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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, October 22, 2021 at 5:01:42 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 (11 articles)
STUDY: RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS REACHED NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR SANTA SUSANA FIELD LAB DURING WOOLSEY FIRE ‰?? DAILY NEWS
Tags: us_CA, public, follow-up, environmental, dust, radiation
FDA CHASTISES THREE US FIRMS FOR IGNORING RECORD REQUESTS, INADEQUATE CMO OVERSIGHT, AND SHODDY RESP
Tags: us_MO, laboratory, follow-up, environmental, fire_extinguisher, pharmaceutical
TOXIC CHEMICAL SPILL PROMPTS TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON I-10, WILMOT
Tags: us_AZ, transportation, release, response, toxics
FIREFIGHTERS ON SITE AS FACTORY‰??S ABLAZE BENONI
Tags: South_Africa, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
AT LEAST 3 DEAD IN APPARENT GAS EXPLOSION IN NORTH CHINA
Tags: China, public, explosion, death, natural_gas
NEW J&J SUBSIDIARY TO ABSORB TALC LAWSUIT LIABILITIES
Tags: us_NC, public, follow-up, environmental, asbestos
LYONDELLBASELL DRAWS CLEAN AIR ACT FINES AND WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUITS
Tags: us_IA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, methane, waste
CHEMICAL LEAK CAUSES HAZMAT RESPONSE ON UW CAMPUS
Tags: us_WA, laboratory, release, response, ethanol
HAZMAT CREWS RESPOND TO SPRINGFIELD CRASH, NORTH BECHTLE AVENUE CLOSED
Tags: us_OH, transportation, release, injury, other_chemical
GERMANY: THREE PROBED OVER DEADLY LEVERKUSEN CHEMICAL BLAST
Tags: Germany, industrial, follow-up, environmental, dust, waste
LISTENING TO THE WELL, LISTENING TO EACH OTHER, AND LISTENING TO THE SILENCE‰??NEW SAFETY LESSONS FROM DEEPWATER HORIZON
Tags: industrial, follow-up, environmental
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STUDY: RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS REACHED NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR SANTA SUSANA FIELD LAB DURING WOOLSEY FIRE ‰?? DAILY NEWS
https://www.dailynews.com/2021/10/21/study-radioactive-elements-reached-neighborhoods-near-santa-susana-field-lab-during-woolsey-fire/
Tags: us_CA, public, follow-up, environmental, dust, radiation
Highly contaminated radioactive particles traveled to residential neighborhoods from the Santa Susana Field Laboratory during the 2018 Woolsey Fire, according to a new study.
The peer-reviewed study called ‰??Radioactive microparticles related to the Woolsey Fire in Simi Valley, CA‰?? was spearheaded by Marco Kaltofen of the Dept. of Physics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, who examined radiation risks following the Fukushima nuclear meltdown in Japan and Maggie and Arnie Gunderson of Fairewinds Energy Education.
The study examined 360 samples of household dust, surface soils, and ash from 150 homes as well as other locations collected in the weeks following the Woolsey Fire and found that while most samples were at normal levels ‰??some ashes and dusts collected from the Woolsey Fire zone in the fire‰??s immediate aftermath contained high activities of radioactive isotopes associated with the Santa Susana Field Laboratory.‰??
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FDA CHASTISES THREE US FIRMS FOR IGNORING RECORD REQUESTS, INADEQUATE CMO OVERSIGHT, AND SHODDY RESP
https://www.raps.org/news-and-articles/news-articles/2021/10/fda-chastises-three-us-firms-for-ignoring-record-r
Tags: us_MO, laboratory, follow-up, environmental, fire_extinguisher, pharmaceutical
FDA‰??s 30 September warning letter to Marcus Research Laboratory found ‰??significant deviations from current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) violations for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)‰?? in its manufacturing of povidone iodine (PVP-I) used for presurgical preparations. The warning letter followed inspections conducted in May.
The firm failed to adequately investigate the effect of temperature excursions on the quality of an API following a fire and use of an extinguisher.
During production, personnel observed PVP-I in a reactor cabinet that was ‰??smoldering‰?? and responded to an ‰??imminent fire‰?? by using a fire extinguisher. The API was subjected to ‰??inconsistent temperature exposure and additional processing and hold times.‰?? Yet the firm only tested the affected drums to determine the amount of iodine that was still present in the material and released them for further processing.
A similar situation occurred in August 2020 when production personnel observed a ‰??smoking‰?? reactor cabinet in the facility. Production stopped and the materials were ‰??held in unknown conditions,‰?? according to the letter. ‰??Your firm again, solely tested the affected drums of material for percent available iodine and released them for further processing‰?? after this second incident, noted FDA.
‰??In both instances, your firm created deviation reports but released drugs based solely on composite results of percent available iodine,‰?? wrote the agency. ‰??Your drugs were exposed to excess heat, fire, smoke, and debris. Additional contaminants or other particulates from the use of the fire extinguisher may have also compromised the material.‰??
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TOXIC CHEMICAL SPILL PROMPTS TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON I-10, WILMOT
https://www.kvoa.com/news/local/toxic-chemical-spill-prompts-traffic-restrictions-on-i-10-wilmot/article_495cdb4a-328c-11ec-824d-3b6e539fee48.html
Tags: us_AZ, transportation, release, response, toxics
TUCSON (KVOA) - A two-vehicle collision is causing traffic restrictions along Interstate 10 in Tucson Thursday morning.
Officials say crews were called to clean up a toxic chemical spill on I-10 and Wilmot Road in connection to the collision.
I-10 in both directions is expected to be closed for three hours as crews work to clean up the road.
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FIREFIGHTERS ON SITE AS FACTORY‰??S ABLAZE BENONI
https://www.jacarandafm.com/news/news/firefighters-site-factorys-ablaze-benoni/
Tags: South_Africa, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
A factory belonging to car-care product company Shield Chemicals caught ablaze on Thursday morning.
Ekhuruleni emergency services spokesperson William Ntladi says they were alerted to the fire at around 09h45 on Thursday morning.
‰??Ekhuruleni firefighters are on site. We are here with a fleet of about 7 fire engines and about 25 fire fighters.
‰??The chemical company, Shield Chemicals, caught alight this morning. What is burning inside the building are chemicals such as benzine, alcohol-based materials and other products such as car polish and aerosols.‰??
The fire was contained by Thursday lunchtime.
‰??We are busy with the damping down and no causalities are recorded on scene,‰?? says Ntladi.
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AT LEAST 3 DEAD IN APPARENT GAS EXPLOSION IN NORTH CHINA
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/dead-apparent-gas-explosion-north-china-80701180
Tags: China, public, explosion, death, natural_gas
BEIJING -- An apparent gas explosion gutted part of a high rise in northern China on Thursday morning, killing at least three people and injuring 30.
It occurred at a hotel in Shenyang, a city of more than 8 million people and a major industrial center that is in the process of renovating and replacing decaying gas lines, state media reported.
Images posted online by news website The Paper and state broadcaster CCTV showed a cloud of dust and debris blowing onto a busy street, leaving the bottom three floors of the building a gutted shell. Concrete blocks were piled in the street and a three-wheeled delivery vehicle lay on its side.
China is replacing decades-old infrastructure, with gas lines an especially dangerous part of the project. In June, a gas line explosion at a market and residential area in the central city of Shiyan killed 25.
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NEW J&J SUBSIDIARY TO ABSORB TALC LAWSUIT LIABILITIES
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/new-jandj-subsidiary-to-absorb-talc-lawsuit-liabilities/4014615.article
Tags: us_NC, public, follow-up, environmental, asbestos
Firm aims to use bankruptcy protection and a $2bn trust to resolve thousands of cancer claims
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has hived off its talc litigation and liabilities into a new US subsidiary. This entity, LTL Management, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in North Carolina‰??s Western District ‰?? a court with a track record of looking favourably on such cases. The manoeuvre comes in the wake of ongoing legal action from many thousands of plaintiffs who claim asbestos in J&J talc products caused their cancer.
J&J no longer sells talc products in North America, owing in part to the pressure of outstanding litigation
A $2 billion (å£1.4 billion) trust will be set up to resolve the claims. ‰??We are taking these actions to bring certainty to all parties involved in the cosmetic talc cases,‰?? says Michael Ullmann, J&J‰??s general counsel. ‰??While we continue to stand firmly behind the safety of our cosmetic talc products, we believe resolving this matter as quickly and efficiently as possible is in the best interests of the company and all stakeholders.‰??
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LYONDELLBASELL DRAWS CLEAN AIR ACT FINES AND WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUITS
https://cen.acs.org/policy/litigation/LyondellBasell-draws-Clean-Air-Act/99/i39
Tags: us_IA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, methane, waste
LyondellBasell Industries has agreed to install $50 million of emission control equipment and pay $3.4 million in fines to settle an enforcement action by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Separately, the family of a worker killed in a July 27 accident at a LyondellBasell facility is suing the company for $1 million.
The EPA complaint concerns 21 flares at LyondellBasell facilities in Iowa and Texas. The flares are intended to oxidize unrecoverable methane, ethane, and other hydrocarbons into CO2. The EPA says improper operation of the flares has led to emissions of particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, ozone, and other pollutants.
On some of the flares, LyondellBasell will install recovery equipment to capture the waste hydrocarbons instead of flaring them. The firm will also install monitoring and control equipment to ensure complete combustion, and it will perform and publicly disclose fence-line air quality measurements.
The settlement is a qualified victory for environmental advocates. ‰??The fine seems low to me, given this covers six different facilities. However, the required pollution reductions are significant,‰?? says Luke Metzger, executive director of the nonprofit Environment Texas.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL LEAK CAUSES HAZMAT RESPONSE ON UW CAMPUS
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/chemical-leak-causes-hazmat-response-on-uw-campus/ar-AAPFchn
Tags: us_WA, laboratory, release, response, ethanol
Seattle firefighters were called to the University of Washington campus for a chemical leak early Monday.
å© Photographer:Jorg Hackemann No injuries were reported.
Just after midnight, the department tweeted that an unknown substance had leaked in a fifth-floor building. Firefighters did not say which building the spill was in or how it happened.
The substance was later identified as ethanol. The affected area was isolated with the help of University of Washington police officers.
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HAZMAT CREWS RESPOND TO SPRINGFIELD CRASH, NORTH BECHTLE AVENUE CLOSED
https://news.yahoo.com/hazmat-crews-respond-springfield-crash-181100069.html
Tags: us_OH, transportation, release, injury, other_chemical
Oct. 19‰??Hazmat crews were called to a crash in Springfield Tuesday morning after a vehicle hit trailer carrying driveway sealant, which leaked into a storm sewer.
The crash was at the intersection of North Bechtle Avenue and Maiden Lane and closed both streets as a result.
A vehicle reportedly ran a red light and hit the trailer, which was being pulled by a truck. The trailer flipped onto its side due to the impact.
One person in the first vehicle was taken to the hospital with a minor injury, according to initial reports.
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GERMANY: THREE PROBED OVER DEADLY LEVERKUSEN CHEMICAL BLAST
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-three-probed-over-deadly-leverkusen-chemical-blast/a-59552741
Tags: Germany, industrial, follow-up, environmental, dust, waste
Prosecutors in Cologne, Germany announced on Tuesday that three people were being investigated in connection with the blast at a Leverkusen chemical plant.
The explosion at the Chempark industrial park on July 27 claimed the lives of seven people and injured 31 others.
What do we know about the investigation?
Authorities raided the homes of the three suspects and seized various devices and phones, along with documents. Police also searched offices belonging to Currenta, the firm which manages the chemical incineration plant where the blast occurred.
Prosecutors believe the three suspects were negligent and failed to properly handle and store chemical waste correctly and safely.
It's suspected that waste in a tank had begun to self-heat and the temperature rose beyond acceptable levels, which is then believed to have caused the series of catastrophic events that followed.
The blast claimed the lives of seven people, leading authorities to launch an initial investigation of negligent homicide
The explosion caused an enormous plume of smoke to rise above the city. Roads in the area were closed and firefighters battled for hours to extinguish the blaze.
At the time, there was serious concern that nearby residential areas were at risk of toxic contamination. Residents were urged to remain indoors and keep their windows and doors closed.
Public health officials conducted tests on soot and dust particles that fell on a residential area near the Chempark complex.
Analysis revealed low pollution levels in the vicinity of where the exp
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LISTENING TO THE WELL, LISTENING TO EACH OTHER, AND LISTENING TO THE SILENCE‰??NEW SAFETY LESSONS FROM DEEPWATER HORIZON
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.chas.1c00050
Tags: industrial, follow-up, environmental
It is common for accident reports and the analysis of large-scale disasters, such as the Deepwater Horizon blowout, to point to communication failures. This narrow explanation implicitly assumes that accidents could be prevented if employees spoke up about safety. In contrast, the first author of this paper, whose professional experience is introduced in this Commentary to provide context, has frequently observed that there are, in fact, many cases when employees speak up but are not listened to. These patterns of communication (or lack thereof) occur at the intersection of personal, leadership, and organizational factors, which jointly affect how safety issues are recognized, communicated, and addressed. As such, communication problems are at ‰??the tip of the iceberg‰?? of safety problems, not at their root.
In this paper, we review research on high-reliability organizations (HROs) with excellent safety records to identify their communication patterns and practices and how they contribute to the ability to enact five principles of HROs: preoccupation with failure, reluctance to simplify, deference to expertise, commitment to resilience, and sensitivity to operations. We then apply this lens to investigate the Deepwater Horizon disaster, based on court documents, expert reports, and personal interviews. Specifically, we investigate how the communication patterns between the onshore experts and the offshore crews compared to the recommendations of HRO theory and how existing discrepancies might help explain the accident. We found that many employees were aware of safety issues and communicated concerns openly, but there was little organizational response to the issues they raised. This failure to listen was largely owed to factors that were not directly related to communication, s!
uch as time pressure and lack of resources, and a culture that valued a ‰??can do attitude‰?? and getting things done so much that it got in the way of sensitivity to operations, expert-based guidance, and communication about problems. Moreover, the challenges of the project and its aggressive timeline created an extreme, almost toxic, commitment to resilience.
Based on these findings, we discuss recommendations for improving safety in offshore oil and gas production.
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