From: DCHAS Membership Chair <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (12 articles)
Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2019 05:52:47 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: AB23368F-B0D4-4F54-9EBE-6EEC4E1DF37B**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org


Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, July 26, 2019 at 5:52:24 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 (12 articles)

GLOUCESTERSHIRE COMPANY GIVEN 1MILLION FINE AFTER EXPLOSION INJURES WORKERS
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, explosion, injury, flammables

MAN SUFFERS BURNS IN CHEMICAL EXPLOSION AT GOLD COAST RESTAURANT ‰?? MYGC.COM.AU
Tags: Australia, public, explosion, injury, other_chemical

FINAL REPORT: NO RADIATION EXPOSURE FROM URANIUM AT GRAND CANYON
Tags: us_AZ, public, follow-up, environmental, radiation, uranium

SOUTH PHILLY RESIDENTS VOICE CONCERNS OVER FUMES AFTER PHILADELPHIA ENERGY SOLUTIONS REFINERY EXPLOSION
Tags: us_PA, industrial, follow-up, response, acetone

RENO FIRE LOCATE PIPE LEAK RELEASING REFRIGERANT
Tags: us_NV, public, release, response, hvac_chemicals

MAN INJURED IN EAST TEXAS PETROLEUM PLANT EXPLOSION
Tags: us_TX, industrial, explosion, injury, petroleum

7 REPORTING CHEMICAL ODOR TREATED AT AIRPORT POSTAL CENTER
Tags: us_FL, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

UK MPS CRITICISE GOVERNMENT INACTION ON HARMFUL CHEMICALS
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, discovery, environmental, toxics

ONE INJURED AT SCENE OF ACID SPILL IN BELOIT
Tags: us_WI, public, release, injury, acids

DOWNTOWN SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD ORDERED TO SHELTER IN PLACE AFTER OXYGEN TANK LEAK
Tags: us_WA, public, release, response, oxygen

MYSTERIOUS ODOR AT ALA MOANA FOOD COURT SICKENS SOME, SENDS 1 TO HOSPITAL
Tags: us_HI, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

OIL REFINERY PHILADELPHIA ENERGY DECLARES BANKRUPTCY AFTER EXPLOSION, COSTING 1,000 WORKERS JOBS
Tags: us_PA, industrial, follow-up, environmental


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GLOUCESTERSHIRE COMPANY GIVEN 1MILLION FINE AFTER EXPLOSION INJURES WORKERS
https://www.punchline-gloucester.com/articles/aanews/gloucestershire-company-given-1million-fine-after-explosion-injures-workers
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, explosion, injury, flammables

A car and commercial vehicle component manufacturer has been fined a million pounds after two workers were burnt while while cleaning a distillation tank.

The vapour of a flammable chemical, which was being used at Stonehouse-based Delphi Diesel Systems Ltd to clean the distillation tank part of a component washer, ignited and caused an explosion.

Both employees suffered significant burn injuries, with one employee's injuries being so serious they could not return to work for over two months, Cheltenham Magistrates were told on July 11.

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MAN SUFFERS BURNS IN CHEMICAL EXPLOSION AT GOLD COAST RESTAURANT ‰?? MYGC.COM.AU
http://www.mygc.com.au/man-suffers-burns-in-chemical-explosion-at-gold-coast-restaurant/
Tags: Australia, public, explosion, injury, other_chemical

UPDATE **At_Symbol_Here** 10.00 AM | It‰??s been revealed a hotplate and methylated spirits caused a chemical explosion at a Burleigh Heads restaurant overnight.

Emergency crews were called to the restaurant on the Gold Coast Highway about 10.15pm.

Queensland Ambulance Supervisor Jayney Shearman told myGC the man was trying to clean a hotplate with methylated spirits when it ignited.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital.

He‰??s in a stable condition.

Upon arrival, they found a 41-year-old man with superficial burns to his face and arms.

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FINAL REPORT: NO RADIATION EXPOSURE FROM URANIUM AT GRAND CANYON
https://ktar.com/story/2668161/final-report-no-radiation-exposure-from-uranium-at-grand-canyon/
Tags: us_AZ, public, follow-up, environmental, radiation, uranium

PHOENIX ‰?? A final report on the discovery of uranium ore at the Grand Canyon National Park concluded there was no radiation exposure to employees or visitors.

The National Park Service and Department of the Interior started an investigation after uranium was found in the Museum Collection building at the South Rim during a 2018 safety audit.

The team surveyed the places where the three buckets of rock samples were stored and determined there was no residual contamination.

‰??When we started this investigation, we wanted to be absolutely sure we had all of the necessary experts at the table,‰?? Michael May, chief of the NPS Office of Risk Management, said in a press release.

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SOUTH PHILLY RESIDENTS VOICE CONCERNS OVER FUMES AFTER PHILADELPHIA ENERGY SOLUTIONS REFINERY EXPLOSION
https://6abc.com/south-philly-residents-voice-concerns-over-fumes-after-refinery-explosion/5416900/
Tags: us_PA, industrial, follow-up, response, acetone

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Some residents from South Philadelphia continue to say they are still being bothered by odors and fumes coming from the soon-to-be shuttered Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery.

At 24th and Passyunk Wednesday afternoon, about three-quarters of a mile from the plant, Danny Trignani said he and his wife were driving into the area today when both notice what smelled like a chemical solvent.
"It smelled like acetone, like nail polish remover," he said.

Others said while it is not a constant problem, they smell what appears to be petroleum fumes that can sting their eyes.

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RENO FIRE LOCATE PIPE LEAK RELEASING REFRIGERANT
https://foxreno.com/news/local/reno-fire-on-scene-of-potential-hazmat-situation-in-walmart
Tags: us_NV, public, release, response, hvac_chemicals

RENO, Nev. (News 4-Fox 11) ‰?? The Reno Fire Department says the Hazmat situation inside the Walmart store on Kietzke Lane in south Reno turned out to be a pipe leaking refrigerant.

Fire officials said at around 7:47 p.m. they received reports on some sort of white fog in the refrigeration room.

When HAZMAT team arrived on scene, they discovered that a faulty pipe was releasing refrigerant. Reno Fire says crews were able to mitigate the leak as of 10:18 p.m.

RFD said no injuries were reported and the store was evacuated during the investigation. Walmart was reopened at 10:30 p.m. to the public.

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MAN INJURED IN EAST TEXAS PETROLEUM PLANT EXPLOSION
https://www.middletownpress.com/news/texas/article/Man-injured-in-East-Texas-petroleum-plant-14121550.php
Tags: us_TX, industrial, explosion, injury, petroleum

DAINGERFIELD, Texas (AP) ‰?? One person was seriously injured and a truck was destroyed in an explosion at an East Texas petroleum plant.

Morris County Sheriff Jack Martin says that the man was airlifted to a hospital Wednesday afternoon following an explosion at the WOI Petroleum plant outside of Daingerfield, a community of more than 2,300 people about 135 miles (217 kilometers) northeast of Dallas. The man's condition is unknown.

Martin says the 1 p.m. blast caused no deaths or other serious injuries. The ensuing fire destroyed a truck before being extinguished around 2 p.m.

Calls to WOI were not answered Wednesday. The cause of the explosion is being investigated by state and county officials.

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7 REPORTING CHEMICAL ODOR TREATED AT AIRPORT POSTAL CENTER
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/7-reporting-chemical-odor-treated-at-airport-postal-center/2019/07/24/fe5437d4-ae3e-11e9-9411-a608f9d0c2d3_story.html?noredirect=on
Tags: us_FL, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

TAMPA, Fla. ‰?? Emergency officials have treated seven workers complaining of breathing troubles from a strong chemical smell in a package at a U.S. Postal Service center at Tampa International Airport.

Tampa Fire Rescue Jason Penny tells news outlets four people were taken to St. Joseph‰??s Hospital and three others declined additional medical treatment after being treated at the scene Wednesday. Penny says the health issues appeared to be minor and airport operations weren‰??t affected.

Penny says the package came from a Fed Ex shipment sent by air and workers complained of the odor Wednesday morning.

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UK MPS CRITICISE GOVERNMENT INACTION ON HARMFUL CHEMICALS
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/uk-mps-criticise-government-inaction-on-harmful-chemicals-/3010757.article
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, discovery, environmental, toxics

A report calls for urgent changes to the way flame retardants and packaging additives are regulated

A committee of MPs has heard that the UK‰??s approach to chemical regulation is one of ‰??firefighting‰??, and has called on the government to set ambitious targets for reducing toxic chemicals in the environment, including elimination of endocrine disruptors in consumer products. In a wide-ranging report, the Environmental Audit Committee details government inaction and delay, and the loss of expertise and funding in toxicology and environmental chemistry.

Michael Depledge from Exeter University in the UK lays out the scale of the task, given that there are around 80,000 chemicals in common use: ‰??We try to make a regulation for each chemical that comes along‰??and we have about 2,000 new chemicals a year‰??but we can‰??t get through them all. We have toxicity tested only a few per cent of the total amount, and we don‰??t know how they interact in mixtures.‰?? He adds that ‰??it is the integrated impact of the chemicals that we need to get to grips with‰??.

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ONE INJURED AT SCENE OF ACID SPILL IN BELOIT
https://www.channel3000.com/news/one-injured-at-scene-of-acid-spill-in-beloit/1098965919
Tags: us_WI, public, release, injury, acids

BELOIT, Wis. - The City of Beloit Fire Department is cleaning up the scene of an acid spill this morning.

The department said it happened around 11:23 a.m. in the 2800 block of Kennedy Drive. The business nearby was evacuated as a precaution.

One person was injured at the scene, but the department said that person did not need to be taken to the hospital.

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DOWNTOWN SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD ORDERED TO SHELTER IN PLACE AFTER OXYGEN TANK LEAK
https://q13fox.com/2019/07/23/downtown-seattle-neighborhood-asked-to-shelter-in-place-after-oxygen-tank-leak/
Tags: us_WA, public, release, response, oxygen

SEATTLE -- Residents of a Seattle neighborhood were asked to stay in their homes after a large oxygen tank started to leak, causing hazmat teams to be called out.

It happened at the corner of Terry Ave and University St around 3 p.m. Firefighters didn‰??t say what caused the tank to leak, but crews had to warn people to stay away while they contained the leak.

Hazmat teams were able to stop the leak within an hour.

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MYSTERIOUS ODOR AT ALA MOANA FOOD COURT SICKENS SOME, SENDS 1 TO HOSPITAL
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/07/23/breaking-news/mysterious-odor-at-ala-moana-food-court-sickens-some-sends-1-to-hospital/
Tags: us_HI, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

Fire, police and Emergency Medical Services responded to a strong odor at the Ala Moana Center‰??s Makai Market Food Court late this afternoon.

The fire department got the call at 4:35 p.m. Three units and a Hazardous Materials team with 11 personnel responded.

But the food court had been evacuated before the fire personnel arrived.

Many complained of irritation to their respiratory system, difficulty swallowing and coughing, fire Capt. Scot Seguirant said.

Emergency Medical Services transported a 69-year-old man in serious condition to a hospital.

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OIL REFINERY PHILADELPHIA ENERGY DECLARES BANKRUPTCY AFTER EXPLOSION, COSTING 1,000 WORKERS JOBS
https://www.foxbusiness.com/energy/philadelphia-energy-oil-refinery-bankruptcy
Tags: us_PA, industrial, follow-up, environmental

Less than a month after an explosion Opens a New Window. rocked a South Philadelphia refinery Opens a New Window. , the company that owns it has filed for bankruptcy.

It‰??s the second such filing by Philadelphia Energy Solutions in less than two years. According to Reuters, 1,000 people who worked at the plant Opens a New Window. will be laid off.

The largest refinery on the East Coast burst into flames in late June after authorities said a butane vent malfunctioned. It took hours to tame the fire, which had residents sheltering in place for the better part of the morning.

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