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Previous by Date: Subject: [DCHAS-L] Best papers on spills Date: Monday, July 18, 2022 at 12:33:31 AM Author: Hugo Gerald Schmidt <000016ca169b2168-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**LISTS.PRINCETON.EDU> |
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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, July 18, 2022 at 3:21:55 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 (18 articles)
SEMI-TRUCK HAULING HYDROFLUORIC ACID CRASHES ON I-24
Tags: us_KY, transportation, release, response, hydrofluoric_acid
TWO PEOPLE DIE AFTER TRYING TIKTOK FRACTAL WOOD BURNING TREND
Tags: us_WI, public, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
JOCO COMPANY DUMPED HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INTO SEWER: EPA
Tags: us_KS, industrial, release, environmental, illegal, metals, waste
CARGO PLANE CARRYING HAZARDOUS MATERIAL CRASHES IN GREECE
Tags: Greece, transportation, release, death, unknown_chemical
$17 MILLION IN FINES PROPOSED FOR DOMINGUEZ CHANNEL WAREHOUSE FIRE THAT CAUSED ODOR IN CARSON
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, runoff
BEING SAFE AND EFFICIENT: CAMPUS PARTNERS HELP LABS 'DO IT FOR THE HOOD'
Tags: us_NJ, laboratory, discovery, environmental, unknown_chemical
NO INJURIES REPORTED IN BOISE PROPANE GAS LEAK
Tags: us_ID, public, fire, response, gas_cylinders, propane
46 PEOPLE EXPOSED AFTER AMMONIA VALVE BREAKS AT NATIONAL BEEF |
Tags: us_PA, industrial, release, injury, ammonia
IDAHO NATIONAL LAB NUCLEAR WASTE TREATMENT PLANT PROGRESSING
Tags: us_ID, laboratory, discovery, environmental, radiation, sodium, waste
CHEMICAL FIRE BREAKS OUT AT SHREVEPORT WAREHOUSE
Tags: us_LA, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
1 HOSPITALIZED, LANES REOPEN AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL AT GEORGE BISHOP, FANTASY HARBOUR
Tags: us_SC, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
OMAHA CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE: EPA CONTAMINANT TESTING RESULTS
Tags: us_NE, public, follow-up, environmental, metals, runoff
CREWS RESPOND TO CHEMICAL RELEASE AT BROWN DEER APARTMENT COMPLEX
Tags: us_WI, public, release, response, unknown_chemical
WEST SIDE LAB EVACUATED AFTER CHEMICAL CONTAINER LEAKED HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE, AUTHORITIES SAY
Tags: us_WI, laboratory, release, response, flammables
BURNING CHEMICAL TANKER TOWED OUT OF PORT OF TEMRYUK
Tags: Russia, transportation, fire, response, unknown_chemical
WARNING: CHEMICAL SPILL ON WESTERN RING ROAD AT TULLAMARINE
Tags: Australia, transportation, release, response, pesticides, runoff
FIRE DEPT. SEARCHING FOR SOURCE OF GAS SMELL IN CHARLOTTE
Tags: us_NC, public, release, response, thiols
SAFETY: CHEMICAL ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, follow-up, environmental
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SEMI-TRUCK HAULING HYDROFLUORIC ACID CRASHES ON I-24
https://www.wsiltv.com/news/semi-truck-hauling-hydrochloric-acid-crashes-on-i-24/article_f8fbae7c-05e1-11ed-a4e4-ffeaead7824b.html
Tags: us_KY, transportation, release, response, hydrofluoric_acid
LYON COUNTY, KY (WSIL) --UPDATE 5 PM.: All lane of traffic are now blocked to ensure the safety of pedestrians. It is now estimated that the crash will be cleared around 12:30 a.m.
Interstate 24 westbound is restricted to one lane due to a semi-truck filled with acid crashing into multiple cars.
The crash site is located between KY Eddyville-Princeton Exit 45 Interchange at the I-24/ I-69 Exit 42 Interchange. The left lane is still open.
The details of the crash include a semi-truck pulling a tanker filled with hydrofluoric acid crashing into a couple of cars. The tanker filled with the acid became detached from the truck and fell into a ditch. A hazmat team will be brought in to remove the tanker from the ditch. Despite having to bring the hazmat team and specialized equipment, emergency responders do not believe the acid has leaked.
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TWO PEOPLE DIE AFTER TRYING TIKTOK FRACTAL WOOD BURNING TREND
https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/two-people-die-after-trying-tiktok-fractal-wood-burning-trend-1810725/
Tags: us_WI, public, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
On April 21, the Marathon County Sheriff's office released a statement regarding an investigation they did into a 'structure fire and unexplained deaths' after an incident that occurred on April 6.
The statement explained that they believe that the two victims, aged 44 and 52, were deceased prior to the house fire. 'Foul play has been ruled out and the deaths were found to be accidental in nature and are believed to be caused by electrocution from fractal wood burning.'
Fractal wood burning is an art technique in which you can create tree-like patterns into wood that has been soaked in a chemical solution, using high voltage electricity.
The art technique has become hugely popular on platforms like TikTok, where videos demonstrating the technique have garnered millions of views and likes.
Police explained that through their investigation they believe that the fractal wood-burning equipment caused the electrocutions, which subsequently caused the fire that started in the garage and then spread to the house.
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JOCO COMPANY DUMPED HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INTO SEWER: EPA
https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article263531173.html
Tags: us_KS, industrial, release, environmental, illegal, metals, waste
The owner of a Johnson County manufacturing business is accused of knowingly allowing hazardous materials to be dumped into the sewer system in violation of the federal Clean Water Act, according to court records.
A complaint filed Thursday in the U.S. District of Kansas alleges Disposable Instrument Company, based in Lenexa, began bypassing a treatment system for wastewater disposal as early as 2016. It further accuses the company's president, Brian Chansky, of a criminal offense for violating the law.
A call placed to the business on Friday afternoon seeking comment from Chansky was not immediately returned. An employee said Chansky was out of town and not expected to return until Monday.
According to court documents, Chansky has acted as president of the company since about 2015. Disposable Instrument Company has approximately 15 employees and produces medical and surgical components through a process that uses heavy metals.
Federal prosecutors say the manufacturing process involves parts being washed and then treated with acid and another chemical. Under the approved method, the company was supposed to put water used in the manufacturing process through a three-sectioned tank that included filters and other chemicals before going into the sewer.
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CARGO PLANE CARRYING HAZARDOUS MATERIAL CRASHES IN GREECE
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/17/cargo-plane-carrying-hazardous-material-crashes-in-greece
Tags: Greece, transportation, release, death, unknown_chemical
A cargo plane carrying hazardous material has crashed in northeastern Greece, sending acrid fumes into the air, local officials said.
The plane, operated by a Ukraine-based company, went down late on Saturday in Paleochori village near the Greek city of Kavala.
All eight crew members of the plane died in the accident, Serbia's defence minister said on Sunday.
The Antonov An-12 was carrying around 11 tonnes of weapons as well as mines to Bangladesh when it crashed on Saturday night, Nebojsa Stefanovic said.
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$17 MILLION IN FINES PROPOSED FOR DOMINGUEZ CHANNEL WAREHOUSE FIRE THAT CAUSED ODOR IN CARSON
https://www.yahoo.com/video/17-million-fines-proposed-dominguez-041544035.html
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, runoff
The owners and operators of a Carson warehouse where chemicals ran off into the Dominguez Channel last year following a fire, causing a noxious odor to linger in the region for weeks, could face $17 million in state penalties, regulators said this week.
If approved in October, the penalties against makeup companies Day to Day Imports Inc. and Virgin Scents Inc., and property owners Prologis and Liberty Property LLP, would be the largest issued by the State Water Resources Control Board.
The companies' alleged violations include the discharge of polluted water and hazardous substances, failure to comply with cleanup and abatement orders, and failure to obtain a discharge permit.
Prologis said in a statement that company officials 'vigorously dispute any suggestion by the Regional Board that Prologis and Liberty did not take appropriate actions as property owners following the Sept. 30 fire," and denied any wrongdoing.
"Neither Prologis nor Liberty caused the fire," the company said. "Nevertheless, in the days following the fire, after the tenant Day to Day failed to clean up the fire debris, Prologis and Liberty stepped forward to remove the debris and prevent stormwater runoff."
---------------------------------------------
BEING SAFE AND EFFICIENT: CAMPUS PARTNERS HELP LABS 'DO IT FOR THE HOOD'
https://ehs.princeton.edu/news/being-safe-and-efficient-campus-partners
Tags: us_NJ, laboratory, discovery, environmental, unknown_chemical
In a world of vampire appliances, fume hoods are Dracula. These essential fixtures of research labs must run constantly to ventilate work spaces, but in the course of a year a single hood can consume between 1 and 1.5 times the energy used by a residential home.
It was this realization that got Princeton EHS on John Pickering's radar. Pickering is co-founder of Evidn, a behavioral science firm playing a role in the University's push to achieve net zero emissions by 2046. He also serves as a non-resident fellow at the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment.
Working with the Princeton University Office of Sustainability, Campus Energy and others, Pickering identified three main areas where behavior modification could make a big difference in reaching net zero goals: room scheduling (to minimize electricity and appliance use), student and staff habits around energy consumption, and laboratory practices.
---------------------------------------------
NO INJURIES REPORTED IN BOISE PROPANE GAS LEAK
https://idahonews.com/news/local/no-injuries-reported-in-boise-propane-gas-leak
Tags: us_ID, public, fire, response, gas_cylinders, propane
BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) ' No injuries were reported following a gas leak Thursday night.
Boise Fire says its hazmat team was called to W. Bumblebee Drive for a propane gas leak.
"As our Hazmat team was performing a flaring operation to empty the leaking container, a strap gave away causing the propane cylinder to slip in the grass," Boise Fire said. "This created another leak."
Thankfully though, in addition to there being no injuries, there was no reported property damage.
---------------------------------------------
46 PEOPLE EXPOSED AFTER AMMONIA VALVE BREAKS AT NATIONAL BEEF |
https://www.wkok.com/46-people-exposed-after-ammonia-valve-breaks-at-national-beef/
Tags: us_PA, industrial, release, injury, ammonia
HUMMELS WHARF ' 46 people were exposed after a serious hazmat incident inside the National Beef plant in Hummels Wharf Friday evening. Hummels Wharf Fire Chief Chris Eppley says all but one of the 46 people exposed were evaluated on site and sent home. The other person was taken to the hospital with a minor medical issue.
Eppley says the incident was first reported just before 8 p.m. Friday, when an anydrous ammonia valve broke. The leak was contained by about 8:30 p.m.
Eppley says 3000 pounds of ammonia leaked after the valve broke while loading trucks.
Eppley says residents can open windows and use air conditioning as normal, however. He says crews are still on scene as repairs to the valve are fixed and tested before the plant returns to normal operation.
Hummels Wharf Fire Company says on its Facebook page there are road closures in affect between Roosevelt Ave & Park Road.
---------------------------------------------
IDAHO NATIONAL LAB NUCLEAR WASTE TREATMENT PLANT PROGRESSING
https://www.ktvb.com/article/tech/science/idaho-nuclear-waste-treatment-plant-progressing/277-4f37a8ae-2b3c-400e-abb2-350500c03f12
Tags: us_ID, laboratory, discovery, environmental, radiation, sodium, waste
BOISE, Idaho ' A nuclear waste treatment plant in eastern Idaho designed to treat 900,000 gallons (3.4 million liters) of sodium-bearing, radioactive waste that has had numerous setbacks appears to be making progress, officials said.
The U.S. Department of Energy this week said that the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit at the department's 890-square-mile (2,300-square-kilometer) site that includes the Idaho National Laboratory recently treated more than 100,000 gallons (380,000 liters) of simulant over seven weeks.
'The plant has operated extremely well during this several-week run,' Bill Kirby of the Idaho Environmental Coalition, an Energy Department contractor, said in a statement. 'Our staff has done an outstanding job managing all facets of the facility."
The department plans additional testing and then a shutdown to make sure the plant is ready for radioactive waste. The department said increasing amounts of radioactive waste will be mixed with simulant when the plant is fully operational. The department didn't give a timeline
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL FIRE BREAKS OUT AT SHREVEPORT WAREHOUSE
https://abc17news.com/news/2022/07/15/chemical-fire-breaks-out-at-shreveport-warehouse/
Tags: us_LA, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (KTBS) ' More than a dozen fire units raced to the scene of a chemical fire in Shreveport's Ingleside neighborhood Friday morning. Authorities say the warehouse where it happened is in the 2000 block of Cedar Street.
According to 911 dispatch, the call came in shortly after 6:30 a.m. to Valence Drilling Fluids. The company's website says Valence is headquartered in Edmond, Oklahoma with warehouse and mud plants to support its operations in Oklahoma, Texas, Ohio and here in Shreveport.
Officials with the Shreveport Fire Department say the pallet of chemicals that burned is not hazardous and the business is still in operation.
---------------------------------------------
1 HOSPITALIZED, LANES REOPEN AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL AT GEORGE BISHOP, FANTASY HARBOUR
https://www.wmbfnews.com/2022/07/15/chemical-spill-closes-lanes-george-bishop-fantasy-harbour-hazmat-crews-scene/
Tags: us_SC, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) -Lanes of traffic are reopening at George Bishop Parkway and Fantasy Harbour Blvd. after a small chemical spill near a UPS facility, Horry County Fire rescue said.
Horry County Fire Rescue's Hazmat Team mitigated the spill and will be passing the scene off to a private clean-up team.
One person was transported to the hospital.
UPS released the following statement to WMBF News:
'We temporarily evacuated our facility in Myrtle Beach out of an abundance of caution to address a hazardous materials package. We are working with the responding authorities, and our employees have been cleared to safely return to work.'
HCFR was dispatched to the area at 10:27 a.m.
Please avoid the area for the safety of the crews on the scene and to avoid possible delays.
---------------------------------------------
OMAHA CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE: EPA CONTAMINANT TESTING RESULTS
https://www.ketv.com/article/omaha-chemical-plant-fire-epa-testing-contaminants-results/40625984
Tags: us_NE, public, follow-up, environmental, metals, runoff
OMAHA, Neb. '
Environmental testing by the Environmental Protection Agency conducted after the fire at an Omaha chemical plant found high levels of some contaminants in the runoff, but none above a level of concern in soil and surfaces.
The EPA said testing was done in the neighborhoods surrounding the Nox-Crete facility near 20th and Center streets between June 1 and 3. The plant caught fire on Memorial Day and the three-alarm blaze led to voluntary evacuations in the surrounding community. A cause has not been reported for the fire.
According to the EPA, the area was tested for seven heavy metals and about 130 to 150 volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds.
Soil testing indicates that people in those neighborhoods can eat fruits and vegetables from their gardens, assuming they use "normal precautions ... including rinsing items before eating," the EPA said.
---------------------------------------------
CREWS RESPOND TO CHEMICAL RELEASE AT BROWN DEER APARTMENT COMPLEX
https://www.cbs58.com/news/brown-deer-apartment-complex-evacuated-hazmat-team-on-scene
Tags: us_WI, public, release, response, unknown_chemical
BROWN DEER, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Emergency crews in the Village of Brown Deer responded to an unknown chemical release at a three-story apartment complex Friday, July 15.
The call came in around 1:35 p.m. from the NorthPointe apartments on Green Bay Road.
Officials say they initially were responding to an automatic fire alarm. When crews arrived on scene, they were met with smoke coming from the boiler room.
Crews say they quickly determined the smoke was not fire in nature, but chemical. This was determined after performing atmospheric monitoring, which found readings in the lower explosive limits.
Emergency crews are still working to determine the chemical.
"They are doing the recon with the hazmat team to try and identify that chemical and then that will give us more information on where we go from here."
Officials have just confirmed everyone has been let back in the building, but still no word on what caused the chemical leak.
---------------------------------------------
WEST SIDE LAB EVACUATED AFTER CHEMICAL CONTAINER LEAKED HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE, AUTHORITIES SAY
https://madison.com/news/local/west-side-lab-evacuated-after-chemical-container-leaked-hazardous-substance-authorities-say/article_65856d56-6f5b-5b83-b0c7-6bde47bb5a9b.html
Tags: us_WI, laboratory, release, response, flammables
West Side lab was evacuated Tuesday morning after a chemical container leaked a hazardous substance, the Madison Fire Department reported.
The evacuation of Mirus Bio, 5602 Research Park Blvd., began after the container holding a chemical known to be toxic and flammable became compromised, causing a leak and chemical vapors reportedly to waft through the hallways and to another floor via the building's ventilation system, Fire Department spokesperson Cynthia Schuster said in a statement.
Ladder 2 activated the building's fire alarm to prompt a full and complete evacuation and the department's Hazardous Incident Team was called to the scene, Schuster said.
The chemical leak was contained by chemists at the lab prior to HIT entering the building. The HIT isolated the areas where chemical leaks and spills had been identified, then released the building back to its staffer for proper cleanup, Schuster said.
---------------------------------------------
BURNING CHEMICAL TANKER TOWED OUT OF PORT OF TEMRYUK
https://maritime-executive.com/article/burning-chemical-tanker-towed-out-of-port-of-temryuk
Tags: Russia, transportation, fire, response, unknown_chemical
[Brief] State-owned Russian port operator Rosmorport has issued a commendation to a marine pilot who helped navigate a burning chemical tanker out of the Sea of Azov port of Temryuk last week.
According to Rosmorport, pilot Konstantin Dereberya was assigned to bring the Turkish chemical tanker Ahmet Telli into port at Temryuk on July 9. The vessel navigated into the port, but once within the complex, a fire started in the engine room. The blaze disabled the main engine, leaving the vessel adrift and on fire.
The Telli dropped anchor as a precautionary measure, but as the fire grew, it became clear that it would be necessary to move the vessel out of the port. The fire could not be extinguished and raised the possibility of an explosion aboard the vessel. This could potentially spread fire to nearby marine terminals.
Dereberya remained aboard the vessel and helped direct the operation to tow it to the outer anchorage, and for his efforts he has been awarded a commendation. Once the ship was safely outside the port, the fire was extinguished by first responders of Russia's Marine Rescue Service.
---------------------------------------------
WARNING: CHEMICAL SPILL ON WESTERN RING ROAD AT TULLAMARINE
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/warning-chemical-spill-on-western-ring-rd-at-tullamarine/news-story/9df1b9d705edcaebc942f0ddc987eec8
Tags: Australia, transportation, release, response, pesticides, runoff
Victorian residents near the state's largest airport have been urged to stay indoors following a chemical spill.
A B-double truck, which was carrying a chemical fungicide, crashed through a barrier and rolled over on the Western Ring Rd in Tullamarine just before 2am on Friday.
Hazmat crews are at the scene as hazardous fumes are being released.
A truck has toppled over on Western Ring Rd at Tullamarine. Picture: Supplied/Nine News
Assistant chief fire officer Craig Brownlie told 3AW radio station that the clean-up is expected to take most of the day.
'This is a large incident,' he said.
'We are getting the specialist equipment that we will need to resolve this coming now.'
Environmental Protection Authority officers also attended the scene.
They are working with emergency services to ensure that there is no chemical run-off into local waterways.
Gladstone Park, Strathmore Heights and Airport West residents are urged to stay indoors and avoid the area.
Residents in Melbourne's Northern suburbs surrounding Tullamarine should stay indoors until further notice.
---------------------------------------------
FIRE DEPT. SEARCHING FOR SOURCE OF GAS SMELL IN CHARLOTTE
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2022/07/14/natural-gas-smell-draws-numerous-911-calls-in-charlotte--fire-department-investigating
Tags: us_NC, public, release, response, thiols
Piedmont Natural Gas said it found the source of the smell that spread around Charlotte Thursday morning. A company destroyed tanks of mercaptan, the chemical used to add the sour smell to odorless natural gas, PNG said.
The company said there was no natural gas leak in its system.
The fire department said the city was getting a lot of 911 calls about the smell of gas. The city asked people not to call 911 unless there's an emergency.
"There is no need to report this order. Unless you have a medical emergency or believe the gas is coming from your home or building - please call 911," the fire department said on Twitter.
The smell prompted the county to evacuate the courthouse in Uptown Charlotte, but the building has since been cleared by the fire department, according to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office.
---------------------------------------------
SAFETY: CHEMICAL ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/features/safety-chemical-accident-investigation/
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, follow-up, environmental
I AM concerned that in the UK, the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) drive to prosecute companies and individuals when they breach health and safety regulations is preventing important technical information and lessons learnt from being published.
For example, on 17 July 2015 there was large explosion at Wood Treatment, Bosley Mill, Congleton that completely destroyed the factory and killed four workers. Almost certainly this would have been caused by a dust explosion, but I have been unable to find any official report on the cause of the explosion.
The case did go to court and four possible scenarios were highlighted during the court case, but in the end manslaughter charges were dropped. However, the managing director pleaded guilty to health and safety offences and was fined å£12,000 (US$14,500) and banned from being a company director. The firm was fined å£75,000. The court case was concluded on 29 April 2021.
Similarly, on 3 December 2020 there was a large explosion in a silo at Wessex Water's waste treatment plant in Avonmouth. The ongoing investigation is being led by the Avon and Somerset Police with the help of HSE. So far there has been no word on what caused it.
I believe it's high time the UK had a separate process industry accidents investigation unit that gets safety lessons to the engineers who need them before more mistakes are repeated.
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