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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, May 9, 2022 at 7:06:06 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)
LARGE FIRE OF 'HAZARDOUS MATERIALS' BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL IN EARLY HOURS
Tags: Ireland, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
PROCESS SAFETY BEACON: ‰??WHAT HAPPENS IF?‰?? AN IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR HAZARD REVIEWS
Tags: us_IL, industrial, follow-up, death, hydrogen
TRANSLATING INDUSTRIAL LAB SAFETY PRACTICES TO ACADEMIA
Tags: us_VA, laboratory, discovery, environmental
PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF NANOTECHNOLOGY CAN QUICKLY TURN SOUR
Tags: Ireland, education, discovery, environmental, nanotech
NB HWY 33 REMAINS CLOSED FOLLOWING DEADLY COLLISION, HAZMAT SITUATION
Tags: us_CA, transportation, release, death, petroleum
EXPLOSION AT THE HISTORIC HOTEL SARATOGA IN CUBA KILLS AT LEAST 18 PEOPLE
Tags: Cuba, public, explosion, death, other_chemical
FIRE BREAKS OUT AT CHEMICAL TRADER‰??S SHOP IN LUDHIANA
Tags: India, laboratory, fire, response, ag_chems
CHEMICALS NEUTRALISED, PORUS LAB SHUT
Tags: India, industrial, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical, methylamine, waste
MASSIVE FIRE AFTER BLAST AT TATA STEEL PLANT IN JAMSHEDPUR, 3 INJURED
Tags: India, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical
MILITARY AND POLICE SAFELY REMOVE ITEM FROM BOULDER RECYCLING CENTER
Tags: us_CO, public, discovery, response, bomb, waste
POOL CHEMICALS CREATE 'DANGEROUS GAS' AT KIAMA HAZMAT INCIDENT
Tags: Australia, public, release, response, pool_chemicals
'IT WAS LIKE A CONCOCTION OF MUSTARD GAS,' GODSHAW HILL MAN SAYS OF HAZMAT SITUATION
Tags: us_SC, public, release, injury, mustard_gas, pool_chemicals
ONE PERSON RESCUED AFTER HAZMAT SITUATION AT HOTEL
Tags: us_MO, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
EMERGENCY CREWS RESPOND TO LEVEL 2 HAZMAT FIRE AT AUTOZONE IN ROXBURY ‰?? LIVE BOSTON
Tags: us_MA, public, fire, injury, batteries
NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY LAB BURNT OUT IN EARLY MORNING ELECTRICAL FIRE
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical
MAHA: THREE INDUSTRIAL UNITS GUTTED IN FIRE AT PAWNE MIDC, TWO PERSONS MISSING
Tags: India, industrial, fire, injury, unknown_chemical
2 MISSING IN NAVI MUMBAI FIRE THAT GUTTED 3 FACTORIES; 2 INJURED
Tags: India, industrial, fire, injury, unknown_chemical
POWER COMPANY TO PAY $500K FINE FOR DEADLY 2017 EXPLOSION
Tags: us_FL, industrial, follow-up, death, unknown_chemical
HOW TO CATASTROPHE PROOF FERTILIZERS
Tags: industrial, discovery, environmental, ag_chems
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LARGE FIRE OF 'HAZARDOUS MATERIALS' BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL IN EARLY HOURS
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/large-fire-of-hazardous-materials-brought-under-control-in-early-hours-3685573
Tags: Ireland, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
About 35 firefighters tackled the blaze at a derelict hospital building.
At the time the PSNI advised residents to keep doors and windows closed while they deal with the blaze.
The fire was reported at about 7.30pm.
Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service group commander Alastair McConville said operations were "hampered" by hazardous materials onsite.
Four fire engines were at the scene along with an aerial appliance, a water tanker and a command support unit.
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PROCESS SAFETY BEACON: ‰??WHAT HAPPENS IF?‰?? AN IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR HAZARD REVIEWS
https://www.aiche.org/resources/publications/cep/2022/may/process-safety-beacon-what-happens-if-important-question-hazard-reviews
Tags: us_IL, industrial, follow-up, death, hydrogen
On May 3, 2019, operators at a plant in Waukegan, IL, were performing a batch operation, manually adding and mixing chemicals in a tank inside a building. An operator pumped an incorrect chemical into the tank. That chemical was incompatible with a chemical already in the tank. The chemicals reacted after they were mixed, and the tank contents foamed and overflowed from the tank top opening. The reaction produced highly flammable hydrogen gas that was released into the building. The hydrogen ignited, and the explosion destroyed the building, killing four employees.
The incompatible chemical was stored in a 55-gal blue plastic drum identical to drums containing the correct chemicals. The only differentiating markings were small labels on the drums and bung caps. The company did not have a written procedure requiring employees to segregate incompatible chemicals in the production building or remove containers after use. In March 2019, two months before this incident, the company had a near-miss involving two chemicals stored in similar 55-gal blue metal drums, in which the wrong material was added to a batch from similar drums. To avoid confusion from similar containers, the company developed a procedure for two people to verify material identity before addition.
This company assessed product manufacturing operations using a technical service request (TSR), which evaluated business and safety risks. However, the TSR did not assess hazards of process operations or establish safeguards, nor was it intended to.
During the incident, workers recognized that a process upset had occurred when the tank overflowed and a fog formed. However, the workers did not recognize the immediate hydrogen hazard created by the upset, which was noted on the safety data sheet (SDS) for the input material.
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TRANSLATING INDUSTRIAL LAB SAFETY PRACTICES TO ACADEMIA
https://www.aiche.org/resources/publications/cep/2022/may/translating-industrial-lab-safety-practices-academia
Tags: us_VA, laboratory, discovery, environmental
Many academic lab safety programs have room for improvement. This article demonstrates how to implement certain industrial lab safety practices in an academic environment.
Research laboratories in academic institutions have similar responsibilities to those of the broader chemical industry ‰?? to create and maintain a safe working environment for their employees, students, faculty, and staff. Over the past few decades, safety practices in the chemical industry have improved and innovations such as incident reporting, data tracking, and benchmarking have contributed to a reduction in the number of serious safety incidents and fatalities. Conversely, academic research labs, which experience fewer serious incidents and fatalities, have generally lagged in their safety innovation.
Recent severe accidents in research labs have raised the profile of safety practices in academia. Emerging research suggests that the number of safety incidents occurring in academic labs is being underreported; such research has also raised questions about safety culture (1). Based on these findings, there appears to be a divergence in the approach to safety between academia and industry. Assuming such a divergence exists, we asked ourselves what would this mean for our own safety program at the Univ. of Virginia (UVA). This article reviews the aforementioned divergence, reflects on the status of our own safety program, and shares perspectives about our journey of continuous improvement in our laboratory safety practices.
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PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF NANOTECHNOLOGY CAN QUICKLY TURN SOUR
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/public-perception-of-nanotechnology-can-quickly-turn-sour/4015617.article
Tags: Ireland, education, discovery, environmental, nanotech
Scientists should be aware of the impact social media could have on their work. A new study shows that to reduce the chance of disruption due to legislative, regulatory or funding changes linked to public opinion, it is important to include social media when considering risk.
Finbarr Murphy, from the University of Limerick in Ireland, and colleagues performed a sentiment analysis of tweets between 2006 and 2020 relating to three areas of nanoscience ‰?? silver, carbon and titanium ‰?? to examine the public perception of nanotechnology. They found that overall public perception is slightly positive. But whilst positive events have little to no impact on tweet volume or perception, adverse events caused an increase in the volume of tweets presenting a negative opinion.
If an event is perceived badly enough to generate a twitterstorm, this decrease in public confidence could have far reaching impacts, with legislation, research funding and insurance coverage all susceptible to public opinion. As many research grants are through public funds, a large negative shift in public opinion towards nanotechnology could result in a decrease in funding available for research in that area.
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NB HWY 33 REMAINS CLOSED FOLLOWING DEADLY COLLISION, HAZMAT SITUATION
https://www.kget.com/news/local-news/intersection-at-hwys-33-and-46-closed-following-deadly-collision-hazmat-situation/
Tags: us_CA, transportation, release, death, petroleum
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) ‰?? A crash that killed at least one person Saturday afternoon forced a road closure at Highways 33 and 46 in western Kern County.
The crash was reported at around 2:15 p.m. in Blackwells Corner at the intersection of Highways 33 and 46, according to CHP‰??s Traffic Incident Information Page. A U-Haul truck towing a vehicle collided into the rear of a semi truck carrying liquified petroleum, according to the incident page.
---------------------------------------------
EXPLOSION AT THE HISTORIC HOTEL SARATOGA IN CUBA KILLS AT LEAST 18 PEOPLE
https://news.yahoo.com/explosion-historic-hotel-saratoga-cuba-182710748.html
Tags: Cuba, public, explosion, death, other_chemical
On May 6, there was a massive explosion at the Hotel Saratoga in Havana, which killed at least 18 people and injured 64. These figures may increase as search and rescue teams continue to sort through the rubble.
The Cuban Presidential Office indicated that the explosion wasn‰??t an act of terrorism, as has been the case at other Cuban hotels in the past. It stemmed from a gas leak.
President Miguel Diaz-Canel surveyed the destruction. CNN reported that ‰??pieces of metal awnings, balconies and large chunks of stone were scattered about 300 feet away from the hotel.‰??
Spectators posted footage of smoke and dust billowing from the debris on social media. Residents and employees from surrounding buildings had to temporarily relocate. Some students at ConcepciĚ3n Arenal School were wounded after several windows were shattered due to the blast.
---------------------------------------------
FIRE BREAKS OUT AT CHEMICAL TRADER‰??S SHOP IN LUDHIANA
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/fire-breaks-out-at-chemical-trader-s-shop-in-ludhiana-101651954700842.html
Tags: India, laboratory, fire, response, ag_chems
A fire broke out in a chemical trader‰??s shop in the basement of a three-storey building near Punjab Agricultural University‰??s Gate Number 3 on Saturday morning.
The fire broke out in Walia Complex at around 8.45am, and soon the basement was engulfed with thick black smoke. Panicked shopkeepers alerted the fire brigade, and two fire tenders were dispatched to the spot.The firefighters were able to douse the flames by 11.30am.
Fire officer Navrang Singh said a short circuit is suspected to be the reason behind the blaze. Satish Kumar, the owner of the shop, Global Scientific Traders, said, ‰??I sell industrial chemicals, lab chemicals, test tubes, and glassware among other products. I am yet to assess the total loss incurred.‰??
He said that loose wires had been hanging outside the shop, and there were no fire safety arrangements in the complex.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICALS NEUTRALISED, PORUS LAB SHUT
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/070522/porus-lab-shuts-after-removal-of-all-hazardous-material.html
Tags: India, industrial, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical, methylamine, waste
VIJAYAWADA: The plant of private pharma firm Porus Laboratories at Akkireddygudem in Musunuru mandal of Eluru district has been shut down safely after neutralising chemicals, gases and other chemical waste on the factory premises.
Out of five production blocks from A to E, only two ‰?? B and D ‰?? had been working when the blast in a reactor of the Porus plant late on the night of April 13 claimed nine lives. Since then, authorities have sent stocks of chemicals and gases like methylamine, phthalic anhydride, which remained unaffected, to their places of origin. Further, contaminated chemical waste generated following the blast has been transported to Ramky in Parawada of Visakhapatnam for safe disposal in a scientific manner, while complying with all standard protocols.
With all chemicals vulnerable to reactions neutralised or transported for safe disposal, workers at Porus Labs are cleaning up the premises.
---------------------------------------------
MASSIVE FIRE AFTER BLAST AT TATA STEEL PLANT IN JAMSHEDPUR, 3 INJURED
https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-massive-fire-after-blast-at-tata-steel-plant-in-jamshedpur-3-injured-cm-hemant-soren-2951229
Tags: India, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical
A major accident took place on Saturday at Tata Steel's coke plant in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. First there was an explosion followed by a fire. Soon the fire took a horrific form. According to news agency ANI, 5 fire tenders are at the spot to douse the fire.
It is being told that this accident happened due to gas leakage during gas cutting and welding in the plant. Chief Minister Hemant Soren also tweeted about the incident and informed that a blast occured at Tata Steel Plant in Jamshedpur. District administration officials are engaged in action for speedy treatment of the injured in coordination with the Tata Steel management.
---------------------------------------------
MILITARY AND POLICE SAFELY REMOVE ITEM FROM BOULDER RECYCLING CENTER
https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/05/05/military-still-inspecting-item-found-at-boulder-ecocycle/
Tags: us_CO, public, discovery, response, bomb, waste
Boulder police said U.S. military officials were able to safely remove an item found at a recycling facility in east Boulder on Wednesday.
The item was dropped off by a woman Wednesday at Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility, 1901 63rd St. Boulder police initially mistakenly identified the facility as EcoCycle before correcting the information in a tweet Thursday.
Police initially called it a hazardous materials situation, but then called in an army Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit when it was discovered the item appeared to be a military device.
Officials said the item was labeled ‰??inert‰?? but that they could not assume it was safe at the time.
The item was identified as submunition, a small weapon or device that is part of a larger warhead or projectile and separates from it prior to impact. The item was safely examined and removed by the Boulder County Regional Bomb Squad and the U.S. Army.
---------------------------------------------
POOL CHEMICALS CREATE 'DANGEROUS GAS' AT KIAMA HAZMAT INCIDENT
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/7728370/pool-chemicals-create-dangerous-gas-at-kiama-hazmat-incident/?cs=11
Tags: Australia, public, release, response, pool_chemicals
Emergency services were called to a Kiama hotel on Friday night after a 'dangerous gas' was created when pool chemicals were accidentally mixed.
The Kiama Fire and Rescue NSW station posted to social media that paramedics, HAZMAT specialists from Shellharbour and the Kiama crews attended the incident.
Their photos show them entering the Nova Hotel on Bong Bong Road.
Read more: Gareth Ward hires Jack de Belin's lawyer to fight sexual assault charges
"Last night we attended a HAZMAT incident involving pool chemicals which were accidentally mixed," they said.
---------------------------------------------
'IT WAS LIKE A CONCOCTION OF MUSTARD GAS,' GODSHAW HILL MAN SAYS OF HAZMAT SITUATION
https://wlos.com/news/local/it-was-like-a-concoction-of-mustard-gas-godshaw-hill-man-says-of-hazmat-situation
Tags: us_SC, public, release, injury, mustard_gas, pool_chemicals
Steven Powell, 65, was taken to Spartanburg Regional Hospital after a reaction to a mixture of chemicals erupted inside his kitchen.
‰??I was mixing Burnout for my pool, which we‰??ve done for 18 years,‰?? Powell said.
Residents on Second Street were asked to evacuate or shelter in place while emergency crews contained the scene.
Powell said he brought the chemicals inside his house to mix them with water.
‰??It just went,‰?? Powell explained. ‰??It was like a volcano.‰??
Fumes from the pool chemicals quickly filled the kitchen area.
"It was so volatile,‰?? Powell said. ‰??It was like a concoction of mustard gas. It inflames the lungs and just feels like hell.‰??
---------------------------------------------
ONE PERSON RESCUED AFTER HAZMAT SITUATION AT HOTEL
https://www.newstribune.com/news/2022/may/07/one-person-rescued-after-hazmat-situation-at-hotel/
Tags: us_MO, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
One person was removed after a hazmat situation Friday morning at a Cole County hotel.
According to reports from Regional West Fire Protection District, the incident occurred at Hampton Inn on Country Club Drive.
A maintenance worker was cleaning an ice machine of the second floor of the hotel and apparently mixed two cleaning substances that shouldn't have been mixed and was overcome by the fumes.
Fire crews were called initially and then dismissed. However, they were called back to the hotel just before 11 a.m. after a Cole County medical first responder arrived on the scene and found the worker and realized what was taking place. The first responder then got the worker out of the area where the ice machine was. The worker was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Firefighters were joined by Cole County Hazmat and EMS crews. Firefighters donned air packs and went inside the hotel to make sure there were no people inside. When it was determined the building was cleared, crews used ventilation devices to get fumes out of the building. Then another maintenance crew went into the hotel to make sure there were no residual chemicals in the ice machine so people could go back inside the hotel.
---------------------------------------------
EMERGENCY CREWS RESPOND TO LEVEL 2 HAZMAT FIRE AT AUTOZONE IN ROXBURY ‰?? LIVE BOSTON
https://liveboston617.org/2022/05/07/emergency-crews-respond-to-level-2-hazmat-fire-at-autozone-in-roxbury/
Tags: us_MA, public, fire, injury, batteries
At approximately 17:00 hours on Friday May 6 2022, Boston Firefighters, Police Officers from District B-2 and EMTs and Paramedics with Boston EMS all responded to the Autozone on Warren Street in Roxbury after receiving multiple 911 calls for a structure fire.
On arrival, companies located a fire in the rear of the store, including roughly 50 acid car batteries. A level 3 Hazmat response due to the fire as well as the numerous chemicals in close proximity to the flames. Eventually the fire was extinguished.
It is unknown at this time if anyone was transported or suffered injuries. The cause of the fire is still unknown and Boston Fire and Police Fire Investigation Unit or FIU will continue to investigate the origin of the blaze. Due to the damage the store will remain temporarily closed.
---------------------------------------------
NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY LAB BURNT OUT IN EARLY MORNING ELECTRICAL FIRE
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/newcastle-university-laboratory-fire-23882603
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical
A Newcastle University laboratory has been left badly damaged following an electrical fire in the early hours of the morning.
Firefighters were called to the blaze at the university'sAgriculture Building on Kings Road just before 5am on Thursday, May 5. Crews from Newcastle Central, Byker and Gosforth usedthermal scanners and jets to quickly bring the fire under control.
Those in the building at the time were not injured but werechecked over by paramedics at the scene. Crews left the incident at 5.38am.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the fire was accidental and caused by a piece of electrical equipment had overheated.
A fire service spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that we received a call at 4.59am on Thursday morning about a fire at the Agriculture Building of Newcastle University on Kings Road. Our crews from Newcastle Central, Byker and Gosforth were on the scene in just five minutes to bring the blaze under control wearing their breathing apparatus and using thermal scanners and jets.
---------------------------------------------
MAHA: THREE INDUSTRIAL UNITS GUTTED IN FIRE AT PAWNE MIDC, TWO PERSONS MISSING
https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/business/2028279-maha-three-industrial-units-gutted-in-fire-at-pawne-midc-two-persons-missing
Tags: India, industrial, fire, injury, unknown_chemical
At least three industrial units were gutted in fire at Pawne MIDC area in neighbouring Navi Mumbai on Friday, officials said.
While two women labourers suffered suffocation and were admitted to hospital, two persons were missing, they said.
Fire-fighting was underway till late at night, more than five hours after the blaze broke out, said a fire brigade official. Fire vehicles of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and Navi Mumbai fire brigade were on the spot.
The fire started in a rubber factory around 4 pm and spread to the adjoining chemical company and a cold storage unit. Besides, three other units in the vicinity were also affected.
Thick black smoke from the rubber factory enveloped the area which made fire-fighting and rescue operations difficult, officials said.
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2 MISSING IN NAVI MUMBAI FIRE THAT GUTTED 3 FACTORIES; 2 INJURED
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/major-fire-in-navi-mumbai-people-feared-trapped-101651843393801.html
Tags: India, industrial, fire, injury, unknown_chemical
NAVI MUMBAI: Two persons are missing after a major fire broke out at Navi Mumbai‰??s Khairane MIDC on Friday afternoon that gutted three factories. Fire department officers said it took firefighters several hours to control the fire and they will be able to conduct the search operation only on Saturday morning after the flames are doused and the cooling operations are complete.
Two women have been admitted to the hospital for smoke inhalation and their condition is stable, an official said.
‰??We have been informed that three people were rescued while two persons are still missing in the first company which caught fire,‰?? Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone I, Vivek Pansare said.
The two missing persons have been identified by the police as Nikhil Sanjay Pashilkar, 26 and N S Nair, both resident of Kalyan.
---------------------------------------------
POWER COMPANY TO PAY $500K FINE FOR DEADLY 2017 EXPLOSION
https://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/business/power-company-to-pay-500k-fine-for-deadly-2017-explosion/article_1bc1b512-76e0-5eb0-96d2-e68258403594.html
Tags: us_FL, industrial, follow-up, death, unknown_chemical
Tampa Electric Co. has pleaded guilty to violating an Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard causing death, according to a plea agreement filed Friday in Tampa federal court.
The agreement outlines safety procedures that TECO must follow in the future. The agreement also notes that the company previously reached confidential civil settlements with the families of the victims and others injured by the explosion.
‰??All of us at Tampa Electric hold the families of our late colleagues and coworkers in our hearts,‰?? TECO president and CEO Archie Collins said in a statement. ‰??We have accepted full responsibility, and we hold ourselves accountable as we continuously work to improve our safety programs and safety culture.‰??
The explosion occurred at TECO's Apollo Beach power plant, located just off Tampa Bay, in June 2017. Workers had been performing maintenance on a slag tank when the substance unexpectedly poured out, officials said. One TECO employee and four contractors died following the blast.
Hot slag is a molten byproduct created when coal is burned for electricity. Chunks of it fall into cooling tanks and the remnants, which are black and glasslike, are recycled and used in sandblasting and roofing.
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HOW TO CATASTROPHE PROOF FERTILIZERS
https://cen.acs.org/food/agriculture/catastrophe-proof-fertilizers/100/i16
Tags: industrial, discovery, environmental, ag_chems
The series of calamities over the last year is prompting farmers, governments, and fertilizer makers to take a closer look at ways to spread production geographically to make it more resilient to catastrophes while reducing carbon emissions and runoff. Approaches include synthesizing fertilizer closer to farms, harvesting nutrients from wastewater, designing microbes that replenish soils, and modifying conventional fertilizers to make them more efficient.
These technologies are more expensive than conventional routes, and some are years away from commercialization. They also produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions. While high prices are currently shining a spotlight on production, the climate crisis is likely what will provide sustained pressure to change how fertilizers are made.
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