up the leaking chemical, sheriff's office spokesman Jay Baker said just after 5:30 p.m. The spill occurred at approximately 2 p.m. as FedEx delivered a shipment of organic peroxide type F to the Pilgrim's Pride chicken plant at 654 Univeter Road.
The truck contains six, 300-gallon containers of the liquid, which when highly diluted is used for cleaning in the plant. Hazmat workers are concerned other containers may begin to leak as well and are evaluating how to attack the problem and effect the cleanup.
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MYSTERY ODOR BRIEFLY EVACUATES CLASSES AT WASHINGTON HIGH IN CEDAR RAPIDS
https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/public-safety/classes-disrupted-area-briefly-evacuated-after-mystery-odor-appears-at-cedar-rapids-washington-20180920
Tags: us_WA, laboratory, release, response, unknown_chemical
A strange odor of unknown origin in a science classroom at Washington High School led to the sealing and evacuation of that room and nearby rooms on Thursday afternoon in Cedar Rapids.
According to a news release from the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, crews arrived at Washington High at 2:21 p.m. Thursday after the report of a ‰??suspicious odor‰?? in the area. Some students and a teacher were also complaining of scratchy throats, the release said.
The first fire crew on scene evacuated and isolated the classroom and rooms that shared a common hallway. The building‰??s ventilation system was also isolated, and the classroom in question was ‰??enclosed with tape,‰?? according to the release.
Paramedics assessed two students who did not require any further treatment.
The incident happened near the end of the school day, so students left campus and the school building as normal, according to the release. After the students left, firefighters entered the room wearing protective equipment, but there was no indication of any hazardous chemicals, according to the release.
Firefighters inspected the room again without protective equipment, and they determined it was safe.
Cedar Rapids Fire Captain Joel Miles said the firefighters were unable to locate the odor‰??s origin. After interviewing students and the teacher involved, Miles said some indicated there had been a smell remiscent of formalehyde, while another student said it may have been pepper spray. Miles said firefighters ruled out pepper spray because no one in the classroom exhibited symptoms of being exposed to pepper spray, which generally causes watery eyes and running noses.
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ONE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER EXPOSURE TO CLEANING SUPPLIES NEAR GOTHA
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-hazmat-incident-gotha-20180920-story.html
Tags: us_FL, public, release, injury, acetone
One person was taken to the hospital Thursday after being exposed to cleaning supplies, according to Orange County Fire Rescue.
The person was cleaning a bathroom and became sick from the acetone, fire rescue said.
It happened about 7:30 p.m. at a home in the 1000 block of Melontree Court near Gotha.
The person was conscious and alert when taken to Health Central Hospital.
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CHILDREN SICK AFTER MYSTERY SUBSTANCE DROPPED OVER WAIRARAPA PRIMARY SCHOOL
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/09/emergency-services-attending-incident-at-wairarapa-school.html
Tags: New_Zealand, education, release, injury, unknown_chemical
Fifteen people have been taken to hospital and over 100 people are going through a decontamination process after a chemical incident at South End school in Carterton, Wairarapa.
Wellington Free Ambulance (WFA) said those in hospital have moderate symptoms, and 40 people are being treated at the scene with very minor symptoms.
A low-flying aircraft is believed to have dropped an unknown substance over the school playground at around 1pm on Friday.
The Fire and Emergency Hazmat (hazardous materials) unit was dispatched to decontaminate people, which involves showering and putting on clean clothes.
South End school said in a post on Facebook that there was a "very strong smell" in the playground.
"A plane flew in a southward direction and one student had seen 'stuff' coming out of the plane - so we assume it was a fertiliser of some sort," the post said.
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WORKER'S EYE REMOVED AFTER CHEMICAL ACCIDENT
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/107288319/workers-eye-removed-after-chemical-accident
Tags: New_Zealand, industrial, release, injury, corrosives
A worker had to have his eye removed after an incident involving a corrosive cleaning product at a Tauranga mussel processing plant.
North Island Mussels Limited was handed a $219,375 fine in the Tauranga District Court on Friday.
The worker received $60,000 in reparation for the January 2017 incident.
The worker was decanting a cleaning product when a piece of tubing flicked him in the eye.
READ MORE:
* Francois Barton: Health and safety - it's not just red tape
* Complacency rises in workplace health and safety, and we're all to blame
The corrosive product and the impact of the tubing left him with damage so significant that his eye had to be removed. The resulting scarring also meant the victim could not be fitted with a prosthetic eye.
WorkSafe said the worker should not have needed to decant the cleaning product and that a safer system of work would have avoided the incident all together.
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NORTH CAROLINA COLLEGES DEAL WITH THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE FLORENCE
https://cen.acs.org/education/North-Carolina-colleges-deal-aftermath/96/i38
Tags: us_NC, laboratory, discovery, environmental
Universities in the Wilmington, N.C., area took a direct blow from Hurricane Florence. At the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, the building housing the chemistry and biochemistry department was hit particularly hard.
‰??While the damage was extensive, it is not irreversible, and faculty and staff are hard at work developing a plan to accommodate classes normally held in Dobo [Hall], as well the work being done in offices and labs,‰?? the university posted on its Facebook page on Sept. 19. No one at the university was available to speak about the specific problems, though. As of C&EN deadline, floodwaters blocked most entrances and exits from the city, and the university remained closed.
Kristina Mazzarone, a chemistry instructor at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, evacuated the area with her husband and two young children, so she hasn‰??t seen how her campus fared yet. She took precautionary steps to move all of the equipment in her second-floor lab away from windows into an interior lab prep space and cover it with plastic sheeting.
Though she doesn‰??t know when the school will start again, Mazzarone is already concerned how she will be able to make up at least two weeks of missed classes. ‰??The missed laboratory days will be very difficult to recover,‰?? she says.
She also worries whether students will be able to return when classes start. ‰??Our students either commute or live in the area. If their housing is damaged, they would not be able to attend classes.‰??
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Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Membership chair
American Chemical Society
Division of Chemical Health and Safety
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