From: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines from Google (13 articles)
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2015 07:41:29 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, October 9, 2015 at 7:41:15 AM

A membership benefit of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
All article summaries and tags are archived at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__pinboard.in_u-3Adchas&d=BQIFaQ&c=lb62iw4YL4RFalcE2hQUQealT9-RXrryqt9KZX2qu2s&r=meWM1Buqv4IQ27AlK1OJRjcQl09S1Zta6YXKalY_Io0&m=vvhabjUIwjdx2u7_Iku6Uoj0EdmLCpt46S7qVhwMzLo&s=wl9ahNat-4iOwoGg7WO_j__pFc0hQMstrR9sW9ViI20&e=

Table of Contents (13 articles)

THREE KILLED, TWO SERIOUSLY INJURED IN LOUISIANA GAS PLANT EXPLOSION
Tags: us_LA, industrial, explosion, death, methane, natural_gas

MYERS MIDDLE SCHOOL BACK OPEN TODAY AFTER WEDNESDAY HAZMAT SCARE
Tags: us_GA, education, release, injury, freon

WFMJ.COM NEWS WEATHER SPORTS FOR YOUNGSTOWN-WARREN OHIO
Tags: us_OH, public, release, response, mercury

4 TAKEN TO HOSPITAL, SOUTHPARK MALL EVACUATED AFTER POSSIBLE HAZ
Tags: us_NC, public, release, injury, carbon_monoxide

SIOUX CITY, SOUTH SIOUX CITY, NORTH SIOUX CITY, IOWA, NEBRASKA, SOUTH DAKOTA
Tags: us_NE, public, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

CREWS BATTLE CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE SOUTHWEST OF WICHITA
Tags: us_KS, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical

ROAD CLOSED AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, release, response, kerosene

WOMAN AWARDED $1.6 MILLION OVER DUPONT CHEMICAL IN WATER
Tags: us_OH, public, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical

POISONOUS CHEMICAL LEAKS ONTO I-35
Tags: us_IA, transportation, release, response, flammables

HAZMAT CREWS CALLED TO NC STATE FACILITY AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL
Tags: us_NC, industrial, release, response, hydrogen_peroxide

STUDENT TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER SMALL EXPLOSION ON U OF L CAMPUS
Tags: us_KY, laboratory, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

SIME DARBY FACES FINE FOLLOWING CHEMICAL EXPLOSION
Tags: Liberia, industrial, follow-up, injury, unknown_chemical

PASADENA CONTAINER PLANT EXPLOSION LIKELY DUE TO CHEMICALS, OFFICIALS SAY
Tags: us_TX, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical


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THREE KILLED, TWO SERIOUSLY INJURED IN LOUISIANA GAS PLANT EXPLOSION
Tags: us_LA, industrial, explosion, death, methane, natural_gas

Three people were killed and two others were seriously injured Thursday in an explosion at a natural gas plant in Gibson, Louisiana, authorities said.

The victims were contractors working at the Williams Partners facility in the town of Gibson, about 60 miles southwest of New Orleans, the company and state police said.

One of the injured was being treated in the burn unit of a Baton Rouge hospital and the other was being treated at Terrebonne General Hospital in Houma, state police Trooper Evan Harrell told reporters late Thursday afternoon.

Smoke billows from the site of an explosion Thursday at a natural gas plant in Gibson, Louisiana. Chris Heller / AP
The cause of the explosion, which was reported shortly before 11 a.m. (noon ET), wasn't yet known, Harrell said. The plant was out of service and gas wasn't flowing at the time of the blast, said Warren Toups, the plant's operations manager.

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MYERS MIDDLE SCHOOL BACK OPEN TODAY AFTER WEDNESDAY HAZMAT SCARE
Tags: us_GA, education, release, injury, freon

School will be back in session today at Myers Middle School in Savannah, after a hazmat scare led to an entire school evacuation on Wednesday afternoon.

Three students complained of feeling sick, and a total of 37 people were taken to the hospital

School officials say all of the students are out of the hospital and home safe with their families.

High levels of Freon in the air in certain areas of the building led to the evacuations.

Later in the evening, the building and its operational systems were investigated by fire department officials, SCCPSS maintenance staff, and an independent environmental consulting agency.

The findings yielded that the building was clear and no Fre

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WFMJ.COM NEWS WEATHER SPORTS FOR YOUNGSTOWN-WARREN OHIO
Tags: us_OH, public, release, response, mercury

WEATHERSFIELD TWP., Ohio -
Weathersfield Township firefighters called Hazmat to a mercury spill at the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District offices.

First responders were called to the MVSD on Ohltown McDonald Road shortly before 10 a.m. Thursday.

Fire officials tell 21 News that about two tablespoons of mercury spilled when an old piece of equipment was being removed from one of the MVSD building.

There have been no reports of injuries or evacuation.

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

4 TAKEN TO HOSPITAL, SOUTHPARK MALL EVACUATED AFTER POSSIBLE HAZ
Tags: us_NC, public, release, injury, carbon_monoxide

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -
At least four people were taken to the hospital and a Charlotte mall was evacuated Thursday night after a Hazmat situation possibly involving Carbon Monoxide, according to Charlotte firefighters.

The incident around 9 p.m. at Southpark Mall on the 4400 block of Sharon Road. Officials have not released much information, but firefighters said they were monitoring for Carbon Monoxide while the mall was being evacuated.

Charlotte Fire tells WBTV it took 40 firefighters to get the situation under control.

Medic said four people were taken from the scene to an area hospital. Their names and conditions have not been released.

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

SIOUX CITY, SOUTH SIOUX CITY, NORTH SIOUX CITY, IOWA, NEBRASKA, SOUTH DAKOTA
Tags: us_NE, public, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

ALLEN, Neb.

An afternoon explosion in the small town of Allen, Neb. is leaving the community shaken up Thursday evening. Crews on the scene say a flash fire from a chemical explosion sent two people to the hospital.

Investigators say two elderly people were just cleaning the bathroom inside Allen's former Village Inn, soon to be a new bar and restaurants when an explosion ripped through the room, sending both people to the hospital.

"You never think in a small town like this it's going to happen, I mean what is there to explode?" said Connie Roberts, a teacher in Allen, Neb.

But around 5 p.m. Thursday, an explosion at the former Village Inn rocked the small community of Allen, all from two people inside, cleaning.

"Cleaning in the bathroom with chemicals, which caused the explosion," said Sara Kumm, Allen, NE EMT Rescue Captain.

Allen Fire Chief Rod Strivens says an elderly man and woman inside quickly extinguished the flames from the flash fire caused by the explosion. Officials say there was minimal damage to the building, but the explosion sent both to the hospital. One person was taken to the hospital via life flight.

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

CREWS BATTLE CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE SOUTHWEST OF WICHITA
Tags: us_KS, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical

WICHITA, Kan. ‰?? Firefighters are on scene of a fire at a chemical plant southwest of Wichita.

The fire broke out just before 5 p.m. at the Occidental Chemical Corporation in the 6200 block of South Ridge Road. When crews arrived, they reported smoke and flames were visible.

There are no reports of injuries, but the fire possibly involves toxic chemicals. Hazmat crews are on scene.

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

ROAD CLOSED AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, release, response, kerosene

TWO houses were evacuated and a residential street was closed off because of a chemical leak.

Fire crews were called to Lansdowne Road in Atherton at around 11am today after around 1,000 litres of paraffin leaked from a tank in the back garden of one of the properties.

Crews from Atherton and Bolton ventilated nearby houses along with the North West Ambulance Service although no one was injured.

An environmental protection unit was also sent to the scene and a cordon was put in place so traffic could not access the road.

GMFRS station manager Ady Taylor, who was in charge of the incident, said: ‰??We were dealing with an incident involving around 1,000 litres of kerosene that soaked into the ground and surrounding area when the tank it was in burst.

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

WOMAN AWARDED $1.6 MILLION OVER DUPONT CHEMICAL IN WATER
Tags: us_OH, public, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical

COLUMBUS, Ohio ‰?? An Ohio woman was awarded $1.6 million Wednesday in the trial of a lawsuit that alleged a chemical from a DuPont Co. plant contaminated drinking water and contributed to her contracting kidney cancer.

A jury awarded the damages to 59-year-old Carla Bartlett of Guysville in one of two cases that could influence thousands of similar lawsuits over the chemical giant's discharge of perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as C8. The chemical is used to make Teflon.

Some 3,500 people say they became ill after the company dumped C8 into the Ohio River and their drinking water from its Washington Works plant near Parkersburg, West Virginia.

The trial, which lasted about three weeks, was the latest development in a yearslong battle between DuPont and residents of the Mid-Ohio Valley in the heart of Appalachia. Bartlett once lived closer to the river. Her lawyer said she was thrilled by the verdict.

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

POISONOUS CHEMICAL LEAKS ONTO I-35
Tags: us_IA, transportation, release, response, flammables

A semi-truck carrying a 6,000-gallon tank of a harmful chemical leaked about a four-mile trail of the substance onto Interstate 35 near Fort Dodge on Tuesday night.

Another driver on the road reported that a valve on a semi from M&M Environmental Group out of Conway, Ark., was leaking at about 11:30 p.m., said Capt. Steve Hergenreter of the Fort Dodge Fire Department. An Iowa State Patrol trooper later found the truck had pulled to the side of the highway at mile marker 144 as the chemical, later identified as chlorobenzene, pooled on the soil.

Chlorobenzene is a solvent, commonly used as a degreasing agent, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But it's also poisonous and flammable, Hergenreter said.

Authorities believe a faulty valve caused the chemical to leak from its tank. Hazmat crews used materials to absorb the fluid from the four-mile stretch of road and an environmental contractor will address the spill on the soil Wednesday, Hergenreter said.

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

HAZMAT CREWS CALLED TO NC STATE FACILITY AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL
Tags: us_NC, industrial, release, response, hydrogen_peroxide

RALEIGH, NC (WNCN) ‰?? A hazmat situation at a NC State facility did not contain actually hazardous materials, authorities say.

Around 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday, fire, police and haztmat crews were called to NC State Pesticide Storage Warehouse on Reedy Creek Road.

According to NC State Director of Environmental Health and Safety Ken Kretchman, about 5 gallons of hydrogen peroxide, acidic acid and water leaked onto the ground of the facility.

The material was non-hazardous, according to Kretchman.

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

STUDENT TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER SMALL EXPLOSION ON U OF L CAMPUS
Tags: us_KY, laboratory, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

LOUISVILLE, Ky. ‰??One person was taken to the hospital Wednesday after small explosion on the University of Louisville's campus.

It happened in the Shoemaker Research Building in the 2000 block of S. Brook Street.

Officials said the explosion was an unexpected chemical reaction that happened when a fume hood failed.

WLKY was told the student researcher was wearing safety goggles at the time of the explosion, but still got chemical in his eyes.

The student washed his eyes, but still experienced blurry vision and was taken to the hospital.

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

SIME DARBY FACES FINE FOLLOWING CHEMICAL EXPLOSION
Tags: Liberia, industrial, follow-up, injury, unknown_chemical

Monrovia - A joint Ministerial Investigation Committee investigating the Sime Darby Plantation Company over recent explosion in Bomi County has recommended that the Palm Oil Plantation be fined for violating the Health and Safety Standards and Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia. Following a recent explosion at one of the plantation‰??s operation sites, the Government of Liberia setup a committee to investigate and produce findings.
....
The committee in its report is also recommending that the company applies for permit for importing, handling and storing chemicals and that the government ensures that the company maintains the requisite firefighting equipment and recruit, train and maintain fire warden as well as establish a Fire Department.

Additionally, the Committee is recommending that a Mobile Clinic be established and maintained over a period of three months in nearby Towns and villages to respond to any possible case from the explosion and that Sime Darby cleans up and properly dispose of the debris at its own cost on EPA‰??s instruction. At least nine people sustained injuries following an explosion at one of Sime Darby's Plantation Chemical Warehouses in the company's plantation office in Bomi County. The incident occurred on Sunday, September 20, 2015. The cause of the fire is believed to be from an electric shock

Improper handling of chemicals

The committee in its findings stated that it was observed during the investigation that the company improperly handled the chemicals by storing them together in one large compartment. ‰??The team also observed that adequate education on the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment was not passed onto the employees and were not monitored constantly considering the types of chemical imported and stored in the warehouse,‰?? the report stated.

Other findings indicate that vibration from the blast traveled over 800 meters across the plantation and also broke window glasses at the plantation hospital which is located approximately 800 meters from the building housing the chemicals. The findings also state that Sime Darby did not work with the EPA on environmental issues as stated in the concession agreement signed with the Government of Liberia.

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

PASADENA CONTAINER PLANT EXPLOSION LIKELY DUE TO CHEMICALS, OFFICIALS SAY
Tags: us_TX, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

PASADENA, Texas -
Two firefighters were injured in an explosion at a container plant in Pasadena, authorities said.

Pasadena fire marshals said firefighters responded Wednesday to an explosion at Schutz Container Systems Inc. in the 5000 block of Underwood.

Authorities said workers were cleaning 250- to 300-gallon containers when the "flash" explosion happened.

Thirty employees, who were inside at the time of the explosion, were evacuated and are now being interviewed.

Fire Chief David Brannon said he believes there was some sort of chemical reaction.

"Everything is contained within the building," Brannon said. "We still have the chemical exposure in there and the mist of that in the air, so we're concerned."

Hazmat crews are at the scene trying to determine exactly what type of chemicals were being used. Brannon said air testing was being done, but they don't believe there is a threat to the public and no shelter in place order was issued because everything was contained.

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