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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, September 28, 2020 at 6:35:37 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 (15 articles)
EP.46 IS RISK COMPENSATION A REAL THING?
Tags: Australia, public, discovery, environmental
HAZMAT TEAM CALLED TO STANLEY PARK FOR MERCURY SPILL IN PUBLIC WASHROOM
Tags: Canada, public, release, response, mercury
SANDWICH GARDEN CENTER DESTROYED BY FIRE
Tags: us_MA, public, fire, response, ag_chems
FIRE HITS JG SUMMIT PETROCHEMICAL PLANT IN BATANGAS CITY
Tags: Philippines, industrial, fire, response, petroleum, used_oil
EMERGENCY SERVICES CALLED TO CHEMICAL LEAK AT FONTERRA'S EDENDALE PLANT
Tags: New_Zealand, industrial, release, response, nitric_acid
OPERATOR DISCOVERS HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL LEAK AT SALISBURY WATER PLANT
Tags: us_MD, industrial, release, injury, chlorine
HUAWEI LAB BUILDING IN CHINA CATCHES FIRE, KILLING THREE
Tags: China, laboratory, fire, death, unknown_chemical
CHEMICAL LEAK AT FONTERRA'S EDENDALE SITE
Tags: New_Zealand, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical
SONY SUED FOR EXPLODING E-CIGARETTE BATTERY
Tags: us_NY, public, explosion, injury, batteries
CITY REMINDING PEOPLE TO DISPOSE HAZARDOUS WASTE PROPERLY AFTER LIVE BULLET FOUND IN RECYCLING
Tags: Canada, industrial, fire, environmental, waste
HAZMAT CREWS CALLED TO PROPANE TRUCK ROLLOVER
Tags: us_NY, transportation, release, injury, propane
CHEMICAL SPILL ON A19 LED TO CLOSURE
Tags: United_Kingdom, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical
TRIAL ON HARVEY PLANT FIRE RESUMES AFTER COVID-19 DELAY
Tags: us_TX, industrial, follow-up, environmental, illegal
SACRAMENTO FIRE INTRODUCES ENGINES THAT WILL HELP KEEP FIREFIGHTERS SAFE FROM TOXIC CHEMICALS
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, toxics
CHEMICAL WEAPONS DUMPED AFTER WORLD WAR II ARE POLLUTING BALTIC SEA
Tags: Denmark, public, discovery, environmental, mustard_gas, waste
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EP.46 IS RISK COMPENSATION A REAL THING?
https://safetyofwork.com/episodes/ep46-is-risk-compensation-a-real-thing
Tags: Australia, public, discovery, environmental
Topics:
Defining risk compensation.
Risk compensation in road traffic.
Argument by analogy.
What causes people to believe in risk compensation.
Why robust data equals a real effect.
Practical takeaways.
Quotes:
??...I think this is the sort of phenomenon that causes people to believe in risk compensation.??
??Basically, what they??re saying is, if there was a real effect, it would be robust regardless of how you crunched the data.??
??Just because someone does lots of citing of literature or quotes from scientific literature, doesn??t mean that their interpretation of that literature is rigorous and scientific.??
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HAZMAT TEAM CALLED TO STANLEY PARK FOR MERCURY SPILL IN PUBLIC WASHROOM
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/hazmat-team-stanley-park-mercury-spill-public-washroom-1.5741239
Tags: Canada, public, release, response, mercury
A hazmat team was called to Stanley Park's Second Beach on Sunday morning after park rangers found mercury in a public washroom.
Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services said park rangers were opening up the washroom when they found a substance that looked like mercury on the ground.
The hazardous materials team responded around 8:45 a.m and confirmed the substance was mercury, an element that even in small amounts may cause toxic effects and serious health problems for humans if contact occurs.
"The mercury was kind of spread around, it was in fine droplets," said assistant chief of operations Trevor Connelly, who noted the toxic substance was spread around the floor and in the toilets.
"It was a tedious process for the hazmat team to clean it up, but after an hour or so they did get it all cleaned up and the washroom was opened."
---------------------------------------------
SANDWICH GARDEN CENTER DESTROYED BY FIRE
https://www.capecodtimes.com/news/20200926/sandwich-garden-center-destroyed-by-fire
Tags: us_MA, public, fire, response, ag_chems
SANDWICH ?? A two-alarm fire tore through Russo??s Cape Cod Bark & Landscape garden center Saturday afternoon.
The fire began in the garage of the garden center at 145 Route 130 at 2:28 p.m. and then spread throughout the building, according to Sandwich Fire Chief John Burke. On arrival, the building was 75% percent involved, and a second alarm was requested.
The garage, which was being used for storage, was filled with home landscaping materials including fertilizer and hay, Burke said.
The building is a complete loss, Burke said. Two pickup trucks and two motorcycles were also lost in the fire, according to a statement from the Fire Department.
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FIRE HITS JG SUMMIT PETROCHEMICAL PLANT IN BATANGAS CITY
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1340591/fire-razes-chemical-plant-facility-in-batangas
Tags: Philippines, industrial, fire, response, petroleum, used_oil
MANILA, Philippines ?? (Updated) A fire struck the plant of the JG Summit Petrochemicals Group, a Gokongwei company, in Barangay Simlong in Batangas City on Saturday night, according to the Batangas City Fire Station.
It was the police that informed firefighters about the blaze, which started at around 10 p.m.
One person was reported injured, according to Col. Rex Malimban, chief of the Batangas Police Provincial Office.
??The initial [information] we received was that used oil was ablaze,?? Malimban said in a phone interview around 11 p.m.
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EMERGENCY SERVICES CALLED TO CHEMICAL LEAK AT FONTERRA'S EDENDALE PLANT
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/122902961/emergency-services-called-to-chemical-leak-at-fonterras-edendale-plant
Tags: New_Zealand, industrial, release, response, nitric_acid
No-one was injured after a chemical leak at Fonterra Edendale plant on Saturday.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said a crew from Edendale, two from Invercargill, two from Mataura and one from Wyndham were called to the scene of a nitric acid leak about 10.30am.
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OPERATOR DISCOVERS HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL LEAK AT SALISBURY WATER PLANT
https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2020/09/25/operator-discovers-hazardous-chemical-leak-salisbury-water-plant/3528678001/
Tags: us_MD, industrial, release, injury, chlorine
SALISBURY, Md.?? A Salisbury water operator came across a hazardous chemical leak as he carried out his typical shift Thursday, according to a recent press release from the city.
At Salisbury's Paleo Water Treatment Plant, the operator discovered a gaseous chlorine leak after entering the chlorine cylinder room to swap out an empty.
He immediately notified his superintendent, according to the city, who contacted Salisbury Fire Department. The exposed employee was then sent to TidalHealth Peninsula Regional for evaluation.
He received oxygen and has already been released in stable condition, according to the release.
---------------------------------------------
HUAWEI LAB BUILDING IN CHINA CATCHES FIRE, KILLING THREE
https://www.ntd.com/huawei-lab-building-in-china-catches-fire-killing-three_511775.html
Tags: China, laboratory, fire, death, unknown_chemical
A building within Huawei??s lab campus in southern China??s Dongguan city caught on fire on Sept. 25 afternoon, killing at least three people. The city government claimed that the building has no relationship with laboratories, but Chinese media quoted Huawei employees who said the facility contains 5G labs.
Huawei is China??s largest manufacturer of telecom equipment. But the company has been banned from several countries?? 5G rollouts amid concerns that its products could be exploited by Beijing to conduct espionage.
State-run media 21st Century Business Herald quoted an Huawei employee who said the fire started in an anechoic chamber that was being built to absorb electromagnetic waves. The absorption material accidentally caught on fire.
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CHEMICAL LEAK AT FONTERRA'S EDENDALE SITE
https://www.odt.co.nz/rural-life/dairy/chemical-leak-fonterras-edendale-site
Tags: New_Zealand, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical
crews have been working to contain a chemical leak at the Edendale Fonterra site, this morning.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said they were called to the scene, in North Rd, at 10:30am.
There was a chemical leak at the Fonterra site and crews were at the scene working to contain it.
The leak was not affecting anyone and there were no injuries, but it was a hazardous substance, he said.
"We have got crews are here to isolate the leak and make it safe."
It had been containe
---------------------------------------------
SONY SUED FOR EXPLODING E-CIGARETTE BATTERY
https://lawstreetmedia.com/agriculture/sony-sued-for-exploding-e-cigarette-battery/
Tags: us_NY, public, explosion, injury, batteries
On September 24, Bernardino Manuel brought a new product liability action against Sony Corporation in the Southern District of New York alleging that the defendant??s e-cigarette battery exploded without warning, resulting in severe injuries to the plaintiff as he carried said battery in his pocket.
The plaintiff sought damages for burns he claimed to have suffered as a result of the battery exploding in his front-right pocket that caused his clothing to catch fire, resulting in ??burn injuries to his right thigh and both hands.?? Manuel claimed that the defendant??s battery was made of lithium-ion, which by its chemical makeup is known to pose a heightened risk of ??fire and explosion?? when used in e-cigarette systems. The plaintiff supported this assertion by referencing a ??medical case report of a man in New Jersey, whose e-cigarette exploded in his pocket causing him severe burns,?? a ??California man (who) recently lost his eye as a result of an e-cigarette exploding near him,?? and a ??Southern California woman (who) was set on fire after an e-cigarette exploded while she was a passenger in a car.??
---------------------------------------------
CITY REMINDING PEOPLE TO DISPOSE HAZARDOUS WASTE PROPERLY AFTER LIVE BULLET FOUND IN RECYCLING
https://www.radionl.com/2020/09/25/66937/
Tags: Canada, industrial, fire, environmental, waste
A series of chemical fires at recycling plants throughout the province has led to the city of Kamloops reminding people to dispose of hazardous items properly.
Environmental Services Supervisor Allan Michener says that includes things like batteries, paint, propane cylinders, and in once instance, a live bullet.
??That was a bit of a surprise. It??s one of those situations where we don??t think there was any malicious intent. It could be a case where someone looks at a bullet and goes, ??well, its metal, and metal is recyclable??,?? he said.
??It is no different than we??ve seen with propane tanks and aerosol cans where there is still flammable content or explosive content in them.??
Michener says none of the recycling plant fires were in Kamloops, and he doesn??t think any of the fires were started intentionally.
---------------------------------------------
HAZMAT CREWS CALLED TO PROPANE TRUCK ROLLOVER
https://www.post-journal.com/news/page-one/2020/09/hazmat-crews-called-to-propane-truck-rollover/
Tags: us_NY, transportation, release, injury, propane
SHERIDAN ?? At least two people were reported injured in a crash involving a sedan and propane truck Thursday afternoon.
Volunteer firefighters from Sheridan were called to the collision at the intersection of South Roberts and Center roads around 2 p.m. Fire officials reported that the propane truck, which ended up on its side after the crash, was leaking fluids.
Chautauqua County Hazmat members were requested to the scene, as well as the fire police team to help with traffic control.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL SPILL ON A19 LED TO CLOSURE
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/chemical-spill-a19-led-closure-18990908
Tags: United_Kingdom, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical
A lorry spilled noxious-smelling chemical products on the A19 yesterday, prompting police to warn nearby residents to keep their doors and windows shut.
An HGV, loaded with bulk containers of chemical products, was travelling south from the Mandale area of Cleveland at around 5.30pm.
Several drivers noticed a white substance on the road behind the lorry and a strong smell of chemicals.
They reported this to police who responded by closing the A19 in both directions.
As a precaution, Cleveland Police warned people living nearby about the 'noxious' smelling chemical spill and told them to, "keep doors and windows shut as we work with partners to investigate."
---------------------------------------------
TRIAL ON HARVEY PLANT FIRE RESUMES AFTER COVID-19 DELAY
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/trial-harvey-plant-fire-resumes-covid-19-delay-73229589
Tags: us_TX, industrial, follow-up, environmental, illegal
HOUSTON -- A trial in which a chemical manufacturer is facing charges over a fire at its suburban Houston plant during Hurricane Harvey that sent toxic smoke into the air in 2017 resumed on Thursday following a six-month delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Arkema Inc., a subsidiary of a French chemical manufacturer, and two of its employees are on trial over charges accusing them of releasing toxic pollutants.
Jurors on Thursday heard a summary of the case from prosecutors and defense attorneys to refresh their memories with what had so far been presented at trial. Testimony resumed later in the day and is set to continue Friday.
Due to the pandemic, the trial is being held in a courtroom that has been set up at NRG Arena, a large exhibition hall that usually hosts concerts and special events including the city's annual livestock show and rodeo. The public is being allowed to watch the trial through a livestream from a courtroom in the downtown criminal courthouse.
---------------------------------------------
SACRAMENTO FIRE INTRODUCES ENGINES THAT WILL HELP KEEP FIREFIGHTERS SAFE FROM TOXIC CHEMICALS
https://fox40.com/news/local-news/sacramento-fire-introduces-engines-that-will-help-keep-firefighters-safe-from-toxic-chemicals/
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, toxics
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KTXL) ?? Tamara Thacher is believed to have died from her job as a firefighter, years after running into burning buildings.
Her memorial last December was a time of reflection, not just of her life and service but the illness that cut her life short.
The Sacramento Fire Department said her cancer is presumed to be the result of exposure to toxic chemicals firefighters potentially encounter every day.
??My goal is never to have another firefighter like Tami Thacher lose their life because of contracting cancer,?? Chief Gary Loesch explained.
The department introduced two engines called Clean Cab Apparatus to help keep firefighters safe.
The department estimates the Clean Cab Apparatus costs about $35,000 more than a truck without clean air modifications.
The engines include hoses to rinse firefighters off and ventilated compartments to store contaminated equipment outside of the truck.
??Also, the inside of the cabs have the special HEPA filters that constantly filter our systems ?| to remove any of the particulates that can be harmful to us,?? Loesch said.
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CHEMICAL WEAPONS DUMPED AFTER WORLD WAR II ARE POLLUTING BALTIC SEA
https://cen.acs.org/environment/pollution/Chemical-weapons-dumped-World-War/98/i37
Tags: Denmark, public, discovery, environmental, mustard_gas, waste
Mustard gas and other agents in chemical weapons dumped after World War II are polluting the Baltic Sea??s underwater sediment.
Researchers found traces of arsenic-containing agents and mustard gas products in sediment and fish near three weapon disposal sites.
These agents ??can actually contaminate the Baltic ecosystem, which is kind of fragile,?? says Jacek Be?dowski, a professor at the Institute of Oceanology at the Polish Academy of Sciences and one of the coauthors of the study (Mar. Environ. Res. 2020, DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105112).
The warfare agents came from the German Army in WWII. After Germany??s defeat, the Soviet Union dumped the captured chemical weapons in the Baltic Sea. The British and Americans did the same in the Skagerrak strait, between Norway and Sweden to the north and Denmark to the south. At the time, this disposal method was deemed less hazardous than burning the materials.
The authors of the study say the Soviets jettisoned at least 50,000 metric tons (t) of German weapons into the Baltic Sea, some 15,000 t of which contained chemical agents. Previous reports concluded that most of these munitions probably had sunk into mud on the seafloor and were largely harmless.
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