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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, November 13, 2020 at 6:37:09 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 (19 articles)
AUDIO FROM A 911 CALL MADE DURING THE RECENT BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE HAZMAT FIRE HAS BEEN RELEASED,
Tags: us_oh, transportation, followup, diesel
WORKER DIES WHILE CLEANING TANK AT FLASH TANK SERVICES IN EAST HARRIS COUNTY
Tags: us_TX, industrial, release, death, toluene
LIVE UPDATES: ROADS SHUT AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK IN THURMASTON
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical
HUNDREDS OF DISILLUSIONED DOCTORS LEAVE LEBANON, IN BLOW TO HEALTHCARE
Tags: Lebanon, public, discovery, environmental, ammonium_nitrate
AMC SEALS 57 ILLEGAL CHEMICAL GODOWNS
Tags: India, industrial, follow-up, environmental
KILBURN PLASTIC RECYCLING FACTORY GOES UP IN SMOKE, CAUSING $1 MILLION DAMAGE
Tags: Australia, industrial, fire, response, plastics
BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE CLOSURE: WHAT ARE ENGINEERS, INSPECTORS LOOKING FOR?
Tags: us_oh, transportation, follow-up, environmental
MANAGING HAZARDS
Tags: India, industrial, discovery, environmental
HAZMAT SEMI FIRE SHUTS DOWN MAJOR OHIO/KENTUCKY BRIDGE 'INDEFINITELY'
Tags: us_OH, transportation, fire, response, unknown_chemical
SEMI ROLLS BACK INTO 12,500 GALLON FUEL TANK, PROMPTED NEBRASKALAND CENTER TO BE EVACUATED TUESDAY NIGHT
Tags: us_NE, transportation, release, response, diesel
CHICAGO FIRE TEARS THROUGH HEGEWISCH WAREHOUSE NEAR 119TH STREET, AVENUE O; NO INJURIES REPORTED, CFD SAYS
Tags: us_IL, industrial, fire, response, propane
OVER 500 FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO CHEMICAL PLANT EXPLOSION
Tags: China, industrial, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
FIREFIGHTER PPE CLEANING: HOW TO ASSESS PRODUCT CLAIMS
Tags: industrial, discovery, environmental, unknown_chemical, other_chemical
BENGALURU CHEMICAL GODOWN FIRE FINALLY PUT OUT, THREE HELD- THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS
Tags: India, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
GENERAL IRON DEBRIS FIRE RATTLES LINCOLN PARK NEIGHBORS
Tags: us_il, industrial, fire, response, waste
NAVI MUMBAI: OWNER OF A COMPANY WHERE A BLAST TOOK PLACE ON
Tags: india, fire, industrial, response, unknown_chemical
COAST GUARD INSPECTORS TOLD TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES AFTER CONCEPTION DIVE BOAT FIRE
Tags: us_ca, transportation, followup, environmental, batteries
GUJARAT AUTHORITY SEALS 13 ILLEGAL UNITS WHERE AHMEDABAD BLAST OCCURRED
Tags: india, industrial, followup, illegal
TOXIC CHEMICAL SPILL IN JACKSON COUNTY SENDS TWO PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL
Tags: us_ms, release, transportation, response, other_chemical
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AUDIO FROM A 911 CALL MADE DURING THE RECENT BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE HAZMAT FIRE HAS BEEN RELEASED, REVEALING THE SHAKEN BUT HELPFUL NATURE OF THE HAZMAT TRUCK DRIVER INVOLVED IN THE CRASH.
https://cdllife.com/2020/brent-spence-bridge-fire-911-calls-released-my-trucks-on-fire-big-time-god-almighty/
Tags: us_oh, transportation, followup, diesel
In the wreck, the hazmat driver heard in the 911 call crashed into another semi truck that had jackknifed in front of him, setting both rigs ablaze ‰?? including 110 pounds of potassium hydroxide.
Emergency responders say that diesel fuel was the main cause of the fire, which burned for two hours at up to 1,500 degrees.
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WORKER DIES WHILE CLEANING TANK AT FLASH TANK SERVICES IN EAST HARRIS COUNTY
https://abc13.com/worker-accident-flash-tank-services-harris-county-sheriffs-office-baytown-hazmat/7902475/
Tags: us_TX, industrial, release, death, toluene
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A man has died in a work accident in east Harris County. The worker was cleaning an industrial tank when he was possibly overcome by fumes.
The call for hazmat crews came in at about 3:30 p.m.
The business, located near Crockett Street, is called Flash Tank Services.
We're told the tank held toluene, a hydrocarbon associated with paint thinner
Authorities say it's not exactly clear how the man died since he was wearing a respirator at the time.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office is conducting an investigation. OSHA has been called to the scene as well.
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LIVE UPDATES: ROADS SHUT AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK IN THURMASTON
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/live-updates-roads-shut-after-4696797
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical
pecialist hazmat teams are in Thurmaston this morning after a chemical spill.
About 40 litres of white liquid was leaking from a drum at a premises in Earls Way and the chemical had spread across the pavement and onto the road.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service was called at about 8.05am this morning and sent their hazardous materials team from Coalville fire station, along with other crews from Coalville, Leicester and Birstall.
The road remains closed, along with nearby Church Hill Road, and the drains in the area were blocked to stop the liquid from getting into them.
The leak is now contained but it remains unclear what the chemical is and the emergency services remain at the scene.
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HUNDREDS OF DISILLUSIONED DOCTORS LEAVE LEBANON, IN BLOW TO HEALTHCARE
https://nypost.com/2020/11/12/hundreds-of-disillusioned-doctors-leave-lebanon-in-blow-to-healthcare/
Tags: Lebanon, public, discovery, environmental, ammonium_nitrate
Sharaf Abou Sharaf, head of the doctors‰?? syndicate, said the departure of 400 doctors so far this year creates a major problem, especially for university hospitals where they both practice and teach.
Then came the Aug. 4 blast, when large amounts of poorly stored ammonium nitrate exploded, killing 200 people, injuring 6,000, making 300,000 people homeless and destroying large parts of the capital Beirut including several hospitals.
‰??The explosion was the final nail in the coffin,‰?? Boulos said.
‰??It crystallized all the fears, all the pain and all the difficulties that we were living through,‰?? added the medic, who trained at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
‰??Corrupt to the core‰??
Boulos said he had lost faith in the country‰??s leadership, after years of instability caused by political bickering.
‰??Lebanon is corrupt to the core,‰?? he said, echoing the chants of thousands of protesters who packed city streets during the last year.
---------------------------------------------
AMC SEALS 57 ILLEGAL CHEMICAL GODOWNS
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/amc-seals-57-illegal-chemical-godowns/articleshow/79200571.cms
Tags: India, industrial, follow-up, environmental
Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has sealed over 50 chemical godowns and units that were illegally operating in the city. Of these, 47 units and godowns were sealed this week since Monday.
The action came after 12 workers were killed and nine injured in multiple explosions at a chemical processing unit in Ganeshnagar on the Piplaj-Pirana Road last week. The AMC estate, town planning department and the solid waste department teams got into action and raided various parts of the city.
---------------------------------------------
KILBURN PLASTIC RECYCLING FACTORY GOES UP IN SMOKE, CAUSING $1 MILLION DAMAGE
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-13/fire-at-kilburn-plastics-factory-causes-million-dollar-damage/12880014
Tags: Australia, industrial, fire, response, plastics
Residents living near a large plastics recycling factory in Adelaide's inner north, where a fire broke out last night, say they are worried about the health impacts of fumes being emitted from the facility.
Key points:
The fire broke out at the factory about 7:00pm on Thursday
The damage bill is expected to exceed $1 million
Residents have expressed concerns about toxic smells
The fire broke out at the Kilburn factory and caused toxic smoke to drift across the area ‰?? which is also home to residential streets, including many with new housing developments.
---------------------------------------------
BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE CLOSURE: WHAT ARE ENGINEERS, INSPECTORS LOOKING FOR?
https://www.wcpo.com/news/transportation-development/brent-spence-bridge-closure-what-are-engineers-inspectors-looking-for
Tags: us_oh, transportation, follow-up, environmental
CINCINNATI ‰?? It may take more than a month for the Brent Spence Bridge to reopen as authorities on both sides of the river assess damage following a fiery crash that shut down the interstate bridge Wednesday.
Just how deep the damage goes will determine how long it takes to reopen the bridge. No matter what inspectors find, engineering experts said it‰??s unlikely the solution will be a simple one.
One of the two semi tractor trailers involved in Wednesday‰??s crash was carrying potassium hydroxide, which caused the fire to burn hotter and longer. Crews battled the blaze for about two hours before it was extinguished.
---------------------------------------------
MANAGING HAZARDS
https://www.thestatesman.com/opinion/managing-hazards-1502935025.html
Tags: India, industrial, discovery, environmental
India has a disappointing health and safety record. Much legislation exists to protect workers‰?? rights and health, but there is an opportunity to improve in line with the approach taken by developed countries and include process safety elements for the prevention of accidents.
Chemicals are the thread that tie industries together. From conventional oil/gas/bulk chemicals to pharmaceutical,automobile, agriculture, defense, solar power, building materials, apparels, telecom and mobile phone industries, 96 per cent of manufactured goods require chemicals.
The chemical industry is intended to improve the quality of human life. But if due respect is not given to chemicals, they can lead to loss of life and environmental damage.
This negatively impacts the reputation of the industry. Furthermore, the negative impact becomes greater when members of the public living outside factories are injured or killed. The chemical processes when designed and constructed as per international and national standards are safe to operate if processes are under control.
---------------------------------------------
HAZMAT SEMI FIRE SHUTS DOWN MAJOR OHIO/KENTUCKY BRIDGE 'INDEFINITELY'
https://cdllife.com/2020/hazmat-semi-fire-shuts-down-major-ohio-kentucky-bridge-indefinitely/
Tags: us_OH, transportation, fire, response, unknown_chemical
Officials say that the Brent Spence Bridge will be closed in both directions until further notice after a two truck crash triggered a massive fire early Wednesday morning.
The incident began at approximately 2:45 a.m. on November 11 in the northbound lanes of the Brent Spence Bridge, which carries I-71 and I-75 and connects Cincinnati, Ohio, and Covington, Kentucky, over the Ohio River.
Authorities say that two trucks ‰?? one of which was carrying 110 pounds of potassium hydroxide‰?? collided in the northbound lanes of the bridge.
---------------------------------------------
SEMI ROLLS BACK INTO 12,500 GALLON FUEL TANK, PROMPTED NEBRASKALAND CENTER TO BE EVACUATED TUESDAY NIGHT
https://lexch.com/news/semi-rolls-back-into-12-500-gallon-fuel-tank-prompted-nebraskaland-center-to-be-evacuated/article_aa020182-2437-11eb-afba-0b0224668082.html
Tags: us_NE, transportation, release, response, diesel
LEXINGTON ‰?? Nebraskaland Truck and Travel Center had to be evacuated for several hours during Tuesday evening after a semi rolled back into a 12,500 gallon fuel tank.
On Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 5:46 p.m. the Dawson County Sheriff‰??s Office was alerted to the incident at Nebraskaland, according to Chief Deputy Greg Gilg.
Gilg said the driver of the semi was inside the building when they were alerted that their semi had rolled backward and ruptured a 12,500 gallon fuel tank on the east side of the property. The tank supplies fuel to the truck stop fuel pumps.
---------------------------------------------
CHICAGO FIRE TEARS THROUGH HEGEWISCH WAREHOUSE NEAR 119TH STREET, AVENUE O; NO INJURIES REPORTED, CFD SAYS
https://abc7chicago.com/fire-tears-through-hegewisch-warehouse-on-chicagos-se-side-cfd-/7888012/
Tags: us_IL, industrial, fire, response, propane
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Crews battled a massive blaze at a commercial building on the city's far Southeast Side Wednesday night.
The Chicago Fire Department responded to the extra-alarm fire near 119th Street and Avenue O in the Hegewisch neighborhood about 8:40 p.m.
Flames and smoke could be seen from several blocks away as firefighters doused the fire with water in an attempt to bring it under control. The building was in an industrial area, and its roof appeared to be completely gone.
The blaze was extinguished several hours before, officials said early Thursday.
RELATED: Auburn Gresham apartment building catches fire 2nd time in less than 2 weeks, worrying tenants
A hazmat team was called in to monitor some propane containers on the scene.
---------------------------------------------
OVER 500 FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO CHEMICAL PLANT EXPLOSION
https://www.powderbulksolids.com/chemical/over-500-firefighters-respond-chemical-plant-explosion-%C2%A0
Tags: China, industrial, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
Emergency personnel were called to the Transit Fluorine Silicon Material Co. Ltd. chemical plant in the Zhejiang province in China on Monday after an explosion and fire occurred at the facility, local news organizations reported.
More than 500 firefighters responded to the site after the blast Monday and remained on scene through Tuesday morning, CaixinGlobal.com said in a post, citing information provided by fire officials.
No injuries have been logged as a result of the incident at the plant, according to coverage by the South China Morning Post.
Some reports referred to the company as Zhongtian East Flourine Silicon Material Co. Ltd.
The fire reportedly created a large volume of smoke that raised the area‰??s air pollution index (API) to as much as eight times the normal level, CCTVPlus.com said in its account. Officials reportedly deployed firefighting robots during the response.
---------------------------------------------
FIREFIGHTER PPE CLEANING: HOW TO ASSESS PRODUCT CLAIMS
https://www.firechief.com/fire-products/personal-protective-equipment-ppe/articles/ppe-cleaning-products-and-processes-ensuring-the-claims-match-the-science-60lbzQ7PgKlVir8U/
Tags: industrial, discovery, environmental, unknown_chemical, other_chemical
It is all too easy to believe that technology holds the answers for solving the fire service‰??s most persistent problems. After all, there have been some amazing technical achievements in the last several decades. Just think how far SCBA and PPE have come in the past 30 years ‰?? lighter-weight, more breathable materials, plus ergonomic designs, enhanced protection and often greater durability.
A host of innovative ideas and engineering has gone into several new products and related services, and we expect that these trends will continue as various groups endeavor to achieve the next state-of-the-art product. However, as much as we would all like to believe there is a ‰??magic bullet‰?? out there or that we will discover the panacea to take care of all our nagging issues, the reality is that most improvements are incremental and it takes sound, correctly applied science to truly make the advancements for which we strive.
This is certainly the case for PPE cleaning and decontamination. The industry is quickly moving forward with new technologically advanced products and services to provide for easier and more effective cleaning; however, in some cases, the science is not yet in place to support the claims being made.
---------------------------------------------
BENGALURU CHEMICAL GODOWN FIRE FINALLY PUT OUT, THREE HELD- THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS
https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2020/nov/12/bengaluru-chemical-godown-fire-finally-put-out-three-held-2222696.html
Tags: India, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
BENGALURU: The Byatarayanpura police on Wednesday arrested three persons in connection with the fire mishap that occurred at a chemical godown in New Guddadahalli on Tuesday. The massive blaze which started on Tuesday morning was completely put out by Wednesday afternoon, more than 24 hours after it began. Sajjan Raj (66), his wife Kamala (60), and their son Anil Kumar (30) have been arrested in connection with the incident. Sajjan Raj is the proprietor of Rekha Chemical Industries, while Kamala was the proprietor of Rekha Chemical Corporation, and their son was managing the operations.
DCP (West) Sanjeev Patil said that the accused were arrested from their residence in Shankarapuram. ‰??Two FIRs have been registered in connection with the incident. The probe has revealed that the accused had set up the godown owing to space constraints at their units in Bommasandra. They just had a GST certificate, but had not obtained required permissions from the BBMP, Fire & Emergency Services Department, and the Pollution Control Board,‰?? he added.
Sajjan Raj has been in the chemicals business since 1974, and had purchased the plot in New Guddadahalli to set up the godown in 1992. ‰??The firm used to procure chemicals from Mumbai, Kochi and Chennai, and supply them mainly to pharma companies. There were 16 types of chemicals at the godown when the mishap occurred,‰?? police said.
---------------------------------------------
GENERAL IRON DEBRIS FIRE RATTLES LINCOLN PARK NEIGHBORS
https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/11/10/general-iron-debris-fire-rattles-lincoln-park-neighbors-alderman-calls-on-city-to-halt-permitting-process/
Tags: us_il, industrial, fire, response, waste
LINCOLN PARK ‰?? An afternoon debris fire broke out at the General Iron scrap metal facility in Lincoln Park on Tuesday.
North Siders reported smelling smoke and seeing light clouds emanate from the plant, 1909 N. Clifton Ave., around 2:15 p.m. Tuesday. Chicago Fire Department officials and a General Iron spokesperson said a pile of materials near the shredder caught fire, but the shredder itself was unaffected.
It wasn‰??t immediately clear how the fire started but firefighters put out the flames by 3 p.m., fire officials said.
General Iron spokesman Randall Samborn described it as a ‰??small smoldering debris fire‰?? in a ‰??material pile next to the metal shredder.‰?? The shredder was not in operation before the fire, Samborn said.
‰??No one was injured and the material was quickly extinguished by General Iron personnel and the Chicago Fire Department,‰?? he said in a statement. ‰??According to the Fire Department, air quality monitoring did not detect any potentially hazardous pollution levels. We are investigating possible causes and we are fully cooperating with city officials.‰??
---------------------------------------------
NAVI MUMBAI: OWNER OF A COMPANY WHERE A BLAST TOOK PLACE ON
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/navi-mumbai/navi-mumbai-owner-held-2-days-after-chemical-blast/articleshow/79165495.cms
Tags: india, fire, industrial, response, unknown_chemical
Fire fighters work to extinguish blaze at chemical factory in Bangalore, India
---------------------------------------------
COAST GUARD INSPECTORS TOLD TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES AFTER CONCEPTION DIVE BOAT FIRE
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-11-10/tough-new-checks-for-lithium-ion-batteries-on-small-passenger-vessels-coast-guard-tells-inspectors
Tags: us_ca, transportation, followup, environmental, batteries
After federal investigators pointed to the charging of lithium-ion batteries as a possible cause of the fire that killed 34 people aboard the Conception dive boat, the U.S. Coast Guard is now directing its inspectors to look more closely at how the batteries are used, charged and stored aboard small vessels.
According to a policy letter issued on Oct. 30, Coast Guard inspectors should look for potentially hazardous conditions such as batteries not being stored in cool, dry places away from combustible material, or batteries being charged using multiple extension cords, also known as daisy chains. Inspectors also should verify that crew members know how to extinguish small lithium-ion battery fires.
The letter follows a notice that the Coast Guard sent to boat owners in the wake of the Conception fire on Labor Day 2019 that warned of the dangers of lithium-ion batteries. And it comes weeks after the National Transportation Safety Board determined that the fire aboard the Conception began in the back of a middle deck salon where lithium-ion batteries were being charged.
---------------------------------------------
GUJARAT AUTHORITY SEALS 13 ILLEGAL UNITS WHERE AHMEDABAD BLAST OCCURRED
https://www.socialnews.xyz/2020/11/10/gujarat-authority-seals-13-illegal-units-where-ahmedabad-blast-occurred/
Tags: india, industrial, followup, illegal
Gandhinagar, Nov 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) sealed 13 illegal units, running without any permission and without obtaining any permits, in the Nanu Kaka estate, situated on Pirana-Piplaj road in Ahmedabad where the chemical blast claimed more than a dozen lives. The authorities issued notices to 18 other units also.
The Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of Labour and Employment department of Gujarat government, Vipul Mitra said that after the chemical blast at Pirana-Piplaj road incident, the government had initiated stringent steps for legal procedures to be carried out against illegally functioning industrial units in the state. After the government formed the special committee to curb incidents like Ahmedabad blast, the authorities have struck down on such units.
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TOXIC CHEMICAL SPILL IN JACKSON COUNTY SENDS TWO PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL
https://www.wlox.com/2020/11/10/cleanup-underway-after-toxic-chemical-spill-jackson-county/
Tags: us_ms, release, transportation, response, other_chemical
JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) - For just over four hours on Tuesday, multiple agencies in Jackson County worked a chemical spill at the Helena Industrial Park.
The spill happened Tuesday morning when a rail car operated by Heniff Transportation Systems was offloading a corrosive material to a tanker truck.
The Escatawpa Fire Department and deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff‰??s Department blocked the entrance to the Helena Industrial park following a chemical spill around 9:40 a.m.
‰??The chemical name is Hexamethylenediamine and it was attributed to a mechanical failure is how the spill happened," said Nick Hatten with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
While the chemical - Hexamethylenediamine - is highly toxic, no residents in the area are at risk at this time, said county Emergency Management Director Earl Etheridge.
‰??This industrial park sits in a large wooded area. There is no danger to residents and no one is being evacuated from their homes," Etheridge said. ‰??It‰??s toxic. It‰??s corrosive. It‰??ll burn if you catch it on fire. Fortunately, there is not fire, just a very small amount of the chemical leaked from where they were going from the tank truck to the 18-wheeler.
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