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From: DCHAS Membership Chair <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (13 articles)
Date: Mon, 21 May 2018 07:38:25 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: C71874F6-4B9E-4044-B3F3-427A277EF1D0**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, May 21, 2018 at 7:38:03 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 (13 articles)
FIRE IN HOME-MADE DISTILLERY
Tags: Australia, public, fire, injury, flammables
EMOTIONS RUN HIGH AS THREE RARIEDA GAS EXPLOSION VICTIMS BURIED :: KENYA
Tags: Kenya, public, explosion, death, gas_cylinders, thiols
WORKER FILES $1 MILLION LAWSUIT AGAINST PASADENA INDUSTRIAL PLANT AFTER FIERY EXPLOSION
Tags: us_TX, public, follow-up, injury
FLARING AT MOSSMORRAN FOLLOWING CHEMICAL PLANT LEAK
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
PASADENA CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE LEAVES 21 INJURED
Tags: us_TX, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical
MIDDLEBURG WILL BUY SPECIALIZED FIREFIGHTER GEAR TO PREVENT CHEMICAL EXPOSURES
Tags: us_OH, public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical
EMPLOYEE RECEIVED A CORNEAL ABRASION WHILE WEARING SAFETY GLASSES WITH SIDE SHIELD
Tags: us_VA, public, release, injury, metals
TWO RESEARCHERS EXPOSED TO AIRBORNE RADIOACTIVITY DURING DEPLETED URANIUM CUTTING OPERATIONS
Tags: us_WA, public, release, response, radiation, uranium
WEST END COMMUNITY CENTRE REOPENS AFTER EVACUATION DUE TO AMMONIA LEAK
Tags: Canada, public, release, response, ammonia
SIOUX FALLS FIRE: AFTER THURSDAY FIRE, A-OX REASSURES CLIENTS
Tags: us_SD, industrial, explosion, response, propane
SULFURIC ACID SPILL AFFECTS BROKEN ARROW BUSINESSES
Tags: us_OK, laboratory, release, injury, sulfuric_acid
MONTHS AFTER GAS LEAK CAUSED EXPLOSION IN WILLOWBROOK CONDO BUILDING, RESIDENTS ARE STILL DISPLACED
Tags: us_IL, public, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical
POTENT ACID PROMPTS HAZMAT AND IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD RESPONSE IN EMMETT
Tags: us_ID, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
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FIRE IN HOME-MADE DISTILLERY
https://www.theherald.com.au/story/5409609/fire-in-home-made-distillery/?cs=6158
Tags: Australia, public, fire, injury, flammables
A man, 50, was badly burnt while distilling alcohol in his Caves Beach garage on Monday. Reports from firefighters at the scene suggest the man was decanting alcohol, which he had produced in his home-made distillery, into a plastic bucket close to an open flame. Fumes from the alcohol ignited, and the man‰??s clothes caught alight.The fire spread throughout the garage.
Swansea firefighters extinguished the fire and cared for the man until an ambulance crew arrived. Newcastle Hazmat also attended the scene and used gas detectors to ensure that any flammable vapour had been dispersed after the fire was extinguished. Flames from burning pure alcohol are very difficult to see and produce very little smoke, making them extremely dangerous. This is because smoke is the unburnt product of combustion, and with pure alcohol, virtually all the product is consumed by the fire. In contrast, thick, black smoke indicates a fire that contains high levels of unburnt products, such as bush fires.
In another garage fire involving a male occupant, multiple fire crews were called to Warners Bay on Tuesday. Firefighters were met by an extremely hot, high-intensity inferno. They stopped the fire spreading to the house and a neighbouring property. Firefighter Gabriella Smith said it was thought the sparks from welding started the fire. Crews successfully contained the fire and the man was treated at the scene for burns.
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EMOTIONS RUN HIGH AS THREE RARIEDA GAS EXPLOSION VICTIMS BURIED :: KENYA
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001281123/emotions-run-high-as-three-rarieda-gas-explosion-victims-buried
Tags: Kenya, public, explosion, death, gas_cylinders, thiols
Hundreds of mourners on Saturday attended the burial of three members of one family burnt after a gas cylinder exploded in their Rarieda village home in Siaya County.
The three- Caroline Gwara (40), her 18-year-old daughter and son, John Migael, (three) were part of Calvin Omondi's five-member family that had gathered home at night two weeks ago when a gas cylinder exploded, setting the house on fire.
Migael died at the scene, while Caroline, her husband and their two daughters were pulled out alive and taken to hospital. Caroline and one of the girls later died, leaving Mr Omondi and the other daughter fighting for their lives in hospital.
On Saturday, Omondi and his daughter did not witness the burial of his wife and two children because they were still admitted to hospital
Omondi‰??s mother Jenipher Adongo, who says earlier that fateful day she spent a lot of the time with her grandchildren, sat in front of the three coffins, lost in grief. ‰??The boy was nicknamed Gift because he was born 13 years after the third born, a girl. He was beguiling,‰?? she said of her grandson Migael. She eulogised Caroline, her daughter-in-law, as a kind woman.
Wilson Opiyo, a relative, said the village had never seen "something like this". Police had earlier attributed the incident to leakage from the gas cylinder.
Mr Odero Ojwang‰??, a Chemistry teacher at Usenge High School, said gas cylinders stored under high temperatures can explode. ‰??When there is some leakage, the gas combines with all air molecules and causes fire,‰?? said Mr Ojwang‰??, adding that when a jiko is used near a gas cylinder, chances of the latter exploding are high.
He said: ‰??Most of the cooking gas involved in explosion always lacks Ethyl Mercaptan, a chemical that gives a smell that enables detection of leakage by users.‰??
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WORKER FILES $1 MILLION LAWSUIT AGAINST PASADENA INDUSTRIAL PLANT AFTER FIERY EXPLOSION
https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Worker-files-1-million-lawsuit-against-Pasadena-12929598.php
Tags: us_TX, public, follow-up, injury
One day after a fiery explosion at a Pasadena plastics plant injured 21 people, attorneys for a badly burned worker filed a $1 million lawsuit against Kuraray American Eval, accusing the multi-national company of gross negligence, failure to read safety policies and neglecting to create safety guidelines.
Workers doing welding and pipefitting work caused the explosion just after 10 a.m. Saturday, the suit alleges. As a team tinkered on an insulation tower, a safety release valve failed and caused an over-pressurization in the piping, which sparked the explosion and sent a fireball into the sky.
Eduardo Rodriguez was working on top of a scaffold at the time. He ended up badly burned and was forced to jump 25 feet down to the ground, the suit alleges.
Now, Houston attorney Anthony Buzbee is representing Rodriguez in a claim filed over the weekend in Harris County court.
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FLARING AT MOSSMORRAN FOLLOWING CHEMICAL PLANT LEAK
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/657021/flaring-at-mossmorran-following-chemical-plant-leak/
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
Emergency services rushed to Fife Ethylene Plant shortly after 5.30pm when the alarm was raised.
The incident occurred just a month after ExxonMobil Chemical and Shell UK, operator of Fife NGL Plant, were issued with a final warning by environment watchdog SEPA, as a result of prolonged flaring in June last year.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent seven appliances to the scene.
A spokesperson said the incident was dealt with mainly by ExxonMobil Chemical but firefighters remained for more than three hours as a precaution and to advise on ventilation.
What appeared to be flames could be seen a short distance from the base of the flaring stack.
ExxonMobil Chemical issued an apology to residents of surrounding towns and villages.
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PASADENA CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE LEAVES 21 INJURED
http://www.ibtimes.com/pasadena-chemical-plant-fire-leaves-21-injured-2682584
Tags: us_TX, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical
At least 21 people were hurt in an explosion followed by roaring fire at a chemical plant in Pasadena near Houston, Texas, on Saturday morning.
The incident took place at the Kuraray America Eval factory, a plastic fabrication company, around 10:43 a.m. EDT when a valve failed due to an over-pressurization of piping in the building. Firefighters rushed to the spot immediately and tackled the fire but 21 workers suffered burn injuries. While all those who suffered minor injuries were taken by ambulance, two people with serious burns were flown by helicopter, reported Gizmodo.
While most of the injured suffered topical burns, some workers sustained knee and back injuries while trying to escape the fire. A spokesman for the La Porte Office of Emergency Management said all the injured are likely to survive. Its Facebook page said there is no danger to the public as a result of the incident.
‰??Multiple emergency vehicles in route. The City will continue to monitor the situation and advise you if you need to take action,‰?? the post read.
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MIDDLEBURG WILL BUY SPECIALIZED FIREFIGHTER GEAR TO PREVENT CHEMICAL EXPOSURES
https://www.cleveland.com/middleburg-heights/index.ssf/2018/05/middleburg_will_buy_specialize.html
Tags: us_OH, public, discovery, environmental, other_chemical
A recently awarded grant from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation will enable Middleburg Heights firefighters to protect themselves beyond just the gear they currently wear.
Mayor Gary Starr credited Fire Chief Briant Galgas for pursuing the grant and announced the award at City Council's May 7 meeting. The money will be used to purchase 34 pairs of structural firefighter gloves as well as barrier protection hoods.
"This $5,800 grant will help reduce the risk of carcinogens at the Middleburg Heights Fire Department and to firefighters who are actually involved with these chemicals, especially when they become lethal and come in contact with the actual skin," Starr said. "The hoods cover the entire face and also drape over the neck. The gloves will prevent touching these harmful chemicals to the body that would affect the skin and also cause cancer."
The idea behind the BWC's safety grants program for Ohio employers is "to minimize exposure to dangerous environmental elements," the BWC website indicates.
Councilman Matt McGregor wondered aloud if the gloves additionally could protect firefighter/EMTs from exposure to fentanyl during emergency runs.
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EMPLOYEE RECEIVED A CORNEAL ABRASION WHILE WEARING SAFETY GLASSES WITH SIDE SHIELD
https://opexshare.doe.gov/lesson.cfm/2018/5/15/21339/Employee-Received-a-Corneal-Abrasion-While-Wearing-Safety-Glasses-with-Side-Shield
Tags: us_VA, public, release, injury, metals
An employee entered a grinding tech-shop to inspect an eyewash station. At the time of entry, at the other end of the room, another employee was grinding a piece of metal with a handheld grinder. The employee was wearing safety glasses with side shields as was the posted requirements for the area. Shortly after entering the first employee felt a piece of metal hit his cheek, bounce under his safety glasses and into his eye, resulting in a corneal abrasion. Lessons to be Learned: Recognize that area hazards affect everyone in the area versus task hazards that only affect the operator(s). To ensure adequate protection for all workers in an area, review and include, in the work plan, the area's safety requirements along with those of the tools utilized.
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TWO RESEARCHERS EXPOSED TO AIRBORNE RADIOACTIVITY DURING DEPLETED URANIUM CUTTING OPERATIONS
https://opexshare.doe.gov/lesson.cfm/2018/5/14/21345/Two-Researchers-Exposed-to-Airborne-Radioactivity-During-Depleted-Uranium-Cutting-Operations
Tags: us_WA, public, release, response, radiation, uranium
Two researchers were exposed to radioactive airborne particles during work to cut depleted uranium (DU)-molybdenum bars. It was the first time the researchers had used a newly-purchased cut-off saw outside of mockups. Based on experience with older saws combined with improved features of the new model, those planning the work assumed that any dispersible DU particles would be contained in the unit. Lessons Learned: Depleted uranium presents a unique challenge with respect to the radioactive, toxic, and pyrophoric hazards associated with cutting operations. Question assumptions during planning and operations and use additional monitoring to validate performance.
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WEST END COMMUNITY CENTRE REOPENS AFTER EVACUATION DUE TO AMMONIA LEAK
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/west-end-community-centre-reopens-after-ammonia-leak-prompts-evacuation
Tags: Canada, public, release, response, ammonia
The West End Community Centre has reopened after the building was evacuated on Friday afternoon because of an ammonia leak.
After the leak was detected around 12:30 p.m., Vancouver Fire and Rescue‰??s hazmat team was called in and the building was ventilated.
The West End Community Centre hosts a number of community programs and boasts several facilities, including the Joe Fortes branch of the Vancouver Public Library, racquetball courts, a fitness centre, and an ice rink, which uses ammonia refrigeration, a hot topic in British Columbia since the death of three men during an ammonia leak at Fernie Memorial Arena last year.
The result has been increasing vigilance of ammonia refrigeration, and calls for alternative refrigeration solutions, especially at older arenas.
In February of this year, the Matsqui Recreation Centre ice rink in Abbotsford was closed for three weeks due to a reported ammonia leak. Two ice-making components were removed. The city said no ammonia was ever released into the air, and no one was exposed to the leak.
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SIOUX FALLS FIRE: AFTER THURSDAY FIRE, A-OX REASSURES CLIENTS
https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/business-journal/2018/05/18/after-thursday-fire-ox-reassures-sioux-falls-clients/623424002/
Tags: us_SD, industrial, explosion, response, propane
A local supplier of welding materials is working with clients to minimize the effect of a Thursday night fire at its Sioux Falls facility.
Smoke billowed from A-OX Welding Supply Co. after propane tanks caught fire and exploded. Emergency crews fought the blaze and evacuated people in a half-mile radius. There were no injuries, Sioux Falls fire officials said.
By Friday morning, an A-OX representative had already stopped by ARC Fabricators, one of the Sioux Falls-based shops that uses the company for supplies.
‰??Just to assure us that they were still going to be able to supply us and it was just a small hiccup,‰?? ARC General Manager Rick Hewitt said.
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SULFURIC ACID SPILL AFFECTS BROKEN ARROW BUSINESSES
http://www.newson6.com/story/38222270/chemical-spill-reported-at-broken-arrow-business
Tags: us_OK, laboratory, release, injury, sulfuric_acid
BROKEN ARROW, Oklahoma - An industrial area near 61st and Aspen is open again after a chemical spill forced first responders to close some streets for several hours Friday.
Broken Arrow firefighters said a beaker of sulfuric acid fell from a hot plate, sending acidic fumes into the air.
Broken Arrow‰??s assistant fire chief said the nine employees at Element Materials rushed out of the building and they are doing well.
Kathleen Cobleigh was staying at a hotel close to the building. She heard a lot of sirens and came out to see what was going on.
"It was interesting, you know, to say the least when you're here and nothing's really happening but luckily, no one's hurt and that's the best thing," said Cobleigh.
The area around the building was shut down for a few hours.
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MONTHS AFTER GAS LEAK CAUSED EXPLOSION IN WILLOWBROOK CONDO BUILDING, RESIDENTS ARE STILL DISPLACED
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/burr-ridge/news/ct-dbr-speedway-explosion-knolls-update-tl-0524-story.html
Tags: us_IL, public, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical
The Speedway gas station in Westmont where leaking fuel storage tanks caused explosions or flashes in area homes and sewers last year has reopened for business, but some residents of The Knolls condominiums are still waiting to return home.
Repairs are not yet complete on the 6167 Knoll Wood Road building, where gas fumes apparently ignited by a dryer in the laundry room caused an explosion that injured an older woman and damaged the building.
Residents of the 12 condominiums in the two-story building have been living in an apartment complex just to the north of the Knolls, said Alice Jara, property manager for the Knolls Homeowners Association.
Speedway is paying the rent for the residents, said Lesley Simeral, president of the association.
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POTENT ACID PROMPTS HAZMAT AND IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD RESPONSE IN EMMETT
http://boisestatepublicradio.org/post/potent-acid-prompts-hazmat-and-idaho-national-guard-response-emmett#stream/0
Tags: us_ID, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
A man and woman in Emmett were taken to the hospital yesterday after exposure to an extremely acidic substance. The incident was serious enough to get a response from the Idaho National Guard.
The Emmet Fire Department got the call around 5:40 in the evening on Thursday, May 17. Two patients had inhaled an unknown substance and were displaying concerning symptoms.
Emmett Fire Department Chief Curt Christensen says the pair ‰??had some redness on their extremities from when they had touched the substance, and then one of them that had smelled it had vomited and had some throat irritation.‰??
According to Christensen, the drastic symptoms were worrying. The Idaho National Guard‰??s Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team also responded. The group specializes in situations involving chemicals.
So, what was the substance?
‰??It‰??s such a strong acid that we are about 85 percent certain we do know what that compound is,‰?? the fire chief says. ‰??It could be a cleaning solution; it‰??d be a very strong cleaning solution, but it wouldn‰??t be stuff you‰??d normally find laying around a home. This would be something‰??I don‰??t know when you would need something this strong.‰??
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