Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2011 07:38:04 -0500
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Subject: Chemical Safety headlines from Google (22 articles)
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Chemical Safety Headlines =46rom Google
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 7:37:12 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 (22 articles)

EASTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL'S ER REOPENED AFTER HAZMAT SITUATION
Tags: us_MD, public, explosion, response, batteries

GREENBURGH CHEMICAL LAB EVACUATED AFTER CORROSIVE SPILL
Tags: us_NY, laboratory, release, response, corrosives

WAXAHACHIE CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE HEALTH CLAIMS STILL BURNING
Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, environmental, unknown_chemical, follow-up

ARDSLEY BUILDING EVACUATED AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL
Tags: us_NY, industrial, release, injury, unknown_chemical

2 WORKERS HOSPITALIZED AFTER INHALING POOL CHEMICALS
Tags: us_MN, public, release, injury, pool_chemicals

THE SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT CITY CREWS MOP UP CHEMICAL SPILL
Tags: us_CA, public, release, environmental, unknown_chemical

TANK STORAGE MAGAZINE
Tags: Ireland, transportation, release, response, ammonium_nitrate

GALENA BACK IN CLASS AFTER SMALL CHEMICAL SPILL PROMPTS EVACUATION
Tags: us_NV, education, release, response, unknown_chemical

CHEMICAL LEAK CLOSES ROADS NEAR HEMLOCK SEMICONDUCTOR ON SATURDAY
Tags: us_MI, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical

P LAB CAUSED ALBANY HOUSE EXPLOSION SAY EXPERTS
Tags: New_Zealand, public, explosion, response, meth_lab

TWO SENT TO AREA HOSPITALS AFTER EXPLOSION IN CHESHIRE HIGH SCHOOL GYM
Tags: us_CT, education, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

FORT COLLINS MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS SICKENED BY MYSTERIOUS ODOR
Tags: us_CO, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical

SACRED HEART STUDENTS ILL AFTER LAB INCIDENT
Tags: us_NY, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical

EXPLOSION ROCKS RURAL OHIO
Tags: us_OH, transportation, explosion, injury, natural_gas

MAN INJURED IN METH LAB FIRE IN RICHMOND'S FAN
Tags: us_VA, public, fire, injury, meth_lab

HOSPITAL AIR QUALITY TESTED, FOUND SAFE, AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK
Tags: Canada, public, release, response, unknown_chemical

CREWS, MDE WORK TO CLEAN UP STICKY MESS
Tags: us_MD, industrial, release, environmental, sucrose

COVENTRY MAN OVERCOME BY FUMES FROM CLEANING FLUIDS MIX
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, release, injury, bleach, sulfuric_acid

FIREFIGHTERS TACKLE CHEMICAL SPILL AT MEDWAY MARITIME HOSPITAL
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, release, response, unknown_chemical

POLICE: HOMEMADE CHEMICAL BOMB TOSSED INTO CONN. SCHOOL GYM, NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE REPORTED
Tags: us_CT, education, discovery, injury, bomb

CHEMICAL SPILL SHUTS DOWN RAILWAY STATION
Tags: Australia, transportation, release, response, bleach

14 DEAD IN CHINESE CHEMICAL PLANT EXPLOSION
Tags: China, industrial, explosion, death, unknown_chemical


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EASTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL'S ER REOPENED AFTER HAZMAT SITUATION
http://www.wboc.com/story/16099308/easton-memorial-hospitals-emergency-room-closed
Tags: us_MD, public, explosion, response, batteries

EASTON, Md.- Authorities say Easton Memorial Hospital's emergency room had to be temporarily shut down Tuesday morning due to a hazmat situation.

Talbot County Emergency Services Director Clay Stamp said that at around 4:30 a.m., a battery on a computer cart exploded and emitted an odor. Stamp said there were no major injuries.

"At no time was the hospital closed, just the emergency department was closed. The rest of the hospital was isolated. The hvac system was shut down to prevent the spread of the odor," said Stamp.

---------------------------------------------

GREENBURGH CHEMICAL LAB EVACUATED AFTER CORROSIVE SPILL
http://www.lohud.com/article/20111121/NEWS02/111210345/Greenburgh-chemical-lab-evacuated-after-corrosive-spill
Tags: us_NY, laboratory, release, response, corrosives

GREENBURGH =97 A chemical spill prompted an evacuation of a chemical lab on Route 9A today.

Employees of ICL-IP America at 410 Saw Mill River Road were asked to leave the building at 1:40 p.m. after a corrosive chemical agent was spilled on the third floor.

The spill was contained and no one was injured, police said.

The Hastings Fire Department, Greenburgh Technical Rescue and Westchester County Hazardous Materials Response Team responded. The hazmat team is trying to determine what the chemical is.

---------------------------------------------

WAXAHACHIE CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE HEALTH CLAIMS STILL BURNING
http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Waxahachie-chemical-plant-fire-health-claims-still-burning-134287158.html
Tags: us_TX, industrial, fire, environmental, unknown_chemical, follow-up

WAXAHACHIE - The clean-up is entering the final stage in and around the site of that massive chemical plant fire in Waxahachie last month. And while plant owners are claiming significant and safe progress is being made, some residents say what's left behind is still making them sick.

It was the morning of Oct. 3. Workers at the Magnablend plant in Waxahachie allowed a batch of volatile chemicals to get out of hand. Two hours later, the entire facility and hundreds of thousands of gallons of hazardous chemicals were released into the environment.

---------------------------------------------

ARDSLEY BUILDING EVACUATED AFTER CHEMICAL SPILL
http://www.thedailyhastings.com/news/ardsley-building-evacuated-after-chemical-spill
Tags: us_NY, industrial, release, injury, unknown_chemical

ARDSLEY, N.Y. =96 ICL Industrial Products of America evacuated employees from its Ardsley building Monday afternoon after a chemical spillage according to the Greenburgh Police Department.  The incident prompted responses from the Hastings Fire Department, the Town of Greenburgh Technical Rescue Team, Greenburgh police along with ambulances and other first responders.
=93Apparently it was an isolated cubicle or room so it was limited to that area,=94 said Greenburgh Lt. BJ Ryan of the chemical spill.  =93The Westchester County Hazmat Team entered the location and neutralized the chemical.=94
According to its website, ICL IP of America is a leading manufacturer of phosphorus-based flame retardants, clear brines for the oil and gas exploration industries, magnesia and chlorine based salts along with fertilizer and specialty chemicals.  

---------------------------------------------

2 WORKERS HOSPITALIZED AFTER INHALING POOL CHEMICALS
http://www.kare11.com/news/article/947626/391/Two-workers-hospitalized-after-inhaling-pool-chemicals?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Cbc%7Clarge
Tags: us_MN, public, release, injury, pool_chemicals

HOPKINS, Minn. - One man is reported in critical condition and another remains hospitalized after a chemical incident at a health club in Hopkins.

First responders were called to LA Fitness just before 11:15 a.m. Monday on a report that two people were having difficulty breathing after inhaling pool chemicals.

Once they arrived on scene investigators determined the victims, ages 29 and 31, had incorrectly mixed the pool chemicals. That created a toxic vapor cloud that caused respiratory injuries to both men.

---------------------------------------------

THE SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT CITY CREWS MOP UP CHEMICAL SPILL
http://www.independent.com/news/2011/nov/21/city-crews-mop-chemical-spill/
Tags: us_CA, public, release, environmental, unknown_chemical

Santa Barbara City Fire crews responded yesterday afternoon to what appeared to be a chemical spill near the intersection of Alisos and Montecito streets. Personnel discovered that acrylic sealant applied to the roof of a nearby business was washing off in rain =96 it hadn=92t properly cured before the weather turned wet =96 and dumping into the area=92s storm drain.

The business owner was contacted, Fire Captain Gary Pitney said, and a few employees =93worked cooperatively with city crews to limit environmental impacts.=94 Sandbags, absorbent, and dirt were used to contain the spill, and an environmental cleanup company dispatched its vacuum truck. =93The commercial property owners assumed financially responsibility for the cleanup,=94 Pitney said.

---------------------------------------------

TANK STORAGE MAGAZINE
http://www.tankstoragemag.com/industry_news.php?item_id=4290
Tags: Ireland, transportation, release, response, ammonium_nitrate

Several fire engine crews from Dublin Fire Brigade rushed to Dublin Port on the evening of 20 November after a highly dangerous chemical began leaking from a giant storage tank.


The emergency incident was reported at 9pm when ammonium nitrate was detected to be leaking from a tank at the port terminal at Breakwater Road South.


A large number of tenders went to the area and the district was cordoned off as terminal staff and fire fighters worked to make the area safe and stop the leak. The cordon was lifted later when the leak was successfully fixed.

---------------------------------------------

GALENA BACK IN CLASS AFTER SMALL CHEMICAL SPILL PROMPTS EVACUATION
http://www.rgj.com/article/20111121/NEWS/111121007/Developing-Galena-High-School-evacuated-after-chemical-spill?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CLocal%20News%7Cp
Tags: us_NV, education, release, response, unknown_chemical

10:30 a.m. update: Students, faculty and staff were allowed back into Galena High School about 9:50 a.m., after a small chemical spill in a photo lab prompted the evacuation of the school.

HazMat Crews isolated the spill, cleaned it up and used fans to ventilate the classroom.

---------------------------------------------

CHEMICAL LEAK CLOSES ROADS NEAR HEMLOCK SEMICONDUCTOR ON SATURDAY
http://www.ourmidland.com/news/article_80a5ea1e-23b4-557d-b04b-6bbf105f6579.html#.Tsud_2BSbqg
Tags: us_MI, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical

Roads were closed and residents were asked to stay in their homes Saturday morning after a chemical leak crossed over the fence line at Hemlock Semiconductor's manufacturing site in Thomas Township.
A company spokesman said the incident involved a minor vapor release that was "quickly contained."
No injuries resulted from the incident, which was over in about 30 minutes.
Hemlock Semiconductor's emergency response team worked with the Thomas Township Fire Department and other local emergency responders. Several roads near the site were temporarily closed and some residents within one mile to the northeast of the plant were asked to temporarily stay in their homes, the spokesman said.

---------------------------------------------

P LAB CAUSED ALBANY HOUSE EXPLOSION SAY EXPERTS
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/6006381/Meth-caused-house-explosion-fire-services
Tags: New_Zealand, public, explosion, response, meth_lab

An Albany home engulfed in flames last week was a P lab, according to fire investigators.

Fire crews were called to the Albany Heights Rd home last Monday around 9.30pm, and the police clandestine laboratory team was called in on Friday.

"It appears that there has been some type of explosion from methamphetamine, causing a fire," fire safety investigator Lynda McHugh said.

"The results from the house show it was a large explosion and the fire service did have trouble extinguishing certain areas of the house due to chemicals in the property."

---------------------------------------------

TWO SENT TO AREA HOSPITALS AFTER EXPLOSION IN CHESHIRE HIGH SCHOOL GYM
http://www.myrecordjournal.com/cheshire/article_e2d31480-124c-11e1-bff0-001cc4c002e0.html#.TsudZWBSbqg
Tags: us_CT, education, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

CHESHIRE - Police, fire and state safety officials are investigating an explosion inside the Cheshire High School gym that sent two people to MidState Medical Center.
The explosion, reported at 5:37 p.m. by someone in the gym, was caused by a gas-forming mixture of unknown household chemicals inside a plastic water bottle, said police Lt. Chris Cote. The gas caused throat irritation and headaches for two people who breathed in the mix of fumes, Cote said.
Even though no chemicals landed on anyone in the gym, which was being used for girls volleyball practice at the time, the incident is being handled as more than a simple prank, Cote said.

---------------------------------------------

FORT COLLINS MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS SICKENED BY MYSTERIOUS ODOR
http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-odor-forces-evacuation-of-fort-collins-middle-school-13-hospitalized-20111118,0,903823.story
Tags: us_CO, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- More than a dozen students were sent to the hospital after a mysterious odor swept through part of Blevins Middle School in Fort Collins. 

The incident was first reported at about 12:30 p.m., initially from a laboratory classroom. Poudre Fire Authority investigated for nearly six hours and didn't locate the source. Investigators plan to return to the school on Saturday. 

"When the firefighters arrived on scene they found the 12 students in front of the school and the remaining students in the process of being evacuated," said Poudre Fire spokesman Patrick Love.

---------------------------------------------

SACRED HEART STUDENTS ILL AFTER LAB INCIDENT
http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/sacred-heart-students-ill-after-lab-incident-1.3331562?qr=1
Tags: us_NY, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical

More than 20 students at Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead were taken to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow on Friday as a precaution after complaining of headaches in a science lab, Nassau police and fire officials said.
While no one was injured, Nassau County Fire Marshal spokesman Vincent McManus said, the incident provided a good test of the county's mass casualty incident...

---------------------------------------------

EXPLOSION ROCKS RURAL OHIO
http://www.firerescue1.com/hazards-hazmat/articles/1185098-Explosion-rocks-rural-Ohio/
Tags: us_OH, transportation, explosion, injury, natural_gas

JACKSONTOWN, Ohio =97 Hooper Ridge was scarred yesterday by the explosion of a natural-gas pipeline that sent a plume of fire hundreds of feet into the air and set buildings ablaze in the Morgan County countryside.

Only slight injuries were reported from the huge blast, which authorities said was felt and heard up to 12 miles away.

The high-pressure interstate pipeline, built in 1963 and operated by the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., ruptured about 8:45 a.m., blowing apart three houses and a barn and charring trees and fields along Taylor Road.

John Sayers and his wife were staggered when the pipeline blew about 500 feet from their home. He recalled "an explosion and fire, and that's about it." His wife, Cathy, suffered minor leg burns. "Our house is destroyed. It's completely gone."

---------------------------------------------

MAN INJURED IN METH LAB FIRE IN RICHMOND'S FAN
http://www.wric.com/story/16085799/meth-lab
Tags: us_VA, public, fire, injury, meth_lab

RICHMOND - Richmond Fire Officials say an apartment fire Saturday night has been linked to a methamphetamine lab in the city's Fan district.

Officials say the fire happened around 9:30 p.m. in an apartment building in the 3500 block of Grove Avenue.

When fire crews arrived, they found heavy smoke coming from the rear of the building.

Both the Drug Enforcement Agency and hazmat teams were on scene.

Officials say a man was removed from the building and transported to the hospital with significant burns. They say he was burned when he attempted to put out the fire.

This is the second meth lab fire in Richmond this year. That fire happened on Park Avenue in March.

---------------------------------------------

HOSPITAL AIR QUALITY TESTED, FOUND SAFE, AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3376658
Tags: Canada, public, release, response, unknown_chemical

The all-clear has been given after a chemical spill saw patients rushed out of affected rooms at St. Catharines General Hospital on the weekend.

A Code Brown alert =97 for a chemical spill =97 was issued at the hospital around 9 p.m. Saturday after a radiator was dislodged from a wall, leaking a material called Corroshield, which is used to decrease blockage in radiators. Its fumes can irritate the respiratory tract and cause eye irritation, headache, dizziness and nausea.

The incident affected the second through fifth floors, said Niagara Health System vice-president of patient services Anne Atkinson.

---------------------------------------------

CREWS, MDE WORK TO CLEAN UP STICKY MESS
http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/region/baltimore_city/crews,-mde-work-to-clean-up-sticky-mess
Tags: us_MD, industrial, release, environmental, sucrose

BALTIMORE - Baltimore City Fire crews and the Maryland Department of the Environment are trying to clean up one sticky HazMat mess. 

Crews were called to the 1100 block of Hull Street just before 10:00 p.m. for a corn syrup spill coming from the Domino Sugar plant. 

A fire department spokesperson says that about 1,000 gallons of the sticky mess has spilled into the roadway and surrounding area so far. 

Crews have been able to keep the syrup out of the storm drains.

---------------------------------------------

COVENTRY MAN OVERCOME BY FUMES FROM CLEANING FLUIDS MIX
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-15815864
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, release, injury, bleach, sulfuric_acid

A 51-year-old man from Coventry was taken to hospital after being overcome by chemical fumes while attempting to clean his house on Sunday.

The man brushed a sulphuric acid compound on bathroom tiles at the property in Brays Lane before spraying bleach over the top.

A spokesman for West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service said the two combined to give off a "pungent gas".

Two other people in the house were unaffected by the fumes.

Bill Gough from the fire service said the man, who has since recovered, called them at about 15:00 GMT and that firefighters wearing breathing apparatus had diluted the mixture.

"What we would say to people is read the labels on the tins, bottles and jars of these particular chemicals because they do give in their instructions for use a warning that they shouldn't be used with any other cleaning fluids," Mr Gough added.

---------------------------------------------

FIREFIGHTERS TACKLE CHEMICAL SPILL AT MEDWAY MARITIME HOSPITAL
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway_messenger/news/2011/november/19/chemical_spill_at_hospital.aspxTags: United_Kingdom, public, release, response, unknown_chemical

Firefighters tackled a chemical spill at Medway Maritime Hospital this morning.

Crews from Strood and Medway fire stations were called just after 7am to the hospital in Windmill Road, Gillingham.

An unknown quantity of a chemical was spilled and contained within one room while firefighters and specialists from the hospital carried out a risk assessment.

Fire crews went into the room in gas tight suits and breathing apparatus at 8.45am and the chemical was safely cleaned up by 9.30am.

A fire service spokesman would not say what the chemical was or how it was thought to have been spilt.

The spokesman added: "Firefighters were called as a precaution to reports of a minor chemical spill.

---------------------------------------------

POLICE: HOMEMADE CHEMICAL BOMB TOSSED INTO CONN. SCHOOL GYM, NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE REPORTED
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/8b16529456634c0590b304edd0a2ca92/CT--Homemade-Bomb-School/
Tags: us_CT, education, discovery, injury, bomb

CHESHIRE, Conn. =97 Police and fire officials say what appears to be a homemade bomb has exploded in the Cheshire High School gym, but there are no injuries or damage.

Police Lt. Chris Cote tells The Hartford Courant Friday night that emergency responders who went to the gym found a plastic bottle filled with chemicals. The bottle was tossed into the gym near where the girls' volleyball team was practicing just after 5:30 p.m.

Police said two coaches were taken to a hospital after complaining of skin irritation.

Cote said state police are trying to determine who made the bomb and what was used. He said he had no information about a suspect or whether a student is suspected.

---------------------------------------------

CHEMICAL SPILL SHUTS DOWN RAILWAY STATION
http://m.smh.com.au/environment/chemical-spill-shuts-down-railway-station-20111119-1no7x.html
Tags: Australia, transportation, release, response, bleach

A chemical spill from a 25,000 litre freight train has closed down a railway station north of Sydney.
Emergency services were called to Morisset station just before 11am today, after track workers noticed chemical leaking out of a private freight train, Inspector Chris Sedgwick from Fire and Rescue NSW said.
The tanker is leaking sodium hypochlorite, a chemical normally used for cleaning, at a rate of about five litres per minute.
But Inspector Sedgwick said it was not yet known how much has spilled out so far.
The spill did not pose a risk to nearby residents as there was no vapour cloud, he said.

---------------------------------------------

14 DEAD IN CHINESE CHEMICAL PLANT EXPLOSION
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-11-19/asia/world_asia_china-plant-explosion_1_chemical-plant-explosion-xintai-xinhua?_s=PM:ASIA
Tags: China, industrial, explosion, death, unknown_chemical

Fourteen people died Saturday after a chemical plant explosion in the eastern Chinese city of Xintai, state media reported.

The state-run news Xinhua news agency reported the explosion occurred Saturday afternoon at plant that produces melamine, a chemical used in in dishware, counter tops, whiteboards and other products.

Four people died immediately, Xinhua said, citing officials in Xintai. Fifteen people were taken to the hospital, where 10 more died, the agency said.

The explosion occurred as workers were performing maintenance on a condenser, Xinhua said, citing the government statement. The exact cause of the blast is under investigation.

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