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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, January 18, 2016 at 8:56:27 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=lwhQLrsc67M0xFICXIF21cI_0PGLqCH2RV5-9G5qN5s&s=9yJt0NvOs0EUwW_ZjGDVI3Q2NxuLAbRCktIBaHDfmBk&e=
Table of Contents (18 articles)
583 CHEMICAL WORKS CLOSED, RELOCATED, CORRECTED IN TIANJIN BLAST SITE
Tags: China, transportation, follow-up, response
100 WORKERS HOSPITALIZED AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK AT SOCK FACTORY IN CENTRAL TURKEY
Tags: Turkey, industrial, release, injury, unknown_chemical
BRAZIL CHEMICAL FIRE CONTAINING CHLORIC ACID PUT OUT AFTER TWO DAYS
Tags: Brazil, transportation, follow-up, injury, other_chemical
FIRE MARSHAL: CHEMICAL EXPLOSION UNRELATED TO 2013 DEATH
Tags: us_MA, industrial, follow-up, response, unknown_chemical
POLICE: 1 DEAD, 3 INJURED IN LEAK AT PASADENA CHEMICAL PLANT
Tags: us_TX, industrial, explosion, death, hydrogen_peroxide
BRAZIL CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHED AFTER TWO DAYS
Tags: Brazil, transportation, follow-up, injury, other_chemical
CHEMICAL LEAK LEADS TO BUILDING EVACUATION IN EAST DOWNTOWN
Tags: us_TX, public, release, response, ammonia
ESTIMATING DAMAGES AND DEATHS FROM THE VOLKWAGEN EMISSIONS SCANDAL
Tags: public, follow-up, environmental, diesel
UNIV HAWAII BIOLAB SAFETY INQUIRY
Tags: us_HI, laboratory, discovery, environmental
10 EVALUATED FOR POSSIBLE LEAD EXPOSURE AT HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
Tags: us_DC, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
STRIPPED NAKED & HOSED DOWN AFTER HAZMAT SPILL, GOOD SAMARITANS SETTLE SUIT " RT USA
Tags: us_ID, transportation, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical
WOMEN HOSED DOWN DUE TO CHEMICAL EXPOSURE SETTLE LAWSUIT
Tags: us_OR, transportation, follow-up, response, unknown_chemical
CHEMICAL SPILL IN ROTTERDAM CONTAINED
Tags: us_NY, transportation, release, response, peroxide
FIRE AT AKRON WOMAN"S CITY CLUB RULED ACCIDENTAL
Tags: us_OH, public, fire, response, other_chemical
PHILLIPS 66 FERNDALE REFINERY HIT WITH $324,000 FINE
Tags: us_WA, industrial, follow-up, response, flammables, hydrogen_sulfide
CHEMICAL MIX PROMPTS NEW POLICIES AT WATER TREATMENT PLANT
Tags: us_MA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, water_treatment
TERRE HAUTE MAN ARRESTED AFTER METH LAB EXPLOSION FROM LAST SUMMER
Tags: us_IN, public, follow-up, injury, meth_lab
EAST LIVERPOOL FIRE CHIEF BLAMES HUMAN ERROR FOR OHIO RIVER CHEM
Tags: us_OH, transportation, release, response, styrene
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583 CHEMICAL WORKS CLOSED, RELOCATED, CORRECTED IN TIANJIN BLAST SITE
Tags: China, transportation, follow-up, response
A total of 85 enterprises working with hazardous chemicals in Binhai New Area of north China's Tianjin municipality will be closed or relocated after district safety checks concluded.
Among the 85 enterprises on the "red" list, nine have been corrected, 10 have worked out plans for relocation and the remaining 66 have signed a deal with the government to restructure.
The investigation tallied 583 chemical works in the area, including 430 hazardous chemical factories, 89 companies transporting dangerous materials, 61 companies dealing with dangerous cargo at Tianjin Port and 3 firework warehouses.
All 67 enterprises on the "yellow" list and 431 on the "blue" list have passed safety inspections after correction and resumed operations, according to the district administration on work safety.
The administration is also drawing a geographic information map of the chemical works in the area while integrating the Internet, data mining and cloud computing techniques into the daily monitoring and emergency command.
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100 WORKERS HOSPITALIZED AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK AT SOCK FACTORY IN CENTRAL TURKEY
Tags: Turkey, industrial, release, injury, unknown_chemical
A hundred workers at a sock factory in Turkey's central province of ?ankr have been hospitalized for suspected poisoning, following a chemical leak in the factory late on Saturday.
News reports say the workers fainted after they were affected by the chemical leak at the factory, which is located in the ?aban̦z14 district. The workers were immediately hospitalized and 15 of them are reportedly in critical condition.
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BRAZIL CHEMICAL FIRE CONTAINING CHLORIC ACID PUT OUT AFTER TWO DAYS
Tags: Brazil, transportation, follow-up, injury, other_chemical
SANTOS, Brazil, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- A chemical fire that began after an explosion in Brazil's Port of Santos was extinguished on Saturday after two days as nearly 200 people were hospitalized with difficulty breathing.
The Santos fire that began at a cargo warehouse spread toxic gas over the port, which is Brazil's largest, and across four cities. The container terminal at the port was operated by the Localfrio logistics company based in the Guaruja municipality on the eastern side of Santos in Ṣo Paulo state.
Localfrio said the containers at the warehouse were full of chloric acid and sodium dichloroisocyanurate, a disinfectant, which generated an explosive reaction when the chemicals came in contact with rainwater.
About 85 containers on the site were damaged. More than 300 firefighters battled the blaze at its peak. Officials have launched an investigation into the cause.
Guaruja mayor Maria Antonieta de Brito has warned that people should stay out of rain, as it could "contain chemical elements that can burn the skin."
---------------------------------------------
FIRE MARSHAL: CHEMICAL EXPLOSION UNRELATED TO 2013 DEATH
Tags: us_MA, industrial, follow-up, response, unknown_chemical
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (AP) " The Massachusetts Fire Marshal says an explosion at a chemical plant that injured four people had a different cause than an explosion at the same plant in 2013 that killed one.
Fire Marshal Stephen Coan says a preliminary investigation found that the explosion Thursday at the Dow Chemical plant in North Andover was caused when a chemical used in the manufacture of LED lights made contact with water.
Coan says Dow is fully cooperating in the investigation.
Emergency workers responded to the plant 30 miles north of Boston at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Officials said there was no fire, and no chemicals were released into the air.
Hospital officials said the victims had shrapnel and burn injuries.
The 2013 explosion was caused when a different chemical came into contact with air.
---------------------------------------------
POLICE: 1 DEAD, 3 INJURED IN LEAK AT PASADENA CHEMICAL PLANT
Tags: us_TX, industrial, explosion, death, hydrogen_peroxide
PASADENA, Texas - One person was killed and three others were injured during an explosion at a chemical plant in Pasadena Saturday afternoon.
"When something like this happens, it's quite a shock to the folks here," said Peroxy Site Manager Joe Ainsworth.
It happened at about 12:45 p.m. at PeroxyChem in the 12000 block of block of Bay Area Blvd.
According to Pasadena police, about 1,000 gallons of an oil-based cleaning solution leaked, causing the explosion.
"Plant employees and contractors were conducting a routine function when the contractor"s equipment exploded," PeroxyChem officials released in a statement.
Two PeroxyChem employees and a contractor were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. One victim suffered a broken arm and two needed treatment for chemical exposure, police said.
Another contractor died at the scene.
"It's a chemical they work with all the time. It's not significant toxic properties, but it's a precaution we send them to the emergency room anyway to have them treated and looked at," said Ainsworth.
The plant which was 90 acres produces hydrogen peroxide. The site manager said it has an,"outstanding safety record."
---------------------------------------------
BRAZIL CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHED AFTER TWO DAYS
Tags: Brazil, transportation, follow-up, injury, other_chemical
A chemical fire that started after an explosion at a cargo warehouse in Brazil has been put out after two days.
The fire in Santos spread toxic gas over the country's biggest port and across four cities.
The company owners said the containers were full of acid and a disinfectant which came into contact with rainwater, causing a reaction.
Reports say close to 200 people in three cities were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties.
Prosecutors are now investigating whether anyone is to blame for the fire, that more than 300 firefighters battled at its peak.
The container terminal was operated by Localfrio, a logistics company, in Guaruja, a municipality on the eastern side of Santos, in Sao Paulo state.
A spokeswoman for the company, which exports chemicals used for refrigeration and general cargo, said the containers were filled with chloric acid and sodium dichloroisocyanurate - a cleaning and disinfectant agent.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL LEAK LEADS TO BUILDING EVACUATION IN EAST DOWNTOWN
Tags: us_TX, public, release, response, ammonia
HOUSTON -- Authorities contained a strong chemical leak in east downtown that caused a music venue to be evacuated late Friday night.
Officials from both the Houston fire and police departments received numerous calls about a strong chemical smell at Dallas and Ennis streets near BBVA Compass Stadium around 10 p.m. Friday night. Firefighters evacuated Warehouse Live during a band"s performance while they attempted to track down the source of the smell.
Officials say at one point, a security guard at the Freedman Food Services warehouse waved them down. Firefighters discovered one of the pipes for the cooling system there had cracked and leaked ammonium.
Authorities then plugged the leak and ventilated the building. They say the smell carried for about 10 blocks.
---------------------------------------------
ESTIMATING DAMAGES AND DEATHS FROM THE VOLKWAGEN EMISSIONS SCANDAL
Tags: public, follow-up, environmental, diesel
Last year, the news broke that in the U.S. almost 600,000 Volkswagen diesel vehicles, model years 2009 to 2015, contain software that altered engine performance and lowered emissions of toxic nitrogen oxides (NOx) during emissions tests but not during normal driving. U.S. regulators have now filed a federal lawsuit against the automaker alleging violations of the Clean Air Act. In the atmosphere, NOx produces particulate matter and ground-level ozone, which aggravate heart and lung disease. A new study calculates the societal impact of this extra NOx: 46 excess expected deaths and $430 million in excess damages (Environ. Sci. Technol. 2015 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b05190).
This work makes the consequences of VW"s actions more real and personal, says Ray Minjares, who works on health impact assessments for motor vehicles at the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). He was not involved with the current study, though research supported by ICCT first revealed the excess emissions from VW vehicles.
Other automaker scandals, like General Motors" defective ignition switch in 2014 and a Bridgestone/Firestone tire recall in 2000, caused accidents that led to deaths. In contrast, the impact of excess NOx emissions is invisible, as it"s impossible to identify specific people affected by the pollution, says Andrew Yates, an environmental economist at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
---------------------------------------------
UNIV HAWAII BIOLAB SAFETY INQUIRY
Tags: us_HI, laboratory, discovery, environmental
HONOLULU (CN) - A Freedom of Information Act lawsuit may finally force the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to release information about the safety of University of Hawaii-Manoa's bioscience building - at least that's the hope of Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest, which filed the suit in Hawaii Federal Court on Jan. 7.
After media outlets reported that the CDC found "widespread regulatory noncompliance" in the university's labs that use biological agents and toxins in 2014, the watchdog asked for a copy of the agency's report.
But the CDC withheld the report entirely, despite permission given by the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 that the agency may withhold only portions of its investigations, the watchdog claims.
"By refusing to disclose redacted records, CDC violated the careful balance struck by Congress between transparency and security," the organization says in its complaint.
The group also claims that information about the use of "select agents at UH is readily accessible in the public domain," negating CDC's claim that even portions of those records would endanger public health and safety.
---------------------------------------------
10 EVALUATED FOR POSSIBLE LEAD EXPOSURE AT HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
Tags: us_DC, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
Ten people are being evaluated for potential lead exposure Friday at the Longworth House Office Building in Washington, D.C., after cafeteria workers reported they weren't feeling well.
The immediate area was cleared, although there was no evacuation, according to a message from the House Sergeant at Arms.
Construction has been taking place overnight in the kitchen of the Longworth cafeteria for the past several weeks, the message said. About 10:45 a.m. Friday, U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) and D.C. Fire & EMS responded to the cafeteria after workers reported feeling ill.
The USCP Hazmat Team responded to check for possible contaminants. The Architect of the Capitol is also looking into the issue, authorities said.
---------------------------------------------
STRIPPED NAKED & HOSED DOWN AFTER HAZMAT SPILL, GOOD SAMARITANS SETTLE SUIT " RT USA
Tags: us_ID, transportation, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical
In 2013, two women attempting to help the driver of an overturned semi-truck ended up exposed to hazardous materials. They were then hosed down naked in freezing temperatures by emergency crews. Now, they have settled a lawsuit for nearly $100,000.
At 1 am on November 2, 2013, on their way back to Idaho after attending an event in northern Oregon, Kortney Broecker and Shantelle Nay were driving along Interstate 84 when they came upon a semi-truck crash. According to their attorney, Randy Oetken, they first pushed large pieces of metallic debris off the freeway before discovering the wrecked truck and its injured driver.
In the process of aiding the driver, they were exposed to tetramethylammonium hydroxide, a neurotoxin carried in the truck that is used in the semiconductor industry, according to OregonLive. As much as 4,000 gallons of the potentially-fatal substance was spilled over I-84 at the site, leading to a shutdown of the freeway. Upon calling 911, the women were told emergency responders were not on their way, given that it was a hazardous material scene, Oetken said. They were told to stay where they were.
The pair, as well as two other passengers who were not exposed to the chemical, drove to the next exit along the interstate anyway, where emergency crewmembers told them to take off all their clothes in freezing temperatures so they could be doused with water to address the chemical exposure, Oetken said. All of their possessions, including Broecker"s Nissan Pathfinder, had to be incinerated after exposure.
"It's about traumatic as it gets," he said.
Ronald Glenn Hanes Sr., the driver of the semi-truck, was cited for reckless driving. He told police he had briefly taken his eyes off the road, Oetken said. He worked for LeSaint Chemical Logistics.
The women filed a lawsuit in Multnomah County Circuit Court against Hanes and LeSaint Chemical in December 2015 seeking $200,000 each for emotional distress, pain, and suffering. They ended up settling with the company for nearly $100,000 in late December, Oetken said.
---------------------------------------------
WOMEN HOSED DOWN DUE TO CHEMICAL EXPOSURE SETTLE LAWSUIT
Tags: us_OR, transportation, follow-up, response, unknown_chemical
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Two women who stopped to help a crashed semi-truck driver and ended up wading through a neurotoxin have settled their lawsuit.
The Oregonian reports that Kortney Broecker and Shantelle Nay have secured a nearly $100,000 settlement from LeSaint Chemical Logistics.
According to their lawsuit filed in December, Broecker and Nay were traveling on Interstate 84 in eastern Oregon when they found pieces of metal in the road. The women got out of the car to move the debris and found the overturned truck and trailer, with the driver bleeding.
The women found out later they were wading through 4,000 gallons of a neurotoxin that can be fatal to humans. When they arrived at the next freeway exit, they were ordered to strip down to be hosed off, which they called "traumatizing."
Both women suffered serious health complications because of the chemical.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL SPILL IN ROTTERDAM CONTAINED
Tags: us_NY, transportation, release, response, peroxide
ROTTERDAM, NY (NEWS 10) " Fire crews responded Friday to reports of a chemical leaking from a trailer at the Fed-Ex Freight Building in the industrial park.
The chemical that was leaking was determined to be organic peroxide and the trailer was moved away from the warehouse for safety reasons.
The spill was contained and clean-up is being conducted by Rotterdam Volunteer Fire, Schenectady Fire and Hazardous Materials team, Schenectady County Fire Coordinator, and the NYS DEC.
---------------------------------------------
FIRE AT AKRON WOMAN"S CITY CLUB RULED ACCIDENTAL
Tags: us_OH, public, fire, response, other_chemical
A fire that damaged the Akron Woman"s City Club kitchens on New Year"s Eve has been ruled spontaneous combustion by way of a chemical reaction.
Fire Lt. Sierjie Lash said the fire"s origin was caught on security cameras.
"Some washcloths coated in oil had been washed and dried and were in a pile, then combusted suddenly," Lash said. "It was probably a smoldering caused by the rags mixed with the heat and the oil and the close proximity."
The West Exchange Street club sustained heavy damage exceeding $40,000. Historic parts of the club were not damaged, but the club will remain closed until Jan. 28 for repairs.
---------------------------------------------
PHILLIPS 66 FERNDALE REFINERY HIT WITH $324,000 FINE
Tags: us_WA, industrial, follow-up, response, flammables, hydrogen_sulfide
FERNDALE
The Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery was hit with a $324,000 fine by the state for several workplace violations revolving around fire and hazardous chemical safety.
The refinery received the fine for violations that took place in 2014 and were not corrected, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.
The 2014 citations are under appeal, but state law requires employers to correct hazards even if the violations are under appeal, according to L&I.
The original fines in 2014 totaled $20,500, said Elaine Fischer, a spokeswoman at the state agency. The new fine is a result of state inspectors visiting the refinery in June 2015 and finding that no changes had been made.
The refinery was cited for three violations, each carrying a $108,000 fine. Two involve the refinery"s firefighting and fire suppression systems. According to the state agency, Phillips 66 did not inspect or follow recognized and generally accepted engineering practices for the firefighting water tank or the buried firefighting water distribution piping. The company also failed to address the potential loss of firefighting water, according to the report.
The third violation involved not consulting industry material before writing a policy about chemical piping. Following the company"s policies potentially could expose workers to hydrogen sulfide, a poisonous gas, and other flammable vapors, according to L&I.
---------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL MIX PROMPTS NEW POLICIES AT WATER TREATMENT PLANT
Tags: us_MA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, water_treatment
During a regularly scheduled chemical delivery on December 29 at the Vernon C. Russell Water Treatment Plant (WTP) on Lake Street in Middleton, an error was made and the delivered chemical was put into a tank that contained a different chemical, according to Jason McCarthy, WTP Manager.
"These chemicals are incompatible and a chemical reaction occurred, releasing a small amount of chlorine gas. This created a hazardous environment inside the chemical room of the WTP."
The plant serves the towns of Danvers and Middleton, but the incident had no impact on availability or integrity of the Danvers/Middleton water supply.
"Both WTP operators are trained, qualified and experienced in receiving chemical deliveries. In this case, one operator assumed control and responsibility for this delivery. Another operator stepped in part way through the process and second guessed the procedure of the first operator," explained McCarthy. "In his absence and without conferring with the first, the second operator erroneously altered the procedure. This was a case of human error."
---------------------------------------------
TERRE HAUTE MAN ARRESTED AFTER METH LAB EXPLOSION FROM LAST SUMMER
Tags: us_IN, public, follow-up, injury, meth_lab
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) " Police have arrested a man after a meth lab investigation that started last year.
On Friday morning, officers arrested 37-year-old David Stewart from Terre Haute for his involvement in a meth lab fire on 5593 North Clinton Street in Terre Haute.
It happened back on June 18th.
Police say a detached garage at his Clinton Street home exploded.
His two kids were home at the time, and one ran next door for help.
None of the kids were injured.
---------------------------------------------
EAST LIVERPOOL FIRE CHIEF BLAMES HUMAN ERROR FOR OHIO RIVER CHEM
Tags: us_OH, transportation, release, response, styrene
EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio -
With buoys and a hazmat team, even the coast guard on deck, crews rushed to keep a thick chemical film from coating the Ohio River Friday morning.
"That was our initial concern was getting it contained so it did not flow further down river," said East Liverpool Fire Chief William Jones.
The fire chief says 50 to 60 gallons of the hazardous material styrene spilled into the river and the dangerous chemical is flammable, commonly used in plastic products.
"We were just on standby in case it would ignite," said Jones.
Hazmat crews used vacuums and absorbent mats to clean up and contain what's left of the spill with buoys.
But the fire chief says the whole spill was avoidable, and was caused by human error.
"The truck driver pulled in to pick up a load of the styrene. He forgot to do his checklist making sure his valves were closed. Then another error from the terminal loader. He's supposed to do the same. Neither completed their checklist," said Jones.
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