From: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines from Google (18 articles)
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 07:09:02 -0500
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: AC9EA9B4-5218-46A3-8194-AADCFA325DCB**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org


Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, November 21, 2014 at 7:08:48 AM

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

Table of Contents (18 articles)

JUDGE SAYS HARRAN COMPLYING WITH PROSECUTION AGREEMENT IN #SHERISANGJI CASE
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, follow-up, death, illegal

FIREFIGHTERS EXTINGUISH MAGNESIUM FIRE IN LA PORTE
Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, response, magnesium

WKOW 27: MADISON, WI BREAKING NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS
Tags: us_WI, industrial, follow-up, response, asphalt, diesel

TANKER TRUCK COLLAPSES, SPILLS ETHANOL IN KENILWORTH (PHOTOS)
Tags: us_NJ, transportation, release, environmental, ethanol

500 ROBERTSON WORKERS COULD BE LAID OFF IF PLANT NOT UP TO CODE
Tags: us_TN, industrial, follow-up, response, unknown_chemical

LAB AT UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN EVACUATED AFTER FIRE IN SCIENCE BUILDING
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical

HAZMAT SCARE CAUSES TRAFFIC BACKUPS ON ROUTE 128 IN LYNNFIELD
Tags: us_MA, transportation, fire, response, liquid_nitrogen, liquid_oxygen

HAZMAT SITUATION IN SUFFOLK SENDS 13 TO THE HOSPITAL
Tags: us_VA, industrial, release, injury, carbon_monoxide

BUSINESSES IN SANTA PAULA CHEMICAL EXPLOSION ZONE ALLOWED BRIEF VISIT
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical

STUDENTS AT ALAMO MIDDLE SCHOOL HOSPITALIZED AFTER HAZMAT SCARE
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical

CASTLE SCHOOL EVACUATED AFTER MINOR CHEMICAL LEAK (FROM SOMERSET COUNTY GAZETTE)
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical

CHEMICAL SPILL AT SOLANO COMMUNITY COLLEGE ATE THROUGH FLOOR OF BUILDING
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, release, injury, sodium_hydroxide

MITCHELL FERTILIZER PLANT DESTROYED IN FIRE
Tags: us_SD, industrial, fire, response, ag_chems

UPDATE: CREWS EXTINGUISH FIRE AT LA CROSSE FUEL COMPANY
Tags: us_WI, industrial, explosion, response, asphalt, diesel

HAZMAT CREWS AT CITY WAREHOUSE FIRE
Tags: us_VA, industrial, fire, response, cleaners, gasoline, pesticides

HAZMAT CREWS TRY TO IDENTIFY UNSTABLE SUBSTANCE FOLLOWING FIRE AT CALIFORNIA WASTE FACILITY
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, injury, peroxide, sulfuric_acid

TRUCK LEAKS HAZARDOUS MATERIAL, CLOSES SOUTHBOUND STEVENSON
Tags: us_IL, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical

WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT FILED IN HOUSTON-AREA DUPONT CHEMICAL PLANT LEAK THAT KILLED 4 WORKERS
Tags: us_TX, industrial, follow-up, death, other_chemical


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

JUDGE SAYS HARRAN COMPLYING WITH PROSECUTION AGREEMENT IN #SHERISANGJI CASE
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, follow-up, death, illegal

Attorneys for University of California, Los Angeles, chemistry professor Patrick Harran were in court today for a status check on the chemist‰??s compliance with an agreement with the Los Angeles County district attorney‰??s office. Harran made the deal in June so that the DA‰??s office would eventually drop charges of four felony violations of the state labor code stemming from a 2008 fire in his lab that led to the death of research assistant Sheharbano (Sheri) Sangji.
Judge George G. Lomeli said in court that he had reviewed reports submitted by the DA‰??s office and determined that Harran is complying with all terms of the agreement. Lomeli set the next status check for May 21, 2015.
In the June deal, Harran agreed to complete community service and pay a $10,000 fine. After five years, if Harran has complied with all terms of the agreement, the DA‰??s office will drop all charges.
After the hearing, Deputy DA Craig W. Hum said that his office receives reports from Harran‰??s attorneys detailing what the chemist has done to comply with the agreement. Investigators for the DA‰??s office then verify the claims in the reports.

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

FIREFIGHTERS EXTINGUISH MAGNESIUM FIRE IN LA PORTE
Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, response, magnesium

HOUSTON -
A fire at a La Porte heat treatment plant burned for about two hours before it was finally extinguished Wednesday morning.

The fire started at around 9 a.m. in a furnace at Texas Stress, Inc. at 1304 Underwood Road. Workers were heat-testing a newly fabricated piece of equipment made of magnesium. The Deer Park Fire department rushed pumpers to the scene, but firefighters couldn't use water to put out the fire, because water causes fires fueled by magnesium to intensify.

Firefighters used a company crane to remove the top from the furnace, causing the fire to flare for a while as fresh air rushed in. Firefighters contained the blaze, allowing it to burn down, before moving in to douse it with a compound called Metal X.

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

WKOW 27: MADISON, WI BREAKING NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS
Tags: us_WI, industrial, follow-up, response, asphalt, diesel

La Crosse, WI (WXOW) -
UPDATE: The La Crosse Fire Department is working with Midwest Fuels Thursday and Friday to try to identify the cause of Wednesday's explosion at the company on the northside of La Crosse.

Division Chief Craig Snyder, who is heading the investigation, tells WXOW they are interviewing employees and inspecting equipment as part of its investigation.

A tank containing 7,000 gallons of a mix of asphalt and diesel fuel exploded just before 7:00 p.m. Wednesday morning at the company plant at 701 Sumner Street. One employee of Midwest Fuels had minor injuries in the incident.

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

One person is injured in an explosion that rocked the north side of La Crosse Wednesday morning.

A spokesperson for Midwest Industrial Fuels said there were eight people working at the time of the explosion at 701 Sumner Street near Copeland Park shortly before 7:00 a.m. One employee was transported to the hospital with minor burns and has since been released.

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

TANKER TRUCK COLLAPSES, SPILLS ETHANOL IN KENILWORTH (PHOTOS)
Tags: us_NJ, transportation, release, environmental, ethanol

KENILWORTH ‰?? Firefighters called to the scene of what was originally described to them as a "small spill" Wednesday afternoon instead found 500 gallons of ethanol that had leaked out of a collapsed tanker truck.

The truck, carrying 7,000 gallons of ethanol, split as it was offloading its contents at a North Michigan Avenue business, said borough Fire Chief Lou Giordino.

"The tank itself just collapsed and broke open," he said.

Firefighters called the county hazardous materials team and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's emergency response team to the scene. Fire departments from nearby communities, including Union Township and Elizabeth, also assisted with the cleanup.

Crews from a private spill cleanup contractor arrived shortly before 3 p.m.

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

500 ROBERTSON WORKERS COULD BE LAID OFF IF PLANT NOT UP TO CODE
Tags: us_TN, industrial, follow-up, response, unknown_chemical

PRINGFIELD, Tenn. -
A Robertson County manufacturing plant is facing a possible shutdown and the laying off of 500 workers if it does not bring its plant up to code.

The International Automotive Components plant was notified of multiple city and fire code violations in September.

The City of Springfield has told the owners that if they do not make numerous repairs, they could have utilities suspended to the plant.

The Springfield Fire Department has noted 36 calls for service to the plant since the first of the year, including a hazardous materials spill Nov. 2.

‰??We were out there for nine hours because a chemical was mistakenly injected into a tank that caused a chain reaction,‰?? Fire Chief Jimmy Hammill said. ‰??At one point, the chemical got up to 700 degrees.‰??

Hammill said fire fighters also noted issues like obstructed fire exits, cluttered work spaces and combustible materials stored outside near the building.

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

LAB AT UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN EVACUATED AFTER FIRE IN SCIENCE BUILDING
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical

Students at the University of Aberdeen were evacuated after a fire broke out in a laboratory.

The blaze began in the lab at the Meston Building at around 9.40am on Thursday.

The building, which is one of the largest on campus, was evacuated shortly afterwards.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire using a hose-reel jet at around 10.20am.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: ‰??The call came in at around 9.40am about a fire in one of the labs at the Meston Bulding.

‰??Three appliances attended and firefighters used breathing apparatus and hose-reel jets.‰??

Two appliances from Central Station and one from North Anderson Drive attended the incident, which had been brought to a close by 11am.

The SFRS could not immediately confirm the cause of the fire.

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

HAZMAT SCARE CAUSES TRAFFIC BACKUPS ON ROUTE 128 IN LYNNFIELD
Tags: us_MA, transportation, fire, response, liquid_nitrogen, liquid_oxygen

LYNNFIELD, Mass. ‰??A hazmat situation closed Route 128 in both directions in Lynnfield on Thursday afternoon creating a traffic nightmare for commuters.

A truck carrying liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen caught fire on Route 128 in Lynnfield Thursday forcing officials to close the road.

The road was closed in both directions in the area of exit 42.

Massachusetts State Police said a truck carrying liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen was on fire, but the fire was quickly extinguished.

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

HAZMAT SITUATION IN SUFFOLK SENDS 13 TO THE HOSPITAL
Tags: us_VA, industrial, release, injury, carbon_monoxide

Thirteen people went to the hospital with possible carbon monoxide poisoning Thursday following a hazardous materials incident at a Suffolk warehouse.

A person passed out about 2 p.m. inside a building in the 1000 block of Obici Industrial Blvd., according to a city news release.

When emergency personnel responded, they found high levels of carbon monoxide inside.

Warehouse employees were operating a forklift inside, with all the doors closed, because of the cold. During

the day, the fumes built up and started affecting the workers.

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

BUSINESSES IN SANTA PAULA CHEMICAL EXPLOSION ZONE ALLOWED BRIEF VISIT
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical

SANTA PAULA, Calif. -
The massive chemical explosion and spill is a mess to clean up. Hazmat crews are currently working to determine exactly what the substance is and how they are going to clean it up. The half-mile area surrounding the explosion site remains evacuated Thursday night.

27 businesses and four homes are in the evacuation zone. All of the homeowners and business owners were forced to leave everything behind Tuesday morning when the explosion rocked the area. Representatives of the businesses and homes were escorted in Thursday

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

STUDENTS AT ALAMO MIDDLE SCHOOL HOSPITALIZED AFTER HAZMAT SCARE
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical

ALAMO, Calif. (KTVU and wires) -- Three Alamo middle school students are in the hospital Thursday afternoon after a hazardous materials scare in a science class, according to school district officials.

Hazardous materials crews were called to Stone Valley Middle School at 3001 Miranda Ave. around 11 a.m. after several students in a forensic science class reported not feeling well, San Ramon Valley Unified School District spokeswoman Elizabeth Graswich said.

The class was evacuated and three students were sent to hospitals "as a precaution," Graswich said.

"Whenever it's a science class, the fire district treats it as a hazmat incident," Graswich said.

Fire and hazardous materials crews did not find any hazardous materials in the classroom and all of the students involved were wearing protective gloves and goggles, the spokeswoman said.

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

CASTLE SCHOOL EVACUATED AFTER MINOR CHEMICAL LEAK (FROM SOMERSET COUNTY GAZETTE)
Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical

CASTLE School, has been evacuated after a minor chemical leak in a science classroom.

Emergency services were called to the school shortly before 2pm today (Thursday) - no pupils have been hurt.

A statement on the school website said: "We have had a minor incident in the Science Prep Room. No students have been involved.

"There is absolutely no danger whatsoever but the fire brigade are here, as they are for any of these occurrences, but they are already preparing to leave the school site."

9:54pm

THE incident was over at 6.20pm, when emergency services left the site.

It is believed to have been caused by an adhesive being used by construction staff to fit roof insulation.

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

CHEMICAL SPILL AT SOLANO COMMUNITY COLLEGE ATE THROUGH FLOOR OF BUILDING
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, release, injury, sodium_hydroxide

A sodium hydroxide spill at the Solano Community College campus in Vallejo happened while a lab technician was moving 5-gallon buckets of the liquid chemical on a cart, the president of the college said Tuesday afternoon.

One of the buckets fell and overturned when the cart broke, spilling the chemical, which then ate through the second floor of the building and leaked onto the first floor below, President Jowel Laguerre said.

The female chemistry lab technician suffered a burn from the chemical on her hand and went to the hospital as a precaution, Laguerre said. The incident happened around 11 a.m., Laguerre said.

The Vallejo Fire Department responded to the spill at the campus at 545 Columbus Parkway around 1 p.m., Fire Chief Jack McArthur said.

The building where the spill occurred was evacuated and the first and second floors were closed until the spill was cleaned, McArthur said.

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

MITCHELL FERTILIZER PLANT DESTROYED IN FIRE
Tags: us_SD, industrial, fire, response, ag_chems

Firefighters responded to a call early Wedensday morning at CHS Farmer's Alliance fertilizer plant in Mitchell t. The fire started just after 3:00 a.m. and quickly engulfed the facility.

Mitchell Fire Dept. Assistant Chief Paul Morris says that the wind is dispersing the smoke and that, as of Wednesday morning, they are not concerned about smoke from the fire posing risk to the city of Mitchell, however, people down wind from the fire should avoid any extended outdoor activity. Morris says that they will continue to monitor the smoke plume and, if there is a change in the wind situation (which is not expected) they might have to move a few people.

The plant is an unmanned facility that stores dry fertilizer. There was no one inside at the time the fire started. Due to the extent of the fire and the type of chemicals contained in the facility, firefighters have decided to let the fire burn itself out. They are not spraying water on the fire because they want to prevent chemical run-off.

CHS hired Geotech to perform air quality checks to make sure no harmful chemicals are in town. As of Wednesday morning, those air quality checks are still underway.

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

UPDATE: CREWS EXTINGUISH FIRE AT LA CROSSE FUEL COMPANY
Tags: us_WI, industrial, explosion, response, asphalt, diesel

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) -- The La Crosse Fire Department said it was an explosion that firefighters could feel from 10 blocks away.

‰??There was heavy smoke dropping down onto George Street, which is several blocks from here, and then people from the public started calling in to our dispatch center reporting that we had heavy fire and flame,‰?? said Division Chief Jeff Murphy.

The explosion happened just before 7:00 Wednesday morning at Midwest Fuels.

Steve Mathy, president of the parent company for Midwest Fuels said the tank that exploded was 132,000 gallons, and contained about 7,000 gallons of an asphalt-diesel mixture.

He said the tank didn't have much inside, because it's the end of the season.

‰??The roof of the tank blew off, landed on the north side of our terminal. As soon as the explosion happened we called 911,‰?? said Mathy.

Mathy said the tank was destroyed.

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

HAZMAT CREWS AT CITY WAREHOUSE FIRE
Tags: us_VA, industrial, fire, response, cleaners, gasoline, pesticides

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) ‰?? Chesapeake fire units battled flames inside a city-owned warehouse for several hours Wednesday afternoon.

Fire Captain Scott Saunders said the Chesapeake Fire Department learned of the fire around 3 p.m. The scene was located in the 900 block of Executive Boulevard. The building was used by Virginia Beach Public Works Department and sits behind a city-owned garage.

Photos: Fire at city-owned warehouse

No injuries were reported. Crews requested a second alarm to help with fire. About 45 firefighters responded to the scene.

Saunders said lawn care equipment and chemicals, like gasoline and pesticides, were inside the warehouse. Crews used a lot of water on the fire, so Virginia Beach and Chesapeake HazMat crews were at the scene to help.

‰??With what was in the building, the bug sprays, the cleaners, and the gasoline, we wanted to make sure that the runoff that was leaving the scene, we weren‰??t putting HazMat down the storm drains and into the ditches,‰?? Saunders said.

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

HAZMAT CREWS TRY TO IDENTIFY UNSTABLE SUBSTANCE FOLLOWING FIRE AT CALIFORNIA WASTE FACILITY
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, injury, peroxide, sulfuric_acid

SANTA PAULA, Calif. (AP) ‰?? Hazardous materials crews were trying Wednesday to determine how to deal with an unstable substance remaining after an explosion and fire at a California waste treatment facility.


Hazardous materials firefighter crews responded to Ventura County Medical Center, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014, in Ventura, Calif., after emergency personnel who came into contact with the injured people at... (Associated Press)

Medical personnel at the Ventura County Medical Center, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014, in Ventura, Calif., decontaminate emergency personnel who came into contact with the injured people at a chemical explosion... (Associated Press)

In this aerial still frame from video provided by Fox 11 LA, a waste treatment facity burns after an unstable chemical mixture exploded in Santa Paula, Calif., early Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014, sending about... (Associated Press)

Smoke billows above the scene of a fire at the Santa Paula Waste Water Company near Santa Paula , Calif., agricultural fields Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014. The incident began when a vacuum truck exploded... (Associated Press)
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Only a handful of smoldering hot spots remained at the site in an agricultural area near Santa Paula, northwest of Los Angeles, according to Ventura County fire Capt. Mike Lindbery.

A vacuum truck exploded early Tuesday at Santa Clara Waste Water Co., spreading about 1,200 gallons of a chemical mixture that contained sulfuric acid and an organic peroxide, fire officials said.

The resulting substance is highly toxic and combustible, Lindbery said.

"We need to determine exactly what this material is," he said. "How do we neutralize it, and how do we clean it up?"

A private contractor will be in charge of the cleanup, under the supervision of county health officials and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

No burn injuries were reported, but two drivers on the vacuum truck, three firefighters, hospital medical staff and a few nearby residents were washed down or treated for complaints such as breathing problems, red eyes and skin rashes, said Lori Ross, a spokeswoman for the Ventura County Fire Department.

Officials said 37 people were treated at hospitals, including one from the initial blast who had non-life-threatening trauma injuries.

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

TRUCK LEAKS HAZARDOUS MATERIAL, CLOSES SOUTHBOUND STEVENSON
Tags: us_IL, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical

BURR RIDGE, Ill. (Sun-Times Media Wire) -
Southbound lanes of I-55 were shut down for several hours Tuesday evening near west suburban Burr Ridge when a semi truck spilled a hazardous material on the expressway.

All southbound lanes of the Stevenson Expressway were closed about 3:40 p.m. at County Line Road near Burr Ridge when the semi truck began leaking the hazardous material from the trailer onto the shoulder of the roadway, Illinois State Police said.

The 2000 Kenworth T2000 tractor with a 1999 trim trailer was driven by a 58-year-old man from Oak Park, state police said.

The Tri-State Fire Protection District was responding to the HazMat situation, authorities said.

No injuries have been reported, said Illinois State Police Sgt. Bruce Orns.

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

WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT FILED IN HOUSTON-AREA DUPONT CHEMICAL PLANT LEAK THAT KILLED 4 WORKERS
Tags: us_TX, industrial, follow-up, death, other_chemical

HOUSTON ‰?? The widow of one of four workers killed in a Houston-area DuPont chemical plant leak has filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking more than $1 million.

The Houston Chronicle (http://bit.ly/14G9Eyk">http://bit.ly/14G9Eyk ) reported Tuesday that the lawsuit was filed by Michelle Tisnado, who was married to Gilbert Tisnado.

The lawsuit filed Monday in Houston names E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., plus the manager of the plant in La Porte.

Three other workers, including Gilbert Tisnado's brother, Robert Tisnado, died at the DuPont facility Saturday. Authorities are trying to determine what caused the chemical release.

A message left with a DuPont spokesman wasn't immediately returned Tuesday.

DuPont has issued a statement of remorse and extended sympathy to the families of the four employees who died.

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


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

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