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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, September 2, 2019 at 6:47:12 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 (18 articles)
FIVE PARISIAN SCHOOLS DELAY REOPENING DUE TO LEAD FROM NOTRE-DAME FIRE
Tags: france, education, release, followup, lead
HAZMAT INCIDENT PROMPTS EVACUATION OF GREEN ACRES MALL
Tags: us_nh, public, release, response, cleaning_chemicals
CHEMICAL FACTORY MANAGEMENT BOOKED FOR CULPABLE HOMICIDE
Tags: india, industrial, followup, death, environmental
CHEMICAL MIXTURE RELEASES SMOKE IN BASEMENT
Tags: us_oh, public, fire, response, cleaning_chemicals
HUMBOLDT STATE LOOKING TO TIGHTEN UP HAZMAT PROCEDURES FOLLOWING CRITICAL INTERNAL AUDIT FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, discovery, environmental
2 INJURED AFTER PLANE CRASHES INTO POND IN MONTGOMERY CO.
Tags: us_TX, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
SAN JOSE HOTEL CHEMICAL INCIDENT: ONE DEAD AS 120 GUESTS EVACUATED AFTER 'SUICIDE'
Tags: us_CA, public, release, death, suicide
DHULE: 13 KILLED BY EXPLOSION IN CHEMICAL UNIT
Tags: India, industrial, explosion, death, unknown_chemical
FILIPINO COMMUNITY CALLS FOR SAFETY OF ITS FACTORY WORKERS IN TAIWAN
Tags: Taiwan, industrial, release, death, hydrofluoric_acid
ORANGE: HAZMAT TEAM RESPONDS TO SCIENCE PROJECT GONE WRONG ‰?? ONSCENE TV
Tags: us_CA, public, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
HAZMAT TEAMS BURN OFF LARGE PROPANE GAS LEAK
Tags: us_FL, public, release, response, propane
FIRE CREWS RESPOND TO GAS LEAK IN EAST GRANBY
Tags: us_CT, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical
TWO HOSPITALIZED AFTER AMMONIA LEAK AT BUILDING ON UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO'S CAMPUS
Tags: Canada, laboratory, release, injury, ammonia
PHOENIX WALMART STORE CLOSED DUE TO STRONG CHEMICAL ODOR
Tags: us_AZ, public, release, response, sulfuric_acid
TOXIC CHEMICAL AT PES REFINERY MOSTLY CLEARED, AIDING PROBE OF JUNE BLAZE
Tags: us_PA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, hydrofluoric_acid
EPA SETTLEMENT RESOLVES TOXIC CHEMICAL REPORTING ISSUES AT BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT FACILITY
Tags: us_CT, industrial, follow-up, environmental, waste
FILIPINA WORKER DIES FROM CHEMICAL ACCIDENT IN MIAOLI FACTORY
Tags: Taiwan, industrial, release, death, hydrofluoric_acid
CYBERABAD POLICE ASK PETROLEUM & EXPLOSIVES SAFETY ORGANISATION TO HELP HANDLE EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL- THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS
Tags: India, transportation, discovery, environmental, ammonium_nitrate
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FIVE PARISIAN SCHOOLS DELAY REOPENING DUE TO LEAD FROM NOTRE-DAME FIRE
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/01/five-parisian-schools-delay-reopening-due-lead-notre-dame-fire/
Tags: france, education, release, followup, lead
The Paris education authority has ordered five private schools which were to have re-opened on Monday after the summer holiday to remain closed until toxic lead from the Notre-Dame fire is removed.
All schools in areas near the cathedral were deep-cleaned during the holidays after unsafe levels of lead were detected exceeding 70 micrograms per square metre. Health inspectors have given state schools the green light to reopen but say the five private schools, run by the Roman Catholic church, still require more thorough decontamination.
More than 400 tonnes of lead from Notre-Dame‰??s roofing and spire melted and were dispersed as air-borne dust during the fire in April. Lead is particularly toxic to young children.
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HAZMAT INCIDENT PROMPTS EVACUATION OF GREEN ACRES MALL
http://longisland.news12.com/story/40990126/hazmat-incident-prompts-evacuation-of-green-acres-mall
Tags: us_nh, public, release, response, cleaning_chemicals
The Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream was evacuated Sunday as crews responded to a hazmat situation.
Fire officials say a mall maintenance worker was cleaning a sump pump in a garage tunnel when he dropped bleach and ammonia down a drain.
The chemicals created a strong odor, and the mall was evacuated as a precaution.
Hazmat crews flushed out the sump pump, officials say. The mall has since been reopened.
No injuries were reported.
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CHEMICAL FACTORY MANAGEMENT BOOKED FOR CULPABLE HOMICIDE
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nashik/chemical-factory-management-booked-for-culpable-homicide/articleshow/70939919.cms
Tags: india, industrial, followup, death, environmental
NASHIK: The Shirpur police has booked the management of the ..
Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/70939919.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/70939919.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
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CHEMICAL MIXTURE RELEASES SMOKE IN BASEMENT
https://www.timesreporter.com/news/20190901/chemical-mixture-releases-smoke-in-basement
Tags: us_oh, public, fire, response, cleaning_chemicals
NEW PHILADELPHIA A mixture of chemicals intended for cleaning concrete in a basement created a smoky reaction that resulted in the fire department being called to a home at 139 10th St. SW on Sunday.
Fire Capt. Wes Tucke said an occupant of the house put muriatic acid and brake fluid in a five-gallon bucket that contained a residue of calcium hypochlorite, a pool chemical, then left the home.
An hour later, at 5:33 p.m., firefighters were called because smoke was pouring from beneath a deck. The smoke left the basement through a vent.
Members of the Tuscarawas County Haz-Mat team responded to the scene. Dover firefighters Lt. Brian Stewart and Shane Wells tested the substance in the bucket. It was treated with a neutralizing agent, Tucke said.
He said the residents evacuated the home themselves and were unharmed. All were examined by Smith Ambulance personnel. None went to the hospital.
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HUMBOLDT STATE LOOKING TO TIGHTEN UP HAZMAT PROCEDURES FOLLOWING CRITICAL INTERNAL AUDIT FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2019/aug/31/humboldt-state-looking-tighten-hazmat-procedures-f/
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, discovery, environmental
The results of a campus-wide audit of 17 different observation sites found a number of problems with how Humboldt State manages and communicates when it comes to health and safety risks.
The six-week long audit took place during April and May. It was part of a system-wide internal auditing process for the California State University system, and was prompted after an audit published in 2018 found that four universities ‰?? two small and two large ‰?? did not meet the required levels of oversight when it came to protecting students, staff and faculty from hazardous waste.
The HSU audit found many examples of where the ‰??communication of key roles and responsibilities needed improvement,‰?? and that the campus does not have ‰??an effective monitoring process to ensure that responsibilities were performed.‰?? The audit went on to say that the university needs to improve how often the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are checked, and that the university ‰??did not always ensure that HAZMAT inventories were maintained.‰??
On Monday, a campus-wide email went out to remind the campus community that proper labeling and storing of hazardous materials is a requirement as well as the importance of the matter. Sabrina Zink, an Environmental Health and Safety specialist for HSU, said the purpose of the email was to get the attention of those involved with the generation and storage of hazardous materials and for them to become aware of their shortcomings.
---------------------------------------------
2 INJURED AFTER PLANE CRASHES INTO POND IN MONTGOMERY CO.
https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/plane-crash-pond-montgomery-county-injured/285-7a0a25e5-4296-49db-b312-d5062232068c
Tags: us_TX, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas ‰?? A small plane crashed into a pond in Montgomery County Saturday morning.
The plane crashed near Farrell Road. It has already been removed from the pond, but emergency crews, including Hazmat, are still on scene.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said a brother and sister were the only two people on the plane. They suffered only minor injuries.
The FAA is investigating.
---------------------------------------------
SAN JOSE HOTEL CHEMICAL INCIDENT: ONE DEAD AS 120 GUESTS EVACUATED AFTER 'SUICIDE'
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/breaking-san-jose-hotel-chemical-19117898
Tags: us_CA, public, release, death, suicide
One person was dead and six were injured after an apparent suicide involving a poisonous chemical at a high-end hotel.
About 120 guests on several upper floors were evacuated from their rooms at the four-star Fairmont Hotel as people began to experience symptoms including faintness and shortness of breath.
Fire officials in San Jose, California, confirmed one person was dead on the 19th floor and a chemical was involved in the incident.
A hazmat team wearing full-body protective suits decontaminated at least eight people after at least four floors were evacuated amid a smell of "rotten eggs", it was reported.
---------------------------------------------
DHULE: 13 KILLED BY EXPLOSION IN CHEMICAL UNIT
https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-dhule-13-killed-by-explosion-in-chemical-unit-2786506
Tags: India, industrial, explosion, death, unknown_chemical
"The walls of our homes cracked," said a resident of Waghadi village, while describing the blast that took place at a private chemical factor near Dhule. The explosion and ensuing fire killed at least 13 people and injured 50 on Saturday. Rescue operations by the State Disaster Resource Force (SDRF) teams are underway and the NDRF team has been alerted. The death toll is likely to increase.
The explosion took place at around 9.45 am at Rumit Chemismith factory in Waghadi village, about 7 km from Shirupur taluka, 350 km from Mumbai. The factory manufactures washing detergent and its owner has not yet been identified; neither has the cause of the fire.
It is believed that a 200-litre chemical barrel exploded first, the fire spread to other parts of the factory and there were more blasts. "The explosion happened where chemicals were being mixed," said a government official.
"And the fire spread to other cans where chemicals were stored. It kept spreading thus till the evening, causing high mortality," he added.
---------------------------------------------
FILIPINO COMMUNITY CALLS FOR SAFETY OF ITS FACTORY WORKERS IN TAIWAN
http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201908310013.aspx
Tags: Taiwan, industrial, release, death, hydrofluoric_acid
Filipino community calls for safety of its factory workers in Taiwan
2019/08/31 21:41:09
Taipei, Aug. 31 (CNA) The Filipino community called Saturday for factories in Taiwan to provide safer working environments for its workers in the wake of the recent death of a Filipina from a chemical spill this week.
The victim, identified by local media as 29-year-old Deserie Castro Tagubasi, died Wednesday at Taipei Veterans General Hospital after suffering chemical burns when a container of a mixture containing hydrofluoric acid fell and splattered against her legs.
Tagubasi was on duty at the time of the accident at her place of employment, an electronics plant in Jhunan Science Park in Miaoli operated by LED maker Tyntek Corp., according to local media.
---------------------------------------------
ORANGE: HAZMAT TEAM RESPONDS TO SCIENCE PROJECT GONE WRONG ‰?? ONSCENE TV
https://onscene.tv/orange-hazmat-team-responds-to-science-project-gone-wrong/
Tags: us_CA, public, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
08.28.2019 | 7:25 PM | ORANGE ‰?? A student working on a science project prompted a hazardous materials response, Wednesday night.
Authorities responded to reports of a chemical spill inside a home in the 7000 North Adele Street around 7:25 PM.
Units arriving on scene located fourplex with a student who had been working with unknown chemicals for a science project.
The student reportedly mixed chemicals with created a sodium-based byproduct that exploded.
Firefighters evacuated nearby residents while they investigated the chemical reaction but later deemed the scene safe.
No injuries were reported as a result of the chemical reaction.
---------------------------------------------
HAZMAT TEAMS BURN OFF LARGE PROPANE GAS LEAK
https://www.news4jax.com/news/hazmat-teams-burn-off-large-propane-gas-leak
Tags: us_FL, public, release, response, propane
Crews responded to the St. Johns County Communication Center at 240 A1A North when a caller reported smelling gas in the area. There they found a broken and leaking underground LPG tank.
SJCFR HazMat teams responded and attempted to mitigate the leak, but were unsuccessful due to the damaged condition of the tank.
According to SJCFR, in order to make the tank safe, the gas had to be burned off using a process called "flaring."
In the Facebook post SJCFR explained that "flaring" involves crews re-plumbing the tank to attach a piece of equipment called "the red dragon" that raises the burn off flare high above the ground to control the amount of liquid and vapor burned off.
---------------------------------------------
FIRE CREWS RESPOND TO GAS LEAK IN EAST GRANBY
https://www.wfsb.com/news/fire-crews-responding-to-hazmat-situation-in-east-granby/article_3cd830be-cbe0-11e9-a793-b7aa1620ef25.html
Tags: us_CT, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical
EAST GRANBY, CT (WFSB) - Fire Crews responded to a gas leak in East Granby Saturday morning, said Fire Chief Kerry Flaherty.
Chief Flaherty said the gas leak at Barnes Aerospace shut down Connecticut South Drive.
Officials say there were a few people in the building at the time of the leak. No injuries were reported.
Officials say crews were on scene since around 4:30 a.m.
The Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company, as well as the Capital Region Hazmat Team, assisted with the hazmat situation, officials said.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and hazmat team are investigating the gas leak.
---------------------------------------------
TWO HOSPITALIZED AFTER AMMONIA LEAK AT BUILDING ON UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO'S CAMPUS
https://www.cp24.com/news/two-hospitalized-after-ammonia-leak-at-building-on-university-of-toronto-s-campus-1.4572298
Tags: Canada, laboratory, release, injury, ammonia
Two people has been transported to hospital following an ammonia leak at a University of Toronto building downtown.
Toronto Fire says crews were called to the Lash Miller Chemical Lab, located at 80 St. George Street, at around 1:20 p.m. to deal with the situation.
The building has been shut down but fire officials say the issue has been contained to one room.
Two patients were transported to hospital with minor injuries, paramedics say.
It is not known what caused the leak but fire crews are continuing to investigate.
---------------------------------------------
PHOENIX WALMART STORE CLOSED DUE TO STRONG CHEMICAL ODOR
https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/phoenix-walmart-store-closed-due-to-strong-chemical-odor
Tags: us_AZ, public, release, response, sulfuric_acid
PHOENIX - Phoenix Fire and Police Department teams were on the scene of chemical exposure at a Walmart store near 37th Street and Thomas Road.
Officials say the store was closed Thursday night due to a strong chemical odor in the building and industrial chemical cleanup crews have been working to remove the substance.
PFD Captain Kenny Overton stated, "Fire Department HazMat crews returned to the scene on Friday when one of the members of the cleaning crew began to feel ill."
Crews continued to monitor the building and didn't find evidence of atmospheric contamination.
"Phoenix Police Bomb Squad personnel retrieved the substance for evaluation and found that it was Sulphuric Acid," said Overton. "Sulfuric acid is a bee repellent and non-toxic substance."
---------------------------------------------
TOXIC CHEMICAL AT PES REFINERY MOSTLY CLEARED, AIDING PROBE OF JUNE BLAZE
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pes-bankruptcy-chemicals/toxic-chemical-at-pes-refinery-mostly-cleared-aiding-probe-of-june-blaze-idUSKCN1VK24U
Tags: us_PA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, hydrofluoric_acid
(Reuters) - Most of a highly toxic chemical stored at a fire-damaged Philadelphia oil refinery has been rendered inert, clearing the way for closer inspections of the site following a June blaze that led to the plant‰??s closure, officials said on Friday.
FILE PHOTO: The Philadelphia Energy Solutions oil refinery is shown following a recent fire that caused significant damage to the complex, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 26, 2019. REUTERS/Laila Kearney
About 340,000 pounds of hydrofluoric acid (HF) stored at Philadelphia Energy Solutions‰?? refinery was chemically neutralized, Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said in a briefing. HF can burn the skin and form a potentially deadly fog at room temperature.
The process ‰??substantially reduces the risk to the community,‰?? Thiel said, noting some HF acid still remained at the site. Initial phases of the fire probes, including data gathering, have largely been completed, Thiel said.
HF is used by more than one-third of U.S. refineries in the alkylation process to make high-octane gasoline. Labor unions and environmentalists have urged that it be replaced, particularly in densely populated areas.
---------------------------------------------
EPA SETTLEMENT RESOLVES TOXIC CHEMICAL REPORTING ISSUES AT BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT FACILITY
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-settlement-resolves-toxic-chemical-reporting-issues-bridgeport-connecticut-facility
Tags: us_CT, industrial, follow-up, environmental, waste
(Bridgeport, Conn.) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a settlement with Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc., that resolved the company's alleged failure to properly report required information about six toxic chemicals it received at and transported from at a facility in Bridgeport. Under the settlement, Safety-Kleen will pay an $82,000 penalty. The company has also come into compliance with federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) issues that EPA raised in 2017.
"This case shows that EPA is serious about ensuring that facilities that receive and transport toxic substances follow the laws that protect their workers and local communities," said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Deb Szaro. "EPA appreciates Safety-Kleen's efforts to correct the alleged violations once they were identified, which improved the company's compliance with important laws that protect public health."
The Safety-Kleen facility in Bridgeport receives and transfers used motor oil for recycling. The facility also blends and receives windshield wiper fluid product containing methanol and receives antifreeze product containing ethylene glycol for distribution and collects used wastewater and waste antifreeze. The Bridgeport facility is in an area where environmental justice issues exist.
---------------------------------------------
FILIPINA WORKER DIES FROM CHEMICAL ACCIDENT IN MIAOLI FACTORY
http://focustaiwan.tw/news/afav/201908290016.aspx
Tags: Taiwan, industrial, release, death, hydrofluoric_acid
Taipei, Aug. 29 (CNA) A Filipina worker died Wednesday after suffering severe hydrofluoric acid burns in a chemical accident that took place at an optoelectronics factory in Miaoli, the county's Fire Bureau said Thursday.
Tsao Chun-feng (¾?1¾?´e´¢¬), a section chief with the fire bureau, said the 29-year old victim, who was not identified, was rushed to a Taipei hospital for emergency treatment but did not survive.
Hydrofluoric acid is a colorless solution that is highly corrosive and capable of dissolving many types of materials. It is frequently used in the electronics industry, including for metal cleaning and glass etching.
---------------------------------------------
CYBERABAD POLICE ASK PETROLEUM & EXPLOSIVES SAFETY ORGANISATION TO HELP HANDLE EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL- THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS
http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2019/aug/30/cyberabad-police-ask-petroleum--explosives-safety-organisation-to-help-handle-explosive-material-2026359.html
Tags: India, transportation, discovery, environmental, ammonium_nitrate
HYDERABAD: In the light of explosive material which was being transported under the guise of ‰??harmless‰?? substances, the city police have written to Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) asking for suggestions on the ways to deal with the hazardous material. The police made the request as the field level cops are not trained to deal with high quantities of the explosive materials.
On Wednesday, a container belonging to a Bhongir-based manufacturing unit was seized as it was transporting a high quantity of hazardous material ‰?? Ammonium Nitrate labelled as Sodium Nitrate ‰?? from Bhongir to Madanapalle in Chittoor district of AP.
According to Koppula Sampath, a chemical researcher, Ammonium Nitrate would combust under extreme conditions of heat and pressure in a confined space and would trigger an explosion.
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