From: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines from Google (15 articles)
Date: October 5, 2012 7:04:04 AM EDT
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: <7F355544-0F86-4D08-89B5-AAD939A11808**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org>

Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, October 5, 2012 4:02:46 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)

NINE PEOPLE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK NEAR WINCHESTER (FROM HAMPSHIRE CHRONICLE)
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, release, injury, hydrogen_sulfide

LOWER MAC METH LAB PART OF A GROWING TREND
Tags: us_PA, public, follow-up, response, meth_lab, waste

COMPANY DINGED WITH $77K HAZMAT JUDGMENT
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, injury, waste

CLEVELAND-CHEMICAL-SPILL-AT-WAREHOUSE-ON-CITYS-EAST-SIDE_01614214
Tags: us_CA, industrial, fire, response, corrosives

KANSAS ODOR TRACKED TO DUM LEAK
Tags: us_KS, public, release, response, unknown_chemical

FIRE HITS DIESEL HYDROTREATER AT EXXON BAYTOWN REFINERY
Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, response

FIREFIGHTERS WORKING TO PREVENT CHEMICAL EXPLOSION AT ROCKLEA FACTORY
Tags: Australia, industrial, fire, response, acetone, solvent

EMPLOYEE INJURED IN LABORATORY EXPLOSION
Tags: us_MA, laboratory, explosion, injury

WINNIPEG FIRE: STORAGE RULES DON'T APPLY
Tags: Canada, industrial, follow-up, environmental, biodiesel

SAGINAW CHEMICAL INCIDENT SENDS 3 TO HOSPITAL
Tags: us_MI, industrial, release, injury, sodium_bicarbonate, sulfuric_acid

HAZMAT TEAM HANDLES SMALL CHEMICAL SPILL AT SCHOOL
Tags: us_IL, education, release, injury, chlorine, cleaners

CHEMDESIGN, MARINETTE MARINE WORKERS EVACUATED DUE TO LEAK
Tags: us_WI, industrial, release, injury, ammonia, pharmaceutical

SOUTH TYNESIDE DISTRICT HOSPITAL LAB CLEARED IN CHEMICAL ALERT
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, release, injury, formaldehyde, nitric_acid, wastes

CHEMICAL FIRE RESTRICTS GOLDEN EARS BRIDGE ACCESS, LEAVES ONE INJURED (WITH VIDEO)
Tags: Canada, industrial, explosion, injury, oils

SPEEDWAY COMPLIANCE AN ISSUE AFTER FUEL FIRE
Tags: Canada, industrial, follow-up, response, biodiesel


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NINE PEOPLE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK NEAR WINCHESTER (FROM HAMPSHIRE CHRONICLE)
http://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/winchester/9968700.Nine_people_taken_to_hospital_after_chemical_leak_near_Winchester/?ref=nt
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, release, injury, hydrogen_sulfide

NINE people were taken to hospital after being harmed by fumes at a laboratory near Winchester.
The staff at a laboratory were injured in a major incident in Sparrowgrove, Otterbourne.
They suffered poisoning from hydrogen sulphide and were taken to hospital as a precaution.
It is thought the incident was sparked when a laboratory test went wrong at around 2.30pm on Wednesday.
The laboratory is operated by Eurofins Environmental Testing in a building rented from Southern Water.
A specialist Ôhaz mat' team from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service were called in along with crews from Eastleigh, service headquarters, St Mary's and Winchester.

---------------------------------------------

LOWER MAC METH LAB PART OF A GROWING TREND
http://lowermacungie.patch.com/articles/lower-mac-meth-lab-part-of-a-growing-trend
Tags: us_PA, public, follow-up, response, meth_lab, waste

It's amateur hour in the methamphetamine business with police seeing a dangerous trend as more mom-and-pop-type drug labs spring up in the Lehigh Valley.

Last week, Jeffrey Lee Miller of 5457 Hartford Court in Lower Macungie was arrested after he admitted to officials responding to a fire at his home that he was manufacturing methamphetamine there. He stored his chemicals, tools and waste products under his home, according to court documents.

Another meth maker was busted living near a high school - in a home she shared with her two young girls.

A local teacher is accused of selling meth.

And meth cooking gone wrong filled a room with chemical-smelling smoke at a family-friendly hotel in a busy shopping area. The alleged perpetrator was charged with risking a catastrophe, among other crimes.

---------------------------------------------

COMPANY DINGED WITH $77K HAZMAT JUDGMENT
http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=1755782&title=Company%20dinged%20with%20$77K%20hazmat%20judgment
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, injury, waste

A Redwood City construction company was hit with a $77,878 stipulated judgment for violating environmental law related to a toxic explosion in January that sent three trash collectors to the hospital.
The San Mateo County District Attorney's Consumer and Environmental Unit filed the civil complaint in July alleging that Pellarin Construction Group and its Chief Executive Officer Arron John Pellarin unlawfully disposed of hazardous waste and engaged in other unlawful business practices at its Main Street building.
The stipulated judgment, however, was entered without findings or admissions of wrongdoing, according to a District Attorney's statement.
The incident started when five plastic containers being kept outside the construction company's building at 1520 Main St. in Redwood City were thrown in a dumpster by a supervisor of the company back in December, according to the District Attorney's Office.
The containers contained poly carboy; lithiochrome that contains hydrochloric acid; chrome chloride; cupric chloride; ferrus chloride and ferric chloride; Baume hydrochloric acid; El Diablo Drain Cleaner that contains sulfuric acid; ammonia; and Marine Resin, according to the District Attorney's Office.
The containers had been kept on the property for prolonged periods of time, some for at least 10 years, according to the civil complaint.
In early January, two Recology employees unknowingly moved the five containers of hazardous waste from the dumpster to their garbage truck, according to the District Attorney's Office.

---------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND-CHEMICAL-SPILL-AT-WAREHOUSE-ON-CITYS-EAST-SIDE_01614214
http://www.10news.com/money/dont-waste-your-money/cleveland-chemical-spill-at-warehouse-on-citys-east-side_01614214
Tags: us_CA, industrial, fire, response, corrosives

CLEVELAND - Cleveland firefighters and HAZMAT crews are at the scene of a warehouse fire on the city's east side.

A chemical fire sparked at Hamilton Avenue and E. 39th Street around 1:30 p.m.

According to Lt. Larry Gray with Cleveland's fire department, a tote containing chemicals and a tray sitting on top of the tote caught fire and spread to a conveyer belt.

Company workers tried to extinguish the fire, but weren't successful.

Now, crews are trying to determine what chemical is marked "corrosive" on the container tray.

---------------------------------------------

KANSAS ODOR TRACKED TO DUM LEAK
http://www.saljournal.com/news/story/gas-leak-100312
Tags: us_KS, public, release, response, unknown_chemical

A 55-gallon drum containing an unknown substance is thought to be responsible for a chemical odor in north Salina that sent Salina Fire Department crews twice in two days to the area.

At about 7 p.m. Tuesday, fire crews responded to a call of a strange odor in the vicinity of 1227 N. Seventh, according to a report issued by Salina Fire Marshal Roger Williams. Crews monitored the area but were unable to find the source of the odor Tuesday, Williams said.

Several residents were evacuated as a precautionary measure, Williams said, and crews from Kansas Gas Services worked throughout the night but were unable to find the source of the odor.

Crews again went to the area about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday because of reports from residents in the area complaining of headaches. The fire department hazardous materials team conducted a house search, resulting in the discovery of a 55-gallon drum of unknown substance in a shed at 1226 N. Seventh, Williams said.

The hazardous materials team was packaging the drum in a separate container Wednesday afternoon, and a Kansas Department of Health and Environment response team has been requested to retrieve the container for further analysis.

---------------------------------------------

FIRE HITS DIESEL HYDROTREATER AT EXXON BAYTOWN REFINERY
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/04/us-refinery-operations-exxon-baytown-idUSBRE89309320121004
Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, response

(Reuters) - A fire broke out late Wednesday at Exxon Mobil Corp's (XOM.N) refining and chemical complex in Baytown, Texas, the largest operating U.S. refinery, Exxon Mobil said.

The fire at the 560,500 barrel per day (bpd) refinery east of Houston was under control and remaining plant operations were not affected, Exxon said. There were no reported injuries.

According to sources familiar with refinery operations, the fire broke out at the diesel hydrotreating unit, which uses hydrogen to remove sulfur from motor fuel.

Exxon did not specify the exact location of the fire, which was reported at about 5:00 pm local time (2200 GMT), disclosing that it was confined to a refinery process unit.

"Remaining plant operations were not impacted from the event," said Exxon spokeswoman Rachael Moore in a statement.

A hole in a reactor caused the fire and triggered flaring at the complex, a filing with the U.S. National Response Center (NRC) showed. It did not identify the unit involved.

---------------------------------------------

FIREFIGHTERS WORKING TO PREVENT CHEMICAL EXPLOSION AT ROCKLEA FACTORY
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/firefighters-working-to-prevent-chemical-explosion-at-rocklea-factory/story-fndo45r1-1226487845721
Tags: Australia, industrial, fire, response, acetone, solvent

FIREFIGHTERS have been working since 4.30am to prevent a 200L drum filled with acetone wash out from catching alight or exploding at a factory on Brisbane's south.

An emergency services spokesman said three firetrucks, a support vehicle and a senior officer were at the Ipswich Rd, Rocklea factory.

"We're cooling a 200L drum of some type of solvent that had a chemical reaction," a spokesman said.

"It seems to be quite a priority to cool it down".

He said the drum was on the factory's property.

No one was injured in the incident.

An emergency services spokesman said crews would complete their work within the hour.

---------------------------------------------

EMPLOYEE INJURED IN LABORATORY EXPLOSION
http://needham.patch.com/articles/employee-injured-in-laboratory-explosion
Tags: us_MA, laboratory, explosion, injury

An employee at a laboratory on Crescent Road in Needham was injured Wednesday afternoon when a chemical reaction caused a small explosion in the building.

Needham Fire Department was called to Microwave Development Laboratories (MDL), 135 Crescent Rd., for the report of an explosion at around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 3. According to the company website, MDL manufactures and assembles components for standard microwaves, such as microwave filters, rotary switches and other parts. The site features a foundry, dip brazing shop and paint shop.

When firefighters arrived at the business, they found that the injured employee had already been taken to the hospital by a co-worker and that other employees had managed to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher, Needham Fire Chief Paul Buckley said.

"They had a small explosion, a small fire, caused by what appears to be the result of mixing two non-compatible chemicals that had a violent reaction," Buckley said.

The fire chief said he believed the man's injuries were non-life-threatening.

"I think it was just some burns to his abdomen area where the fire lashed at him," Buckley said. "We have someone at the hospital now talking to him."

---------------------------------------------

WINNIPEG FIRE: STORAGE RULES DON'T APPLY
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/storage-rules-dont-apply-172607931.html
Tags: Canada, industrial, follow-up, environmental, biodiesel

The St. Boniface biodiesel plant destroyed by a massive blaze is not subject to Manitoba's existing fuel-storage regulations, provincial officials confirmed Wednesday.
Speedway International was the first biodiesel manufacturer of its kind in the province, with the capacity to produce 20 million litres of biodiesel a year. Records show the province granted the company an environmental licence in 2006 to set up a manufacturing plant, storage warehouse and chemical tank farm.
....
In a statement Wednesday, Speedway International said it passed all safety inspections and met all safety codes and standards set by Natural Resources Canada and Environment Canada.
Manitoba Conservation deputy minister Fred Meier said the province did not issue a permit to Speedway International to store chemicals on-site since the company fell below regulatory requirements. Meier said Manitoba rules stipulate companies that store more than 5,000 litres of fuel in a single container must have a provincial permit and be subject to more frequent inspections.
Speedway stored its chemicals in 200-litre drums, he said, and did not need a fuel-storage permit.

---------------------------------------------

SAGINAW CHEMICAL INCIDENT SENDS 3 TO HOSPITAL
http://www.wsgw.com/common/more.php?m=15&r=1&item_id=3551
Tags: us_MI, industrial, release, injury, sodium_bicarbonate, sulfuric_acid

Chemical fumes that escaped at the Thompson Aerospace Plant in Saginaw sent three people to the hospital Monday morning. Saginaw firefighters were called to the plant on North Hamilton Street for reports of a hazardous materials incident shortly before 10:00 a.m.

Firefighters say a mixture of muratic acid and residue from sulfuric acid being transferred from a 55 gallon drum into a 200 gallon tank caused some eye and skin irritation after about five gallons were poured.

The three people were treated at Covenant Healthcare for non, life-threatening injuries. A team from Young's Environmental Clean Up, assisted by Saginaw firefighters, used a sodium bicarbonate or essentially a "baking soda" solution to resolve the situation.

---------------------------------------------

HAZMAT TEAM HANDLES SMALL CHEMICAL SPILL AT SCHOOL
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x670730084/Hazmat-team-handles-small-chemical-spill-at-school
Tags: us_IL, education, release, injury, chlorine, cleaners

PEORIA Ñ
A janitor at Rolling Acres Middle School on Tuesday accidentally mixed toilet cleaner with what was believed to be chlorine residue, prompting a response by the Peoria Fire Department's Hazardous Materials Response Team.

Firefighters responded just before 3 p.m. as children were being let out for the day and had the spill cleaned up within an hour.

The janitor suffered minor injuries and was taken to Proctor Hospital, according to Battalion Chief Tom Carr, but no students or faculty were harmed.

---------------------------------------------

CHEMDESIGN, MARINETTE MARINE WORKERS EVACUATED DUE TO LEAK
http://www.wbay.com/story/19715499/2012/10/03/290-employees-evacuated-from-marinette-chemical-plant
Tags: us_WI, industrial, release, injury, ammonia, pharmaceutical

Nearly 300 employees were evacuated during a chemical leak at a plant in Marinette Tuesday evening.

Authorities say an ammonia-based product, called 1,1-Dimethoxy-N,N-dimethyl methanamine, was released at ChemDesign Corp., which, according to its web site, is a custom chemical manufacturer.

Marinette County dispatch received a call about an odor just after 6 p.m., and the Marinette Fire Department and county Hazardous Materials Response Team responded and tested the air.

The plant is near Marinette Marine, where some workers complained of nausea and a headache. No one sought medical treatment, but as a precaution the entire second shift was sent home early and operations were suspended.

According to the fire chief, the light winds helped keep the chemical from spreading, and the chemical leak was confined to those two companies' properties.
....
According to MatWeb, an engineering materials database, the chemical involved in Tuesday's leak is used for the production of pharmaceuticals. It has an ether-like odor and breaks down in water.

---------------------------------------------

SOUTH TYNESIDE DISTRICT HOSPITAL LAB CLEARED IN CHEMICAL ALERT
http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2012/10/03/south-tyneside-district-hospital-lab-cleared-in-chemical-alert-61634-31956081/
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, release, injury, formaldehyde, nitric_acid, wastes

TWO firefighters and a laboratory assistant were yesterday taken to hospital after a chemical alert in the same building.

The incident happened in the histopathology department of South Tyneside District Hospital, after two chemicals reacted with each other, producing nitrous oxide gas.

Fire crews arrived at the building in Harton Lane, South Shields, at around 12.13pm yesterday and went inside wearing breathing apparatus.

They placed the chemicals into oversized drums and took them outside, where a 30m exclusion zone had been set up, to allow the gases to evaporate naturally.
....
A spokesman from the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said the incident involved formalin and nitric acid, which were in 500ml containers and were accidentally mixed.

---------------------------------------------

CHEMICAL FIRE RESTRICTS GOLDEN EARS BRIDGE ACCESS, LEAVES ONE INJURED (WITH VIDEO)
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/injured+Langley+chemical+fire+with+video/7333743/story.html
Tags: Canada, industrial, explosion, injury, oils

METRO VANCOUVER -- One person was airlifted to hospital in serious condition and traffic headed to the Golden Ears Bridge was snarled Tuesday afternoon as fire crews battled an industrial chemical fire on Langley's northern border with Surrey.

The victim was transported to Vancouver General Hospital according to British Columbia Ambulance Service spokeswoman Kelsie Carwithen.

The three-alarm fire started around 2:30 p.m. after an accident caused a blast that triggered multiple chemical explosions at 9807 196 A St., Langley RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Holly Marks confirmed.

The company, Ken Johnson Trucking Ltd., trucks chemicals, lubricating oils, asphalt and special waste around Western Canada and the United States, according to its website.

---------------------------------------------

SPEEDWAY COMPLIANCE AN ISSUE AFTER FUEL FIRE
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/speedway-compliance-an-issue-after-fuel-fire-172417911.html
Tags: Canada, industrial, follow-up, response, biodiesel

An explosive industrial fire on the edge of a residential neighbourhood in St. Boniface has raised questions about the storage of highly volatile chemicals at a city biodiesel facility.
About 100 residences and businesses were forced to evacuate on Monday due to the risk of further explosions from a massive fire at Speedway International at 40 Nicolas St.

The facility is the only business in Winnipeg with a provincial licence to manufacture biodiesel and fire officials initially estimated there were 400,000 litres of flammable chemicals at the site, including methanol, biodiesel and racing fluid.
Provincial cabinet spokesman Jean-Marc Prevost confirmed late Tuesday Manitoba Conservation and the Office of the Fire Commissioner are investigating whether Speedway International complied with provincial fuel-storage regulations.

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Ralph Stuart
secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Secretary
Division of Chemical Health and Safety
American Chemical Society

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