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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 6:22:52 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)
HAZMAT CREW RESPONDS TO INCIDENT AT BOSTON LAB
Tags: us_MA, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical
FIREFIGHTERS INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE HAZMAT INCIDENT AT BROOKLINE DPW ‰?? BOSTON NEWS, WEATHER, SPORTS
Tags: us_MA, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
FOUR INJURED IN BELLE CHEMICAL PLANT EXPLOSION; SHELTER-IN-PLACE LIFTED
Tags: us_WV, industrial, explosion, injury, bleach, methanol
A FORKLIFT, SANITISERS AND STRONG WINDS: WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT KZN FACTORY BLAZE, ACCORDING TO FIRE CHIEF
Tags: South_Africa, industrial, explosion, injury, gas_cylinders
RENIGUNTA BLAST: CHEMICAL WASTE DUMPED ON TRACKS
Tags: India, public, explosion, injury, waste
ENVIRONMENT GROUP CALLS FOR TOTAL BAN OF FIREWORKS, FIRECRACKERS
Tags: Philippines, public, discovery, environmental, fireworks
BREAKING: BARRELS LEAKING UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE IN ALDERGROVE ‰?? ALDERGROVE STAR
Tags: Canada, public, release, response, unknown_chemical
TOO MUCH CHLORINE ADDED TO SWIMMING POOL IN RUSSIA LEAVES SIX CHILDREN FIGHTING FOR LIFE IN HOSPITAL
Tags: Russia, education, release, injury, chlorine
FERTILIZER, GAS SPILL CAUSES ROAD CLOSURES IN OXNARD
Tags: us_CA, transportation, release, response, ag_chems
BILGOLA PLATEAU STREET LOCKED DOWN AFTER MAJOR ASBESTOS CONTAMINATION ON SYDNEY'S NORTHERN BEACHES
Tags: Australia, public, release, response, asbestos
EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL USED IN MASKAN CHOWRANGI BLAST: REPORT
Tags: Pakistan, public, follow-up, environmental, tnt
'TICKING TIME BOMBS': RESIDENTS KEPT IN THE DARK ABOUT RISKS TO LA.'S CHEMICAL PLANTS DURING STORMS
Tags: us_LA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, chlorine, toxics
4 DEAD IN UK SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS EXPLOSION
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, explosion, death, water_treatment
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HAZMAT CREW RESPONDS TO INCIDENT AT BOSTON LAB
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/08/metro/hazmat-crew-responds-incident-boston-lab/
Tags: us_MA, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical
The Boston Fire Department responded after a worker at Merck Research Laboratories was exposed to fumes from an unknown chemical, officials said.
Firefighter Brian Alkins, a spokesman for the Boston Fire Department, said the call came in at around 8 a.m. and hazmat crews were sent in with meters to monitor the air quality in the room, which was on the third floor of the building at 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur.
‰??They determined that the air in the room was safe,‰?? he said.
The worker who was exposed was ‰??conscious and alert‰?? and taken to the hospital by Boston EMS, he said.
Alkins said the firefighters cleared the scene around 8:45 a.m., and the building was not evacuated because the fumes were only in that room.
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FIREFIGHTERS INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE HAZMAT INCIDENT AT BROOKLINE DPW ‰?? BOSTON NEWS, WEATHER, SPORTS
https://whdh.com/news/firefighters-investigate-possible-hazmat-incident-at-brookline-dpw/
Tags: us_MA, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical
BROOKLINE, MASS. (WHDH) - Brookline firefighters are investigating a possible hazardous materials incident at the town‰??s Department of Public Works Tuesday, officials said.
Firefighters responding to reports of a chemical odor at the municipal service center on Hammond Street at 12:30 p.m. requested the METROFIRE District Hazmat Response Team for a Level 1 Hazmat response, officials said.
Four employees were taken to the hospital as a precaution. The incident remains under investigation.
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FOUR INJURED IN BELLE CHEMICAL PLANT EXPLOSION; SHELTER-IN-PLACE LIFTED
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/energy_and_environment/four-injured-in-belle-chemical-plant-explosion-shelter-in-place-in-effect/article_610d6f11-18b2-54ad-bd7c-fc5928b7356d.html
Tags: us_WV, industrial, explosion, injury, bleach, methanol
Four people were injured in an explosion and fire at the Chemours plant in Belle late Tuesday night, prompting a shelter-in-place for the areas surrounding the plant, which is just off U.S. 60 in Eastern Kanawha County.
The explosion occurred at 10:02 p.m. according to the Kanawha County Commission. Belle Mayor David Fletcher said the fire was "pretty much out" just after midnight. Fletcher said emergency crews were monitoring the plant and waiting for the OK from plant inspectors.
Three people were taken to Charleston Area Medical Center and the other person drove themselves to Montgomery General, according to Kanawha Commission President Kent Carper. The extent of their injuries was not known.
Carper said the incident involved chlorinated dry bleach and methanol, the latter of which was "most likely" the origin of the explosion and acted as an accelerant for the flames.
"It's a very bad explosion and working fire and we're ordering a shelter-in-place in that area," Carper said. "It is an evolving situation."
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A FORKLIFT, SANITISERS AND STRONG WINDS: WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT KZN FACTORY BLAZE, ACCORDING TO FIRE CHIEF
https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2020-12-09-a-forklift-sanitisers-and-strong-winds-what-we-know-about-kzn-factory-blaze-according-to-fire-chief/
Tags: South_Africa, industrial, explosion, injury, gas_cylinders
Just after 11am on Tuesday, emergency services in New Germany, Pinetown, received multiple calls about an explosion at a chemical factory.
Multiple emergency services were dispatched to the area in effort to extinguish the destructive blaze in which at least 13 people were injured, Zeta Labs manager Nikesh Singh told TimesLIVE.
Dennis Govender, the eThekwini fire department's divisional commander for the western region, said an investigation was under way.
He said emergency service found the factory ‰??well alight with numerous explosions‰??. He said 9kg gas cylinders were exploding.
‰??We made attempts to extinguish the fire, but we couldn‰??t, purely because there was no water in the facility and surrounding areas. We had limited water in the tanks that we carried,‰?? Govender said.
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RENIGUNTA BLAST: CHEMICAL WASTE DUMPED ON TRACKS
https://english.sakshi.com/news/crime/truth-about-renigunta-blast-chemical-waste-dumped-tracks-not-country-bomb-caused
Tags: India, public, explosion, injury, waste
CHITTOOR: An explosion, which occurred on the Renigunta-Koduru railway track in Renigunta Mandal of Chittoor district on Tuesday evening, was due to chemical waste dumped on the tracks. Initial reports suggested that the blast was due to a country made bomb, but after verification by the bomb squad it was confirmed that it was due to chemical waste.A shepard-woman named Sasikala (35) of Tarakarama Nagar in Renigunta was seriously injured in the blast.
As per locals version, the woman had gone to graze her cattle on the outskirts of the village on Tuesday. The cows strayed over the tracks on to the other side and to bring them back she went on to the tracks. She saw a box on the tracks, which looked suspicious. The woman with the help of her umbrella prodded the item. As soon as she pushed the box, it suddenly exploded causing severe injuries to her face, arms, and parts of her legs.
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ENVIRONMENT GROUP CALLS FOR TOTAL BAN OF FIREWORKS, FIRECRACKERS
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1369360/environment-group-calls-for-total-ban-of-fireworks-firecrackers
Tags: Philippines, public, discovery, environmental, fireworks
MANILA, Philippines ‰?? EcoWaste Coalition on Tuesday called on local government units (LGUs) to ban firecrackers, fireworks, and other pyrotechnic devices this holiday season amid pandemic.
In a statement, the group‰??s Chemical Safety Campaigner Thony Dizon urged officials to impose ordinances that will prohibit firecrackers and fireworks for the New Year‰??s Eve‰??s festivities.
‰??With the safety of their constituents and the environment in mind, we urge our city and municipal officials to quickly enact ordinances that will prohibit the use of firecrackers, fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices in celebrating the New Year,‰?? said Dizon.
‰??The adoption and implementation of such ordinances, we believe, will prevent a repeat of the bloody and dirty tradition of heralding the New Year with explosives and noxious fumes,‰?? he added.
---------------------------------------------
BREAKING: BARRELS LEAKING UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE IN ALDERGROVE ‰?? ALDERGROVE STAR
https://www.aldergrovestar.com/news/breaking-barrels-leaking-unknown-substance-in-aldergrove/
Tags: Canada, public, release, response, unknown_chemical
About eight 40-gallon drums leaking an unknown substance onto a road in Aldergrove have sparked a hazmat response from Langley Township firefighters Monday morning.
The fire department was alerted at about 4 a.m. and began a hazardous materials response, said Bruce Ferguson, a Township deputy fire chief.
The drums were apparently left in the road in the 25800 block of 64th Avenue sometime over night.
Ferguson said they are unlabelled and some of them are leaking a white substance.
---------------------------------------------
TOO MUCH CHLORINE ADDED TO SWIMMING POOL IN RUSSIA LEAVES SIX CHILDREN FIGHTING FOR LIFE IN HOSPITAL
https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/too-much-chorine-added-to-swimming-pool-in-russia-leaves-six-children-fighting-for-life-in-hospital--c-1726850
Tags: Russia, education, release, injury, chlorine
Russian authorities are investigating how more than 250 times the safe amount of chlorine was poured into a swimming pool in an incident that has left six children in a ‰??grave‰?? condition and at least 30 people poisoned.
Medical staff treated 21 schoolchildren for breathing problems and sore or irritated eyes after a number of children and adults became ill during one of the classes on Monday.
Anastasia Krotova, spokeswoman for the region‰??s governor, said there were six children in a ‰??grave‰?? condition on oxygen support in intensive care.
Russia‰??s Investigative Committee (RIC) is urgently trying to work out how the alleged blunder in the country‰??s southern region of Astrakhan occurred.
Officials believe that staff cleaning the pool complex erroneously added a dangerous amount of the cleaning chemical used to clean pools.
---------------------------------------------
FERTILIZER, GAS SPILL CAUSES ROAD CLOSURES IN OXNARD
https://keyt.com/news/traffic/2020/12/07/fertilizer-gas-spill-causes-road-closures-in-oxnard/
Tags: us_CA, transportation, release, response, ag_chems
OXNARD, Calif. - The Oxnard Police Department reported a fertilizer spill Monday afternoon that led to multiple temporary road closures.
Police said that around 2:16 p.m., a truck loaded with fertilizer crashed at Rose Avenue and Wooley Road, causing its load of fertilizer and gas to spill into the roadway.
By 2:44 p.m., Oxnard City Fire advised personnel that this was a hazmat scene.
Both Rose and Wooley were closed while hazmat crew responded to clean up the mess.
Police expect the operation to take a couple of hours, so the roads will not be reopened until the early evening.
---------------------------------------------
BILGOLA PLATEAU STREET LOCKED DOWN AFTER MAJOR ASBESTOS CONTAMINATION ON SYDNEY'S NORTHERN BEACHES
https://www.9news.com.au/national/bilgola-plateau-asbestos-street-locked-down-after-contamination/49eccf50-bd5f-4cf3-ad62-cd17a9951ffb
Tags: Australia, public, release, response, asbestos
A residential street on Sydney's northern beaches has been forced into lockdown following a major asbestos contamination.
Hazmat crews were called to Mariposa Road in Bilgola Plateau late yesterday afternoon after residents raised the alarm when they saw clouds of particles floating in the air.
"There was snow, like asbestos over the whole house," resident Linda Amoah told 9News.
Hazmat crews were called to Mariposa Road in Bilgola Plateau late yesterday afternoon. (9News)
"The dogs were covered in asbestos, the whole backyard covered in asbestos."
Two private cleaning contractors had been employed by a homeowner on the street to pressure clean the roof of their house.
However, the force of the water sent fibers from the asbestos-riddled roof throughout the street.
---------------------------------------------
EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL USED IN MASKAN CHOWRANGI BLAST: REPORT
https://arynews.tv/en/explosive-material-maskan-chowrangi-blast-report/
Tags: Pakistan, public, follow-up, environmental, tnt
KARACHI: The investigation report into the blast at Karachi‰??s Gulshan-e-Iqbal that had killed nine people and injured more than 20 revealed that explosive material had been used in the explosion, ARY News reported.
The report prepared by HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, Karachi University has found TNT explosive material used in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal blast.
The police have sent six samples provided by Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) from the crime scene to Karachi University laboratory for investigation. The lab report found Trinitrotoluene (TNT) explosive material in the blast.
At least nine persons had been killed and more than 20 injured in the Maskan Chowrangi blast that occurred on October 21.
The blast took place at a ground-plus-four-story residential building, Noor Apartments, opposite the University of Karachi‰??s gate, having banks and commercial shops on the ground and mezzanine floor.
It may be noted that several questions had been raised after the BDS said that the massive blast in Gulshan-e-Iqbal was caused by a gas leak.
---------------------------------------------
'TICKING TIME BOMBS': RESIDENTS KEPT IN THE DARK ABOUT RISKS TO LA.'S CHEMICAL PLANTS DURING STORMS
https://www.wwno.org/post/ticking-time-bombs-residents-kept-dark-about-risks-las-chemical-plants-during-storms
Tags: us_LA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, chlorine, toxics
When Christine Bennett tried to return to her house in Mossville, on the outskirts of Lake Charles, after Hurricane Laura plowed through in August, roads were blocked around BioLab. A fire at the pool chemical manufacturer burned for three days after the storm. ‰??They stopped us from getting to our house,‰?? she said. ‰??While we were sitting there trying to get through our stomachs started to hurt.‰??
Chlorine gas was detected around the BioLab facility in Westlake at a level that could cause notable irritation and temporary changes in lung function, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. Bennett believes that was what made her family feel sick.
Chemical plants emit more toxic air pollution when they shut down ahead of storms coming ashore. And when hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast, which is overrun with chemical and fossil fuel facilities, pollution events often follow. That puts fenceline communities ‰?? neighborhoods directly adjacent to industrial facilities that are affected by its operations ‰?? at risk of exposure to toxic chemicals and explosions.
The 2020 hurricane season, which officially ended last week, brought a record breaking number of tropical storms. It‰??s unclear whether climate change will lead to more hurricanes, but a growing body of research shows storms are becoming more intense, increasing the likelihood of a double disaster: a storm followed by toxic spills or explosions. Identifying at-risk communities is difficult because that information is hidden behind a series of bureaucratic hurdles.
---------------------------------------------
4 DEAD IN UK SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS EXPLOSION
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/4-dead-in-uk-sewage-treatment-works-explosion/4012854.article
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, explosion, death, water_treatment
One person injured as biosolids silo explodes at Avonmouth
An explosion at a wastewater treatment works in Avonmouth, UK, has left four workers dead and one more injured. Three of the dead were employees of Wessex Water, which runs the site, and the fourth was a contractor.
The explosion happened on 3 December, in a ‰??silo that holds treated biosolids before it is recycled to land as an organic soil conditioner‰??, according to a statement from Avon and Somerset Police. Wessex Water is working with the UK‰??s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to determine the cause of the blast, and ‰??will not be speculating on the cause of the explosion while such work is being undertaken‰??.
Several possibilities exist that could lead to this type of explosion, as outlined in a HSE report on the risks from sewage sludge drying plants. They include buildup of an explosive composition of methane and air within the silo, or a dust explosion if the material had been dried. The true cause of the incident should be revealed by the HSE‰??s investigation in due course.
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