From: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines from Google (11 articles)
Date: October 31, 2012 7:49:10 AM EDT
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, October 31, 2012 7:48:44 AM

A service of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
Connecting Chemistry and Safety at http://www.dchas.org
All article summaries and tags are archived at http://pinboard.in/u:dchas

Table of Contents (11 articles)

MALFUNCTION IN LAB EQUIPMENT CAUSES FIRE AT UW
Tags: us_WI, laboratory, fire, response, carbon_dioxide, fire_extinguisher

HAZMAT SPILL SHUTS DOWN BARTLETT INDUSTRIAL PARK
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, response, acids

WORKERS EVACUATED AFTER EXPLOSION AT CHEMICAL FIRM LUBRIZOL, IN HAZELWOOD, DERBYSHIRE
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, fire, response, petroleum

HELL FIRE REVISITS COUNTRY ON EID DAYS
Tags: Pakistan, industrial, fire, injury, gasoline

FIRE AT DOMBIVLI PLANT
Tags: India, industrial, fire, response, paints

FIRE REPORTED AT BP TEXAS CITY REFINERY
Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, response, petroleum

QUICK ACTION KEEPS COMMUNITY SAFE
Tags: us_MO, transportation, discovery, response, propane

TRAIN DERAILMENT LEADS TO LEVEL 3 HAZMAT SITUATION IN KY.
Tags: us_KY, transportation, release, response, other_chemical

MYSTERIOUS FIRE INCIDENTS IN KARACHI Z
Tags: Pakistan, industrial, follow-up, response, unknown_chemical

HAZMAT CALLED TO CALIF. BANK AFTER TAINTED MONEY DEPOSITED
Tags: us_CA, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

BOMB SQUAD UNIT FINDS FLARES IN PACKET AND CHEMICAL INSTEAD OF DYNAMITE, OFFICIALS SAY
Tags: us_CA, public, discovery, response, explosives


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MALFUNCTION IN LAB EQUIPMENT CAUSES FIRE AT UW
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/crime_and_courts/malfunction-in-lab-equipment-causes-fire-at-uw/article_d832e470-2299-11e2-bb15-0019bb2963f4.html
Tags: us_WI, laboratory, fire, response, carbon_dioxide, fire_extinguisher

A malfunctioning piece of equipment in a laboratory on the UW-Madison campus caused a fire Monday that forced the evacuation of the building but no injuries, authorities reported.

The fire was reported at 10:52 a.m. in the Service Memorial Institute, 470 N. Charter St., according to UW-Madison Police Sgt. Aaron Chapin.

The fire caused about $1,500 in damage to the equipment, and was confined to the one room in the building.

The building's alarms went off and occupants evacuated safely.

"A researcher was heating up some oil when the equipment malfunctioned and the oil ignited," Chapin told Madison.com.

Madison Fire Department spokeswoman Lori Wirth said the researcher was performing an evaporation experiment when the temperature control on the equipment failed, bringing the liquid to flash point and igniting.

"The researcher first used a CO2 extinguisher and dry chemical extinguisher to put out the fire but neither worked, so he put water on the liquid, creating a minor flash that dispersed the liquid so the fire went out," Wirth said.

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HAZMAT SPILL SHUTS DOWN BARTLETT INDUSTRIAL PARK
http://couriernews.suntimes.com/news/16054238-418/hazmat-spill-in-bartlett.html
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, response, acids

BARTLETT Ñ Access to part of an industrial park in the southwest corner of Bartlett remained shut off Tuesday afternoon as technicians from several area fire departments worked to control a hazardous-materials spill.

A Bartlett Fire Protection District spokesman said the spill, believed to be some kind of acid, occurred at about 11:50 a.m. in a factory at 1540 Hecht Drive. Hecht Drive is north of Stearns Road, west of Munger Road and south of West Bartlett Road.

The threat of dangerous fumes caused firefighters to clear the area and bring in trained hazardous-materials teams with acid-proof suits from other fire departments to contain the danger.

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WORKERS EVACUATED AFTER EXPLOSION AT CHEMICAL FIRM LUBRIZOL, IN HAZELWOOD, DERBYSHIRE
http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Workers-evacuated-explosion-chemical-firm/story-17199480-detail/story.html
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, fire, response, petroleum

MORE than 300 staff and contractors had to be evacuated from the site of a chemical firm following an explosion.

More than 20 firefighters were called to Lubrizol, in Hazelwood, yesterday at noon. The company carries out research and development work to improve the performance of motor oil.

Workers were left outside the building for more than an hour while crews, including the firm's own firefighters, battled the blaze.

A fire investigation was due to take place last night but the seat of the fire was thought to be in the server room.

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HELL FIRE REVISITS COUNTRY ON EID DAYS
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/national/30-Oct-2012/hell-fire-revisits-country-on-eid-days
Tags: Pakistan, industrial, fire, injury, gasoline

PESHAWAR/KARACHI - The happiness of Eid was spoiled for dozens of families affected by two fierce factory infernos in Peshawar and Karachi, renewing for the nation the bitter memories of those over 300 people who lost their lives in last month's tragic fires at Lahore and Karachi factories.
At least 14 workers at a Peshawar chipboard factory sustained severe burns as the facility caught fire on Monday, while a fierce fire broking out at a Karachi chemical factory was brought under control the same day after 30 hours of hectic efforts.
Police said the fire at Peshawar factory erupted when workers were cleaning the machines with petrol. Ten workers burnt in the fire were shifted to the Hayatabad Medical Complex and after receiving initial treatment they were shifted to the Khyber Teaching Hospital. Three workers were said to be in critical condition at the hospital.

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FIRE AT DOMBIVLI PLANT
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Fire-at-Dombivli-plant/articleshow/17026679.cms
Tags: India, industrial, fire, response, paints

Thane: A major incident was averted due to prompt action of the fire department, as major fire broke out in oil paint manufacturing unitnamed Narco Chemical situated near residential areas in Dombivli east on Tuesday early morning.

Nearly 40 fire engines from Kalyan, Dombivli, Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar, Thane and Navi Mumbai rushed to douse a fire at a chemical company in Dombivli (E) early on Tuesday. TNncaught fire at around 1.15 am on Tuesday.According to Manpada police officials, th reason behind fire is still to ascertain but fire took place late night when no one was inside theNarco Chemical company and only a security guard was posted outside factory who first noticed fire took place inside factory andimmediately informed to fire department and police officials.After getting call fire brigade officials immediately from Dombivli MIDC reached on spot to control fire but as fire was big as theyrequired additional fire machines from other fire department and subsequently they called fire machines from neighboring areas.

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FIRE REPORTED AT BP TEXAS CITY REFINERY
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/story/19955893/2012/10/30/fire-reported-at-bp-texas-city-refinery
Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, response, petroleum

TEXAS CITY, Texas -
Less than two weeks after a chemical leak was reported at the BP Texas City Refinery, emergency management officials reported a fire at the facility on Tuesday afternoon.

The fire was extinguished at 3:05 p.m., according to a statement released Tuesday by a BP representative. Crews will remain at the refinery to prevent any fire flare-ups.

Bruce Clawson, spokesman for the Texas City Office of Emergency Management, tells FOX 26 News that the oil fire originated from one of the units in the plant.

The fire, reported on Tuesday afternoon, left large plumes of smoke wafting into the atmosphere and caused Texas City OEM to declare Level 2 emergency status.

Clawson says OEM officials are monitoring the situation closely and that there is no impact to the Texas City community.

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

QUICK ACTION KEEPS COMMUNITY SAFE
http://www.lincolncountyjournal.com/?p=9024
Tags: us_MO, transportation, discovery, response, propane

On Sunday October 28 at approximately 16:53 hours the Volunteers of the Winfield-Foley Fire Protection District were requested to respond to assist Foley Police with a hazardous incident involving a propane tank in the city limits of Foley. Once on scene, they found a propane tank being drug behind a Jeep at the intersection of Hancock Street and Railroad Avenue. A small amount of propane was leaking out of the tank as it lay upside down on the roadway. They immediately evacuated the residents within a 300 foot radius of the incident and blocked the roadways on the East side of Foley. The scene quickly became busy as the Winfield-Foley Fire Protection District, Lincoln County Hazmat Team, State Police, and local law enforcement coordinated to mitigate the hazard. The MFA transferred approximately 297 gallons of liquid propane from the leaking tank and safely stored it on board their tanker truck.

During the operations, Highway 79, BNSF railway as well as local roadways were closed to traffic for approximately two hours.

The driver of the vehicle was taken by local law enforcement and faces charges.

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TRAIN DERAILMENT LEADS TO LEVEL 3 HAZMAT SITUATION IN KY.
http://myfox8.com/2012/10/29/train-derailment-leads-to-level-3-hazmat-situation-in-ky/
Tags: us_KY, transportation, release, response, other_chemical

LOUISVILLE, Ky. Ñ More than a dozen homes have reportedly been evacuated Monday morning after a train carrying hazardous materials derailed and spilled chemicals in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
WDRB reports about 20 homes were evacuated around 6:30 a.m. after 30 cars derailed on Katherine Station Road north of the Salt River near Dixie Highway.
A Level 3 Hazmat situation was declared shortly after the derailment as one of the cars was carrying a chemical identified as liquid-form butadiene, according to WDRB. The station reports the chemical is used in the production of synthetic rubber.
Residents are being told to keep their windows and doors tightly closed, Metro Safe spokeswoman Jody Duncan told WDRB.

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MYSTERIOUS FIRE INCIDENTS IN KARACHI Z
http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=179997
Tags: Pakistan, industrial, follow-up, response, unknown_chemical

AS Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad was calming down representatives of business community who were fully resolved to observe a total shut down in Karachi to agitate failure of authorities concerned to arrest the ever-deteriorating security situation and believing in his assurances they agreed to postpone their strike call till November 30, a fire that started in a chemical factory turned the entire industrial unit into ashes resulting into huge losses to the owners and as a consequence also to the country. The incident raised many questions including the point being agitated by businessmen as most of such incidents are stated to be extortion-related with factories of those put on fire who resist demands of extortionists.

Accidental fires do break out at factories, shopping centres, offices and homes but frequency of these incidents in Karachi legitimately promotes conspiracy theories. Extortion has become a routine in the city and businessmen are openly protesting against this phenomenon and dismal performance of the Government to check the trend. It is because of utter disappointment that businesses are closing down and industries shifting to other safer areas of the country and even to other regional countries. This is not the only incident as over 300 precious lives were lost when fire engulfed a garment factory in Karachi in September, which also raised similar questions both about their linkage to extortion and poor safety measures. There were more casualties in garment factory fire as workers trapped inside could not get out because of single exist and failure of fire brigades to control fire at the earliest. Now again, fire brigades from across the city were called in but even then th!
ey could not extinguish the flames and as a result the factory was completely gutted. As for safety aspect, it can only happen in Pakistan to run businesses and industrial plants without observing even the fundamental precautionary and safety requirements. It is also rightly complained that there is lack of properly trained fire-fighting personnel and equipment and even those that should be there are often found to be not fully prepared to take up the challenge. We would, therefore, urge both the Government and management of factories and businesses to pay due attention to safety aspects and carry out necessary maintenance and upgradation as per requirements.

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

HAZMAT CALLED TO CALIF. BANK AFTER TAINTED MONEY DEPOSITED
http://www.firehouse.com/news/10817302/tainted-money-in-calif-triggers-hazmat-response
Tags: us_CA, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

Oct. 20--MODESTO -- Six employees of a Modesto bank were hospitalized Friday afternoon after at least three of them broke out in hives shortly after a customer handed a bank teller money wrapped in a paper towel, authorities said.

....
Minutes later, the teller broke out with hives and had trouble breathing. She came into contact with two other employees, who then exhibited similar symptoms.

Symptoms included fever and blisters, Findlen said.
....
They detected an unknown substance on the money, and at the teller's window where it was deposited. Determining the nature of the substance will require further testing at a lab, Slamon said.

Findlen said detectives believe they have identified the man who brought the paper towel full of contaminated money to the bank, and an investigation into the case is ongoing. No one had been arrested as of Friday night.

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BOMB SQUAD UNIT FINDS FLARES IN PACKET AND CHEMICAL INSTEAD OF DYNAMITE, OFFICIALS SAY
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/28/chemical-dynamite-removed-from-ventura-home/
Tags: us_CA, public, discovery, response, explosives

Sheriff's officials found flares in a packet Sunday after getting a call about a stick of dynamite at a home, deputies said.

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office bomb squad unit was called to the 200 block of Baker Avenue to investigate the possible explosive, officials said.

The home was evacuated, and the flares were found in a construction training kit that was owned by a now deceased man who had lived in the home, officials said.

About 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Ventura city firefighters responded to a report of chemical odor at the home, said Assistant Fire Chief David Endaya. A woman told them she thought there were explosives in a pouch.

Firefighters said the smell in the home was beyond normal, and a hazmat unit went inside, Endaya said.

The hazmat team found a leaking gallon of malathion in the garage, he said.

Malathion is used to kill Mediterranean fruit flies and mosquitoes in large outdoor areas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It also is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of head lice.

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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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