From: Secretary ACS DCHAS <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (12 articles)
Date: Wed, 7 May 2014 07:26:37 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 01400712-F76F-4F8D-A3B2-9D308AD4BBC1**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org


Chemical Safety Headlines
A service of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
Connecting Chemistry and Safety at http://www.dchas.org
Tweets available on our ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety (DCHAS) Facebook Page
Tagged Article summaries are available at http://pinboard.in/u:dchas

Table of Contents (12 articles)

DUBAI SAFETY SUPERVISOR DENIES CAUSING WORKER‰??S DEATH IN JEBEL ALI PORT CHEMICAL EXPLOSION
Tags: United_Arab_Emirates, industrial, follow-up, death, unknown_chemical

HAZMAT AT NORTH STAFFORD HIGH SCHOOL: 15 SICKENED
Tags: us_VI, education, release, injury, unknown_chemical

ACID LEAK FORCES EVACUATION ON EAST SIDE
Tags: us_TX, transportation, release, injury, acids

AMERICAN PRESS
Tags: us_LA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical

CHEMICAL LEAK 'UNDER CONTROL' IN SE HOUSTON
Tags: us_TX, industrial, release, response, hydrochloric_acid

BIG RIG LEAK CREATES HAZMAT SITUATION OFF I-5
Tags: us_CA, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical

WORKERS EXPOSED TO CHEMICAL LEAK AT INTEL PLANT IN ARIZONA
Tags: us_AZ, industrial, release, injury, ammonium_hydroxide

CHEMICAL SPILL TRIGGERS EXPLOSION AT MAINE SEWAGE PLANT ‰?? PORTLAND ‰?? BANGOR DAILY NEWS ‰?? BDN MAINE
Tags: us_ME, industrial, explosion, response, water_treatment

FIRE, EXPLOSION ERUPTS AT INTERNATIONAL WAX PLANT IN SMETHPORT: HERE AND NOW
Tags: us_PA, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

NO INJURIES IN EAST PHOENIX HAZMAT INCIDENT
Tags: us_AZ, industrial, fire, response, solvent

3 HURT AFTER CHEMICAL IGNITES EXPLOSION, FIRE INSIDE AVONDALE GARAGE
Tags: us_AZ, public, explosion, response, unknown_chemical

CHEMICAL STASH RAISES ALARM IN BYRON BAY
Tags: Australia, public, discovery, response, benzene, cleaners, ethyl_acetate, petroleum, solvent


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

DUBAI SAFETY SUPERVISOR DENIES CAUSING WORKER‰??S DEATH IN JEBEL ALI PORT CHEMICAL EXPLOSION
http://www.thenational.ae/uae/workplace-safety/safety-supervisor-denies-causing-workers-death-in-jebel-ali-port-chemical-explosion
Tags: United_Arab_Emirates, industrial, follow-up, death, unknown_chemical

DUBAI // A safety supervisor has denied causing the death of a worker after a drop of paint fell from the roof of an unventilated chemicals tank on to a light bulb, leading to a powerful explosion.

Related

‰? Pledge to cut worksite deaths and injuries in the UAE
Worksite safety in the UAE is a shared responsibility
Topic Workplace safety
The blast caused third-degree burns to 80 per cent of Reji Thomas‰??s body. He died seven months later.

Prosecutors said that in the early hours of January 4 last year Thomas, 47, was assigned to work at a site in Jebel Ali Port and was put inside the chemicals tank.

About two hours later the paint fell on to a halogen bulb, causing the explosion.

Thomas was found unconscious on the floor of the tank and was rushed to hospital. He remained there for seven months, unable to talk to police before he died.

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

HAZMAT AT NORTH STAFFORD HIGH SCHOOL: 15 SICKENED
http://potomaclocal.com/2014/05/06/hazmat-at-north-stafford-high-school-at-least-5-injured/
Tags: us_VI, education, release, injury, unknown_chemical

A total of 15 people reported feeling ill this morning after chemicals used to eradicate weeds were picked up by North Stafford High School‰??s air handling system and distributed through a wing of the school.

All of the patients were evaluated, and two of them were taken to a local hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life threatening for further evaluation, said Stafford fire and rescue spokesman Mark Doyle.

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

ACID LEAK FORCES EVACUATION ON EAST SIDE
http://www.ksat.com/news/hazmat-cleaning-up-acid-spill-on-east-side/25846716
Tags: us_TX, transportation, release, injury, acids

SAN ANTONIO -
An acid leak forced the evacuation of a truck stop on the East Side late Tuesday night. The incident happened around 9:15 p.m. Tuesday.

A container of acid loaded onto an 18-wheeler began to leak in the parking lot of the Travel Centers of America on Interstate 10 East near Foster Road.

Hazmat crews were called and began to use absorbent to soak up the acid. The area was evacuated while crews cleaned up the spill.

One person was treated for breathing hazardous fumes, but no major injuries were reported.

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

AMERICAN PRESS
http://www.americanpress.com/Axiall-2013-fire-report
Tags: us_LA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical

A recent report from Axiall to the state Department of Environmental Quality reveals more than 100,000 pounds of hazardous chemicals were released during a fire at the company‰??s Westlake plant in December, an amount that far exceeds what is permitted by state officials.
Axiall‰??s 60-day follow-up report indicates that a combined total of 131,000 pounds of hydrogen chloride ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride were released from the plant as a result of the Dec. 20 blaze.
Axiall‰??s Title V permit with DEQ allows for a maximum combined total of 1,101 pounds of these chemicals to be released from the plant during each incident.
In a statement to the American Press, DEQ Press Secretary Greg Langley said Axiall‰??s report revealed ‰??potential areas of concern associated with the incident.‰?? He added the department has notified Axiall verbally of ‰??this preliminary finding and will work with them to obtain any necessary information or data to determine if violations of the air quality regulations or applicable air permits occurred.‰??

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

CHEMICAL LEAK 'UNDER CONTROL' IN SE HOUSTON
http://www.click2houston.com/news/chemical-leak-in-se-houston/25844900
Tags: us_TX, industrial, release, response, hydrochloric_acid

HOUSTON -
Authorities say an acid leak in southeast Houston is under control.

Houston fire officials said a couple hundred gallons of hydrochloric acid spilled around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday at ESR Company in the 6100 block of McGrew.

Crews with the Houston Fire Department responded to the scene and evacuated the building and the building next door.

Officials said there was no environmental impact from the leak.

The incident was declared under control by 8 p.m.

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

BIG RIG LEAK CREATES HAZMAT SITUATION OFF I-5
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Hazmat-Situation-Declared-After-Big-Rig-Leaks-onto-I-5-258036201.html
Tags: us_CA, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical

A Hazmat team was called to clean up a leaking substance from a semi-truck off the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 in Carlsbad.

The California Highway Patrol said a big rig stalled around 3:15 p.m. and pulled over onto the right-hand shoulder of the Palomar Airport Road on-ramp.

A driver passing by reported an unknown white substance leaking from one of the drums in the trailer.

When officers arrived on scene to investigate the leak, they declared it a Hazmat situation after seeing the hazardous materials placards on the truck.

Crews determined the liquid was a hazardous -- but not deadly -- cleaning substance made by Airproducts which is 80 percent water.

The Palomar Airport Road on-ramp to I-5 South was shut down for at least three hours. Traffic on the road was backed up for a time.

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

WORKERS EXPOSED TO CHEMICAL LEAK AT INTEL PLANT IN ARIZONA
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-intel-hazmat-20140505,0,7904618.story
Tags: us_AZ, industrial, release, injury, ammonium_hydroxide

PHOENIX (Reuters) - A chemical leak at Intel Corp's manufacturing complex in Arizona has been contained and two workers were taken to hospital for observation, a spokesman for the chipmaker said on Monday.

During a tool installation in a basement at the sprawling plant southeast of Phoenix a tube was severed, leading to a spill of around 100 gallons (379 liters) of ammonium hydroxide, said Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy.

Ten workers near the spill reported to the facility's medical station and two of those people were sent to hospital for observation, Mulloy said.

The spill was in a confined area and no chemicals have been exposed to the public, he said.

"The leak has ended. It has been contained. Right now they're making plans for the cleanup," Mulloy said.

Chandler police spokesman Seth Tyler said fire department crews were called to the scene at about 1:30 p.m. local time after a report that there was "an incident with multiple injuries."

He said a construction crew working inside one of the buildings accidentally cut into a pipe.

"During the construction process, a pipe was cut that feeds ammonium into a room in the basement," he said. "The leak was immediately isolated."

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

CHEMICAL SPILL TRIGGERS EXPLOSION AT MAINE SEWAGE PLANT ‰?? PORTLAND ‰?? BANGOR DAILY NEWS ‰?? BDN MAINE
http://bangordailynews.com/2014/05/05/news/portland/chemical-spill-triggers-explosion-at-maine-sewage-plant/
Tags: us_ME, industrial, explosion, response, water_treatment

KENNEBUNK, Maine ‰?? Emergency crews were at the scene of a chemical spill Monday at the Kennebunk Sewer Department on Water Street.

The spill happened after two chemicals mixed, leading to a small explosion in the building.

Kennebunk Fire Chief Stephen Nichols said fire crews went to the Sewer Department on Water Street at 10:20 Monday morning after two chemicals were reported to have mixed. Nichols said during a delivery of bioxide, a solution put in the sewer to eliminate odor, two valves crossed, mixing the bioxide with chlorine bleach.

‰??They were unsure of the reaction,‰?? Nichols said. ‰??This is not anything they normally mix together.‰??

While crews were investigating, Nichols said, a plastic tank containing chlorine bleach exploded when the lid was lifted and the chemical mixed with oxygen. He said a member of the Fire Department was thrown off a ladder in the explosion.

‰??He‰??s fine. Everybody‰??s doing good,‰?? Nichols said. ‰??The public doesn‰??t need to panic, we just need to get this cleaned up.‰??

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

FIRE, EXPLOSION ERUPTS AT INTERNATIONAL WAX PLANT IN SMETHPORT: HERE AND NOW
http://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/here_and_now/article_1df5e4e8-d406-11e3-b197-0019bb2963f4.html
Tags: us_PA, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

FARMERS VALLEY, Pa. ‰?? An industrial fire badly damaged the facility at International Wax Inc. on Sunday afternoon, and may have injured at least one person.
The explosion, which may have started the blaze at International Wax, located at the intersection of routes 46 and 446 in Farmers Valley, was reportedly heard as far away as Port Allegany.
‰??It looked like a miniature Hiroshima,‰?? an eyewitness said, describing the cloud that may have been caused by the explosion and fire.
The witness, who was about a mile away from the plant at the time of the blast, was walking a neighbor‰??s dog when they said they felt the need to hunker down to protect themselves.
‰??I felt it. It shook my feet before I saw the smoke, which immediately formed into a dark gray mushroom cloud and soon encompassed the entire refinery,‰?? said the observer. ‰??It kept that shape for approximately a minute before it turned to white smoke and the wind blew it in directions away from Smethport and Coryville.‰??
Reports indicated the fire ignited wax in a filter room at the plant. Officially, the cause of the fire remains under investigation by two state police fire marshals, who were still on the scene as of 9 p.m. Sunday, according to Smethport fire Chief Steve Field.

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

NO INJURIES IN EAST PHOENIX HAZMAT INCIDENT
http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2014/05/04/phoenix-hazmat-chemical-exposure-no-one-injured/8696269/
Tags: us_AZ, industrial, fire, response, solvent

No one was injured in a Sunday morning fire in an east Phoenix manufacturing plant, a Phoenix Fire Department spokesman said.

Hazmat crews responded to a first alarm chemical exposure call at about 9:30 a.m. Sunday at FlipChip International near 37th Street and University Drive, said Phoenix Fire Capt. Tony Mure.

Workers were using chemicals and solvents when a small flash fire ignited in one of the booths, Mure said. About 20 employees were evacuated from the building. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

"The employee was not injured, although quite scared because he thought he got burned initially," Mure said.

The employee was evaluated by paramedics and was not transported to the hospital, Mure said.

Mure said FlipChip International works with other companies to develop computer chips. The company's fire protection systems successfully contained the fire and there was no risk or health concerns to the public.

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

3 HURT AFTER CHEMICAL IGNITES EXPLOSION, FIRE INSIDE AVONDALE GARAGE
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/50f282c5f3c4406aa40603cf79d7bfe2/AZ--Garage-Explosion
Tags: us_AZ, public, explosion, response, unknown_chemical

AVONDALE, Arizona ‰?? Police in Avondale say three people had to be hospitalized after a chemically-triggered explosion that blew the garage door off a home.

Sgt. Brandon Busse says two men and one woman were taken to a burn unit in Phoenix early Sunday for injuries that weren't life threatening.

Busse says the two men were working with some type of chemical in the garage around 1:30 a.m. when the woman entered with either a lit cigarette or one that she was about to light.

Busse says the damage was all contained within the garage.

He says two adults and three children who were elsewhere in the home were uninjured.

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

CHEMICAL STASH RAISES ALARM IN BYRON BAY
http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/chemical-stash-raises-alarm-byron-bay/2248812/
Tags: Australia, public, discovery, response, benzene, cleaners, ethyl_acetate, petroleum, solvent

NSW Fire Brigade's HazMat unit was called to a housing commission residence in Gordon Street Byron Bay this afternoon after a cleaner found a stash of chemicals and raised an alarm.

The home's occupant had recently passed away and when a cleaner was employed to spruce thing up the quantity of exotic-sounding thinning agents aroused suspicion.

Chemicals included methyl benzene, formic acid, ethyl acetate, glycerine and a petroleum-based solvent.

Fire crews responded to the clean up wearing safety suits and spent several hours at the scene.

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

Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post



The content of this page reflects the personal opinion(s) of the author(s) only, not the American Chemical Society, ILPI, Safety Emporium, or any other party. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. Unauthorized reproduction of these materials is prohibited. Send questions/comments about the archive to secretary@dchas.org.
The maintenance and hosting of the DCHAS-L archive is provided through the generous support of Safety Emporium.