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Previous by Date: Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (6 articles) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2022 07:21:34 -0400 Author: Ralph Stuart |
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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, March 28, 2022 at 6:19:12 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 (15 articles)
KILLEEN EMERGENCY CREWS RESPOND TO FUEL SPILL ON HIGHWAY
Tags: us_TX, transportation, release, response, gasoline
EMERGENCY CREWS PUT OUT SMALL FIRE AT MERCURY MARINE PLANT
Tags: us_WI, industrial, fire, response, aluminum
FIRE AT REFINERY IN LOCKWOOD UNDER INVESTIGATION
Tags: us_MT, industrial, explosion, response, petroleum
WILLIAMSON THATCHER CHEMICAL AND SURROUNDING AREA EVACUATED FOR BUILDING FIRE
Tags: us_NY, industrial, fire, injury, pharmaceutical, water_treatment
[UPDATE 7:36 P.M.: GOOD NEWS!] HWY 101 CLOSED SOUTH OF BELL SPRINGS ROAD IN MENDOCINO COUNTY AFTER BIG RIG CRASHES, SPILLS CHEMICALS ' REDHEADED BLACKBELT
Tags: us_CA, transportation, release, response, corrosives, phosphoric_acid, waste
HAZMAT CREWS RESPOND TO TANKER TRUCK BLUNDER
Tags: us_TN, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical
COUNTY OFFICIALS INVESTIGATE COMPTON CHEMICAL SPILL THAT HAD LONG BEACH RESIDENTS COMPLAINING ABOUT FEELING SICK
Tags: us_CA, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
FIRES, OIL LEAKS AND SMOKE: WHAT LED TO THE TUAS EXPLOSION THAT KILLED 3 WORKERS
Tags: Singapore, industrial, follow-up, death, dust, illegal
FEDS FINE COMPANIES $139,000 FOR EXPLOSION LAST YEAR AT WESTLAKE CHEMICAL PLANT
Tags: us_LA, industrial, follow-up, injury, petroleum, styrene, sulphur
FIREFIGHTERS PREVENT TOXIC LEAK THANKS TO HAZMAT TRAINING
Tags: us_ME, industrial, fire, response, ammonia
FIRE AT JADAVPUR UNIVERSITY LAB MELTS TOOLS WORTH CRORES
Tags: India, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical
5 PEOPLE INJURED IN EXPLOSION, FIRE AT SHERBROOKE FOOD-PROCESSING HUB
Tags: Canada, industrial, explosion, injury, natural_gas, propane
MELBOURNE TRANSPORT AND WAREHOUSING SAYS IT IS BEHIND THE SPILL THAT KILLED HUNDREDS OF FISH IN ALTONA WATERWAYS
Tags: Australia, industrial, follow-up, environmental, ag_chems
SULFURIC ACID SPILLS FROM STORAGE TANK AT SHELL ETHANE CRACKER PLANT
Tags: us_PA, industrial, release, response, sulfuric_acid, waste
MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS RESPOND TO LARGE FIRE IN WILLIAMSON
Tags: us_NY, industrial, follow-up, environmental, runoff
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KILLEEN EMERGENCY CREWS RESPOND TO FUEL SPILL ON HIGHWAY
https://www.kcentv.com/article/traffic/emergency-crews-respond-to-fuel-spill-on-highway/500-7f983611-4b60-4b8c-9b9a-0b8d35210757
Tags: us_TX, transportation, release, response, gasoline
KILLEEN, Texas ' Killeen Emergency crews are responding to a vehicle rollover accident involving an 8,700-gallon gasoline tanker Sunday at the intersection of Rosewood Drive and Central Texas Expressway.
Residents may smell gasoline in the area, according to the City of Killeen press release, but the city assures residents that there is no danger or threat to the public.
'We have an active large gasoline spill from a turned over tanker truck," Killeen Fire Chief James Kubinski told 6News, "causing traffic delays for the next few hours until cleanup company can get out here."
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EMERGENCY CREWS PUT OUT SMALL FIRE AT MERCURY MARINE PLANT
https://www.nbc26.com/news/local-news/emergency-crews-put-out-small-fire-at-mercury-marine-plant
Tags: us_WI, industrial, fire, response, aluminum
FOND DU LAC (NBC 26) ' Fond du Lac fire crews put out a small fire inside a Mercury Marine plant early Sunday morning.
Crews responded to Mercury Marine Plant 17 in the 500 block of W. Pioneer Road for a reported fire near a machine inside the facility, according to a spokesperson with Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue. Firefighters found a small fire on the floor next to an industrial machine and some smoke throughout the plant.
Officials said spilled molten aluminum from the machine caused the small fire, which crews extinguished.
Thirty employees working in an adjacent facility and all workers safely evacuated when the fire alarm system went off. No injuries were reported.
Fire personnel worked with Mercury Marine maintenance for about 1.5 hours to contain and remove the spilled molten aluminum. Fire crews used dry chemical fire extinguishers to remove any potential hazards.
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FIRE AT REFINERY IN LOCKWOOD UNDER INVESTIGATION
https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/fire-at-refinery-in-lockwood-under-investigation/article_2dd7469d-2ff3-51ec-b918-b21d7252689a.html
Tags: us_MT, industrial, explosion, response, petroleum
An explosion at the ExxonMobil oil refinery near Lockwood Saturday night brought a large emergency response from multiple agencies, according to witnesses and Gazette reporters at the scene.
The fire was initially reported at around 10 p.m., and crews had the blaze contained within 40 minutes.
"No evacuation order had been made and no injuries have been reported," wrote Dan Carter, public affairs specialist for the ExxonMobil Billings Refinery, in a statement to the Gazette. "Lockwood and Billings fire departments are also responding in support of the effort. We are sorry this incident has occurred and apologize for any disruption or inconvenience."
Bystanders could see a smoke column rising from the refinery in the late evening hours and witnesses described flames erupting from the compound.
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WILLIAMSON THATCHER CHEMICAL AND SURROUNDING AREA EVACUATED FOR BUILDING FIRE
https://waynetimes.com/news/williamson-thatcher-chemical-and-surrounding-area-evacuated-for-building-fire/
Tags: us_NY, industrial, fire, injury, pharmaceutical, water_treatment
A call to 911 at 7 a.m. on Wednesday (3/23) concerning an active fire at the Thatcher Chemical plant at 4135 Route 104 in Williamson resulted in 12 fire companies and medical personnel responding.
According to First Assistant Williamson Fire Chief John Manahan, the fire erupted in a 70x40 room where large plastic bins were stored for cleaning before reuse. The large 300 gallon tanks did have remnants of chemicals use in processing of products for water treatment, food manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals.
'There might residual in some of the drums in some amounts but there is nothing in the area that burned was an area of concern.'
Williamson firefighters constantly train in the Thatcher facility and were aware of the room's contents.
When initial Williamson crews arrived, the fire was already through the roof and a heavy black smoke filled the area. Nearby businesses were closed and people were told to stay indoors.
---------------------------------------------
[UPDATE 7:36 P.M.: GOOD NEWS!] HWY 101 CLOSED SOUTH OF BELL SPRINGS ROAD IN MENDOCINO COUNTY AFTER BIG RIG CRASHES, SPILLS CHEMICALS ' REDHEADED BLACKBELT
https://kymkemp.com/2022/03/26/hwy-101-closed-south-of-bell-springs-road-in-mendocino-county-after-big-rig-crashes-spills-chemicals/
Tags: us_CA, transportation, release, response, corrosives, phosphoric_acid, waste
A spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol confirmed that a big rig carrying chemicals crashed on Hwy 101 south of Bell Springs Road about 5:15 a.m.. There was a hazardous waste spill. Hwy 101 is completely closed. There is no estimated time of opening.
Recently retired Laytonville Fire Chief Sue Carberry told us northbound traffic is being directed to Branscomb Road to the coast then north up Hwy 1 to Leggett and southbound traffic is being redirected using the same route.
Details are skimpy at this point as the area is remote and cell phone/as well as radio access is difficult.
The CHP Traffic Incident Information Page reports that the truck was hauling corrosives and is now leaking.
The Governor's Office Emergency Services Hazardous Materials Spill Report states that about five gallons of a Hydroxide sodium (peroxide phosphoric acid and soduium hydroxide) solution spilled. The report said that a 'freight truck overturned at the listed location due to unknown reasons. The incident resulted in a chemical spill to the roadway. The CHP and the local fire department are on-scene. No fires or injuries were reported and no waterways were impacted. The release has been stopped and the owner is en route to assist with the cleanup.'
---------------------------------------------
HAZMAT CREWS RESPOND TO TANKER TRUCK BLUNDER
https://cdllife.com/2022/hazmat-crews-respond-to-tanker-truck-blunder/
Tags: us_TN, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical
Multiple fire crews responded to a tanker rollover in Tennessee on Thursday.
The incident occurred on March 24 in Cleveland, Tennessee.
According to the Cleveland TN Fire Department, 'The tanker, carrying a concentrated industrial salt solution, rolled while attempting to turn from Dockery Lane onto Blue Springs Road. HAZMAT technicians were able to stop the leak and contain the spill, preventing it from entering a nearby waterway.'
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COUNTY OFFICIALS INVESTIGATE COMPTON CHEMICAL SPILL THAT HAD LONG BEACH RESIDENTS COMPLAINING ABOUT FEELING SICK
https://lbpost.com/news/county-officials-investigate-compton-chemical-spill-that-had-long-beach-residents-complaining-about-feeling-sick
Tags: us_CA, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
County officials say they are investigating the cause of a chemical spill that left several Long Beach residents feeling sick earlier this morning.
- ADVERTISEMENT -
According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, a chemical spill at Plaskolite Inc., a plastic fabrication company located in Compton, was responsible for the strong odor that was affecting residents in the North, West and Central Long Beach area. Some people said they could smell the odor all the way to Alamitos Beach.
Over 200 complaints were received in connection to the event, according to the AQMD. It is unclear how many were from Long Beach residents, but at least 20 people called the Long Beach Fire Department to report the smell, LBFD Cpt. Jack Crabtree said.
Bixby Knolls resident Mary Marroquin was one of the people who woke sometime between 4 and 8 a.m. due to an 'intense' smell that was permeating people's homes.
'I got lightheaded and dizzy,' said Marroquin, who described it as smelling like burnt rubber. 'The smell got so intense I had to put on a mask.'
After South Coast AQMD began receiving reports of the smell around 5:15 a.m., they deployed a team of inspectors to investigate the cause, South Coast AQMD spokesperson Kim White said in a statement this afternoon.
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FIRES, OIL LEAKS AND SMOKE: WHAT LED TO THE TUAS EXPLOSION THAT KILLED 3 WORKERS
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/tuas-explosion-inquiry-committee-report-fire-mixer-machine-potato-starch-powder-2586201
Tags: Singapore, industrial, follow-up, death, dust, illegal
SINGAPORE: An inquiry committee that looked into the Tuas explosion that killed three workers and injured seven others in February last year published its report on Friday (Mar 25), documenting multiple red flags such as fires, oil leaks and smoke before the fatal incident.
The 89-page document also laid out evidence from experts on how the explosion was caused by the unsafe use of a mixer machine, resulting in gradual degradation and an accumulation of pressure on the machine.
The explosion eventually ignited accumulated potato starch powder suspended in the air, resulting in the subsequent flash fires on Feb 24, 2021.
The committee also recommended steps to improve safety, and concluded that criminal offences had been disclosed in acts and omissions by Stars Engrg and two key personnel.
---------------------------------------------
FEDS FINE COMPANIES $139,000 FOR EXPLOSION LAST YEAR AT WESTLAKE CHEMICAL PLANT
https://www.nola.com/news/environment/article_75327c6a-abb4-11ec-91d8-5b76b27a0db0.html
Tags: us_LA, industrial, follow-up, injury, petroleum, styrene, sulphur
Federal investigators have cited Westlake Chemical and three other companies for several safety violations linked to a Sept. 27 explosion that injured nearly two dozen workers at a Westlake Chemical plant near Lake Charles.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found 11 violations, including allowing dangerous work in confined spaces, exposing workers to harmful chemicals and failing to perform equipment inspections at Westlake Petrochemical, an ethylene, styrene and polyethylene manufacturer in Sulphur, about eight miles west of Lake Charles. OSHA is proposing a total of $139,000 worth of fines for Westlake and companies with employees working at the large petrochemical complex.
The citations were issued as follows:
Turn2 Specialty Companies of La Porte, Texas: four violations, $58,000
Westlake Chemical of Houston: three violations, $30,000
Leak Sealers Inc. of Lumberton, Texas: two violations, $26,000
Wastewater Specialties of Sulphur: Two serious violations, $25,000
At least 23 workers are suing Westlake for burns, broken bones and other wounds.
---------------------------------------------
FIREFIGHTERS PREVENT TOXIC LEAK THANKS TO HAZMAT TRAINING
https://www.wmtw.com/article/belfast-firefighters-were-able-to-prevent-toxic-leak-at-potato-plant-after-epa-citation-and-hazmat-training/39533279
Tags: us_ME, industrial, fire, response, ammonia
When it comes to toxic chemicals, only first responders with hazmat training are allowed to help with emergency response. Belfast fire department has that training and it became essential when Penobscot McCrum potato processing plant went up in flames.
"If they don't have the hazard material training they're actually not supposed to respond," said Dale Rowley, the director of Waldo County Emergency Management Agency. "Legally, they shouldn't have shown up if they were only 'hazmat awareness' level so it did make a big difference."
Belfast firefighters are outfitted with hazmat training and equipment that was paid for by Penobscot McCrum LLC following a 2016 EPA citation. After a 2014 inspection, the EPA filed a report citing eight possible violations at the facility. The report said the company violated Clean Air Laws and did not meet Emergency Risk Management regulations. According to that report, if an ammonia leak were to occur, the closet team equipped to respond was located an hour away.
Penobscot McCrum agreed to implement stronger emergency protocols and pay $143,900 in fines. Most of that went towards local emergency response training.
"Part of the fine could be spent on local projects, and they helped to provide hazard materials response equipment to the Belfast fire department," said Rowley.
The facility regularly stores over 10,000 pounds of ammonia on site for refrigeration and freezing. Ammonia exposure can cause serious health issues and even death. The potato plant is close to residential areas, schools, and a nursing home so any leakage could have a disastrous impact. Ammonia is also flammable, so a leak could result in an explosion. First responders successfully kept those risks at bay.
"All indications are that they handled it like any type of hazmat team would deal with that situation," said Nathan Thompson, Hazard and Oil Responder with Maine Department of Environmental Protection. "So yes, we're very impressed."
---------------------------------------------
FIRE AT JADAVPUR UNIVERSITY LAB MELTS TOOLS WORTH CRORES
https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/news/fire-at-jadavpur-university-lab-melts-tools-worth-crores/cid/1857500
Tags: India, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical
A fire broke out in a laboratory of Jadavpur University's electrical engineering department early on Thursday and destroyed instruments worth nearly Rs 4 crores.
The blaze destroyed the lab in the illumination section of the department around 12.30am, an official said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The lab is named after Manick Sorcar, a lighting design wizard based in Denver, Colorado (US), and eldest son of magician P.C. Sorcar.
In March 2011, Sorcar had assisted the university in the opening of a laser animation lab under the university's School of Illumination Science.
Parthasarathi Satbhaya, a professor of the school, said instruments like chroma meter, oscilloscope, thermal imager, flux meter and other high value instruments used for measuring temperature, literally melted because of the heat.
Research scholars who were working in other parts of the building that houses the lab, alerted the firemen and three engines were deployed to contain the fire.
It took the firemen more than half-an-hour to contain the blaze.
'In the initial estimate instruments worth Rs 3 to 4 crores have been destroyed. All these gadgets were procured over the past two-and-a-half decades. The loss of data stored in the computers is also a matter of concern,' said Satbhaya.
This has dealt a blow to the research of the scholars, said a JU teacher.
'Funds were sourced from different state and central grants to buy these instruments. We have to start from the scratch,' said Saswati Mazumdar, head of the electrical engineering department.
A JU official said, both the school and the department use the infrastructure of the lab.
'Since the school does not have an infrastructure of its own, it used the lab for experiments on light communication,' he said.
No one was working at the lab when the fire broke out, said another JU official. 'Otherwise, the scale of damage could have been greater,' he said.
JU registrar Snehamanju Basu said, although the reasons of the fire are not clear, it could be a case of short circuit.
---------------------------------------------
5 PEOPLE INJURED IN EXPLOSION, FIRE AT SHERBROOKE FOOD-PROCESSING HUB
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/sherbrooke-food-lab-fire-1.6394381
Tags: Canada, industrial, explosion, injury, natural_gas, propane
Five people were injured Wednesday morning in an explosion and a major fire at a hub for industrial food preparation and processing in Sherbrooke, Que.
Fire crews and paramedics responded to the Centre de valorisation de l'aliment de l'Estrie (CVA) after reports of an explosion around 8:30 a.m.
"They're dealing with burns, but we still don't know the extent of the injuries," St̀©phane Simoneau, director of the Sherbrooke fire department, told Radio-Canada.
It's not clear if any of the injuries are life-threatening.
Dr. Marie-Maud Couture, chief of the emergency department at the Sherbrooke University Hospital Centre (CHUS), said five patients were treated at the ER. Some, with more serious injuries were transferred to other specialized health centres.
The building, with nearly the footprint of a CFL football field, includes several industrial kitchens, food processing warehouses, workshops, event spaces and other food-related businesses.
Around 40 firefighters from six different stations are on site, and Simoneau expects crews to be there all day.
"There was a lot of combustible material inside," he said, adding that the explosion appears to have damaged the building's sprinkler system and prevented it from activating.
It's still too early to determine the origin of the explosion but "it seems obvious" hazardous materials were in play, Simoneau said.
"It was likely caused by propane or natural gas, " said Simoneau. "That's what the investigation will show us."
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MELBOURNE TRANSPORT AND WAREHOUSING SAYS IT IS BEHIND THE SPILL THAT KILLED HUNDREDS OF FISH IN ALTONA WATERWAYS
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-23/melbourne-group-lake-fish-kill-pollution-identified/100932824
Tags: Australia, industrial, follow-up, environmental, ag_chems
A representative from Melbourne Transport and Warehousing says it is the company behind a significant chemical spill which polluted waterways in Melbourne's west.
Key points:
The EPA says about 12,000 litres of a chemical spilling into the waterways resulted in the fish kill
Dead fish were seen at multiple Altona locations downstream, including Cherry Lake and beaches
A Melbourne Transport and Warehousing Group representative told community members a fire at its Laverton North premises led to the spill
Hundreds of dead fish were seen floating to the surface of Cherry Lake in Altona last week.
Environmental authorities believe more than 12,000 litres of chemicals were spilt from a site that stores agricultural fertilisers, with some of that pollution leaking into a stormwater drain.
From that drain the chemicals made their way into Cherry Creek near the Laverton North industrial area.
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SULFURIC ACID SPILLS FROM STORAGE TANK AT SHELL ETHANE CRACKER PLANT
https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2022/03/24/sulfuric-acid-spills-from-storage-tank-at-shell-ethane-cracker-plant/
Tags: us_PA, industrial, release, response, sulfuric_acid, waste
A faulty piece of equipment on a storage tank caused a 2,000-gallon chemical spill at Shell's Beaver County ethane cracker over the weekend, the company said.
The spill was discovered Saturday morning at 9:30 during a routine inspection, and all chemicals spilled were contained on site. Shell said in a statement the tank was part of the facility's waste water treatment plant, and contained a mixture of water and sulfuric acid. The company said the chemicals were captured within a built-in secondary containment area.
The company said the spill appears to have been caused by a faulty flange ' a collared mechanical fitting often used to join two pieces of equipment together.
'Maintaining environmental compliance and timely reporting of potential incidents are top priorities for Shell,' spokesman Curtis Thomas said in a statement. 'We will continue to keep the environmental authorities apprised as we continue our investigation of this matter.'
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MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS RESPOND TO LARGE FIRE IN WILLIAMSON
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/rochester/public-safety/2022/03/23/multiple-departments-respond-to-large-fire-at-williamson-chemical-company
Tags: us_NY, industrial, follow-up, environmental, runoff
WILLIAMSON, N.Y. ' A large fire that broke out at an industrial building in Wayne County is still under investigation, but officials believe the cause is accidental.
The assistant chief with the Williamson Fire Department said crews responded to Thatcher Company of New York on Route 104 just before 7 a.m. on Tuesday and when they arrived, flames were burning through the roof. The company deals in chemical manufacturing and distribution.
According to the fire official, the fire broke out in an area of the building used for storing empty totes and drums after they have been washed out. Crews were able to contain the fire to that area and prevented it from spreading to the rest of the building.
A section of Route 104 was temporarily shut down while firefighters battled the flames.
The Williamson assistant chief says there were no chemicals present in the area of the building that burned. Despite that, the DEC is checking runoff at the site for possible contamination as a precaution.
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