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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at 8:37:01 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)
FIRE SPREADS AT BOISE BENCH HOME; NO INJURIES REPORTED
Tags: us_ID, public, fire, response, petroleum
200 BARRELS OF SOLVENT GUTTED IN GODOWN FIRE
Tags: India, industrial, fire, response, solvent
CFA CREWS REMOVE CHEMICAL DRUM FROM VENUS BEACH
Tags: Australia, public, discovery, response, unknown_chemical
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A HYDROFLUORIC ACID SAFETY PROGRAM IN AN ACADEMIC INSTITUTION
Tags: us_PA, laboratory, discovery, environmental, hydrofluoric_acid
HAZMAT CREWS CLEAN UP CHEMICAL SPILL NEAR PORT RICHMOND REFINERY
Tags: us_PA, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical
HAZMAT CREW CALLED TO SCENE ON PARK TERRACE
Tags: us_AL, public, release, response, unknown_chemical, waste
‰??FOUL SMELL FROM FIRE IN CHEMICAL CONTAINERS‰??
Tags: India, public, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
BOTH FACTORIES LACKED FIRE NOC
Tags: India, industrial, fire, response, ethanol
HENDERSON RESIDENT RECALLS PEPCON EXPLOSION 32 YEARS LATER
Tags: us_NV, industrial, follow-up, environmental, ammonium_perchlorate
FIRE BREAKS OUT AT CHEMICAL FACTORY IN HYDERABAD OUTSKIRTS
Tags: India, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
US CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD REMAINS SHORT-STAFFED
Tags: public, discovery, environmental
HARBORING HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND DISPOSING OF THEM
Tags: laboratory, discovery, environmental
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FIRE SPREADS AT BOISE BENCH HOME; NO INJURIES REPORTED
https://idahonews.com/news/local/fire-spreads-at-boise-bench-home
Tags: us_ID, public, fire, response, petroleum
BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) ‰?? A fire broke out at a home on the Boise Bench Tuesday.
Boise Fire says the incident started at about 12:40 p.m. on the 4000 block of W. Clinton Street.
One person was home at the time of the fire, but they were able to get out OK, Boise Fire says. After an investigation, firefighters say the fire started when a pile of oily rags used for staining ignited by spontaneous combustion.
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200 BARRELS OF SOLVENT GUTTED IN GODOWN FIRE
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/200-barrels-of-solvent-gutted-in-godown-fire/articleshow/75564618.cms
Tags: India, industrial, fire, response, solvent
Hyderabad: A fire broke out at a chemical storage godown in Medchal industrial area in the wee hours of Tuesday. According to officials, around 250 barrels of solvent were kept in an open space where they suddenly went off. ‰??The cause of the fire is still not known. Some 200 barrels were destroyed...,‰?? said station fire officer Suresh Reddy. As many as five fire tenders and 26 firefighters were pressed into action at Pavan Enterprises and it took over five hours to douse the fire. Property loss is estimated at Rs 20 lakh.
Another minor fire in a three-storey complex in Koti was also reported. The fire at Mithila Complex in Akbar Bagh Road, according to officials, was triggered by a short-circuit in a garment storage room. One fire tender was deployed.
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CFA CREWS REMOVE CHEMICAL DRUM FROM VENUS BEACH
https://www.miragenews.com/cfa-crews-remove-chemical-drum-from-venus-beach/
Tags: Australia, public, discovery, response, unknown_chemical
Yesterday afternoon (5 May) Leongatha Fire Brigade was contacted to remove a 20-litre chemical drum that had washed up on Venus Beach.
At 12pm brigade members attended the incident alongside Parks Victoria and Tarwin Lower Brigade.
Leongatha Fire Brigade has a specialist Hazmat truck and crew with the appropriate protective clothing and tools to be able to assist and remove these vulnerable chemicals.
Leongatha Fire Brigade Captain Dale Carruthers said the drum washed up because of extreme weather conditions over the weekend.
‰??Members of the public found the drum and contacted Park Victoria to assist with its removal,‰?? Dale said.
‰??Parks Victoria called us directly as we have specialist training and equipment to be able to remove hazardous materials.
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DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A HYDROFLUORIC ACID SAFETY PROGRAM IN AN ACADEMIC INSTITUTION
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.chas.0c00008
Tags: us_PA, laboratory, discovery, environmental, hydrofluoric_acid
In 2018, the chemical safety team of the Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Department at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) developed and implemented a comprehensive hydrofluoric acid (HF) safety program. This is the first chemical-hazard-specific, comprehensive safety program for CMU‰??s laboratories. The goal of this safety initiative was to raise awareness for HF hazards, train users to handle incidents safely in their laboratories, mandate PPE requirements, identify spill response protocols, and establish a culture of safety. The process that was followed included the development of safety guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs), training materials, and first aid kits. User involvement was crucial to the successful development and implementation of the program.
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HAZMAT CREWS CLEAN UP CHEMICAL SPILL NEAR PORT RICHMOND REFINERY
https://6abc.com/hazmat-crews-clean-up-chemical-spill-in-port-richmond/6152195/
Tags: us_PA, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Hazmat crews worked to contain a spill near a refinery in the city's Port Richmond section Tuesday morning.
It happened around 4:40 a.m. on the 3300 block of North Delaware Avenue.
Crews responded to a report of a chemical spill at that location.
Officials said the spill is located near some storage tanks on the property.
Traffic was diverted for a short time as crews worked to clean up the substance.
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HAZMAT CREW CALLED TO SCENE ON PARK TERRACE
https://www.fox10tv.com/news/mobile_county/hazmat-crew-called-to-scene-on-park-terrace/article_b44c14b4-8e20-11ea-9df1-8f1ff991801a.html
Tags: us_AL, public, release, response, unknown_chemical, waste
MOBILE, Ala. -- According to the Mobile Fire-Rescue department, the City of Mobile was collecting trash this morning at a location on Park Terrace.
The crew picked up a bag that was leaking an unknown substance and then smoke started rising from it. The crew called 911 and then based on the information given, called HAZMAT.
Once on the scene, the HAZMAT crew suited up and surveyed the bags. It appeared to have several different types of chemicals that were thrown away together that then reacted to each other.
There are no injuries and no existing fumes.
---------------------------------------------
‰??FOUL SMELL FROM FIRE IN CHEMICAL CONTAINERS‰??
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/foul-smell-from-fire-in-chemical-containers/articleshow/75543039.cms
Tags: India, public, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
Gandhinagar: Investigations by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) into the foul smell experienced in western parts of Ahmedabad city found that it was because of a fire that took place at ICD Khodiyar near Adalaj two days ago.
GPCB said that although the fire at the ICD was doused, the chemicals got spread on the land and they were reacting with water to generate gases that were causing a foul smell and irritation to people.
Many people in areas like Prahladnagar, Satellite, Bodakdev, Nehrunagar, Navrangpura, Paldi, Bopal and Maninagar have been complaining of a foul smell and irritation over the past couple of days.
A V Shah, member secretary, GPCB, said, ‰??Our experts teams searched all possible causes of gas leakage. However, it has been found that the strong smell resembling a gas leak experienced in western parts of Ahmedabad for two nights was because of a chemical fire incident at ICD Khodiyar.‰??
---------------------------------------------
BOTH FACTORIES LACKED FIRE NOC
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/both-factories-lacked-fire-noc-80438
Tags: India, industrial, fire, response, ethanol
Ethanol was stored in drums in the unit that caught fire last night. The unit also lacked NOC from the Fire Department. Two major fire incidents were reported in Ambala - one at Mint Science Chemical Refinery near Jatwar village of the Shahzadpur block and another at Partap Fabrics Private Limited near Kesri village in Saha block here - late last night.
Amar Singh, fire officer, Ambala City, said: ‰??We got information around 9:30 pm regarding the fire incident near Jatwar village. Ethanol was stored in drums in the open. Foam compound was used to control the fire as it was not possible to control fire with water due to ethanol. The operation was stopped around 2 am. We have been told that hand sanitiser was prepared in the factory and it didn‰??t have any fire NOC from the department. Lightning is suspected to be the reason behind the fire.‰??
Mahender Singh, fire officer, Sadar Zone, said: ‰??We got information about the fire around 9:45 pm at Partap fabrics. As many as 11 fire tenders were pressed into service. The fire-fighting operation was stopped around 7:30 am. The exact cause of the fire and the total loss were yet to be ascertained. The factory didn‰??t have fire NOC. A notice will be sent to its owner. ‰?? TNS
---------------------------------------------
HENDERSON RESIDENT RECALLS PEPCON EXPLOSION 32 YEARS LATER
https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/henderson-resident-recalls-pepcon-explosion-32-years-later/
Tags: us_NV, industrial, follow-up, environmental, ammonium_perchlorate
HENDERSON, Nev. (KLAS) ‰?? Many Valley natives will never forget what happened here 32 years ago today. A massive explosion at the PEPCON chemical plant in Henderson left two dead and hundreds injured.
The blast shook the entire area and was felt miles away.
....
‰??We looked out the window of the hospital, and I look out the window, and there is a mushroom cloud over Henderson,‰?? she recounted.
That cloud was coming from the Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada. Investigators said a welder‰??s torch sparked the fire that spread to a stockpile of ammonium perchlorate, a chemical used to propel rockets.
---------------------------------------------
FIRE BREAKS OUT AT CHEMICAL FACTORY IN HYDERABAD OUTSKIRTS
https://telanganatoday.com/fire-breaks-out-at-chemical-factory-in-hyderabad-outskirts
Tags: India, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
Hyderabad: A major fire broke out in a chemical factory in the industrial area in Medchal on the city outskirts here in the early hours of Tuesday. No casualties were reported in the fire, which is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit, police said.
According to the police, locals in the nearby residential area, where the factory was located, noticed the huge fire and thick smoke emanating from the unit and alerted the fire department and the police.
The fire caught the plastic containers which were filled with the chemicals. Due to the presence of chemicals, there was dark and thick smoke in the surroundings.
The Medchal police along with the fire department officials with the help of four fire engines doused the fire in three hours. The total worth of the damaged property is suspected to be around Rs.20 lakh. The management is yet to lodge a complaint and give an estimation of the damaged property.
---------------------------------------------
US CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD REMAINS SHORT-STAFFED
https://cen.acs.org/safety/industrial-safety/US-Chemical-Safety-Board-remains/98/web/2020/05
Tags: public, discovery, environmental
Katherine Lemos, the new chairperson of the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), faces a sharp learning curve and a lonely start to her term.
A week after she took up CSB leadership on April 23, Lemos found herself working alone when the only other board member, interim chairperson Kirsten Kulinowski, announced her departure. Lemos holds a PhD in social psychology and previously worked at the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.
The board is supposed to have five members, appointed by the US president and confirmed by the Senate for 5-year terms. But in the 3 years he has been president, Donald J. Trump has only appointed Lemos. Meanwhile, the other members‰?? terms expired. Kulinowski was required to leave in August, but she left 3 months early to become the director of the Science and Technology Policy Institute, a federal advisory panel.
Trump is no fan of the board, which is charged with investigating chemical‰??related industrial accidents. His annual budget proposals zeroed out the board‰??s funding three times. Each time, Congress has overridden his request and extended funding for another year.
Annual funding for the CSB has never topped $12 million. For comparison, the National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates transportation accidents that involve the public and upon which the CSB is modeled, receives 10 times as much as the CSB appropriation.
The board is independent of other agencies and has no regulatory authority. Its task is to objectively investigate chemical‰??related industrial accidents, find the causes, and make public its recommendations to regulators and industries. It was created in 1990, following investigative failures of US regulatory agencies‰??in particular, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Some 200 incidents occur each year that qualify for a CSB investigation, but the board has funding adequate to investigate only a handful.
Still, many people in industry, Congress, communities, and unions support the board and its mission, particularly when they are affected by a deadly accident and desire its safety videos and objective reports.
The board is understaffed and far behind in its investigations. It has struggled to fill investigator positions. As of C&EN‰??s deadline, it had 9 investigative staff and 10 unfilled investigator slots.
Currently 13 accident investigations are unfinished, the CSB says. The incidents killed 24 people, and injured scores of workers and community members. The oldest of the 13 stretches back nearly 4 years. Since it was formed, the board has investigated more than 100 chemical incidents.
---------------------------------------------
HARBORING HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND DISPOSING OF THEM
http://blog.nsta.org/2020/05/02/harboring-hazardous-chemicals-and-disposing-of-them/
Tags: laboratory, discovery, environmental
1. Harboring Hazardous Chemicals
Middle and high school science labs and chemical storerooms have been known to harbor large amounts of hazardous chemicals for years. Given the unknowns about school budgets, teachers try to purchase as many chemicals as they can afford in a given year. This in part is because the next year‰??s budget may or may not meet their needs with budget cuts and budget freezes. In this way, some chemicals are stockpiled, almost never used and at times, forgotten. This might be especially the case during the current pandemic with hazardous chemicals not being used during 3 to 4 months of school closings. This could even potentially be extended into next fall in some locations.
In this way, when purchasing chemicals, consideration needs to be given to the hazardous chemical nature vs its educational utility. For example, when considering peroxide forming chemicals like diethyl ether, will they be stored or infrequently used carrying them well beyond their required disposal date once open and exposed to air. Are there safer alternatives to this potential time bomb in the chemical store room or lab cabinet?
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