From: Secretary ACS DCHAS <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (13 articles)
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 07:32:16 -0400
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Chemical Safety Headlines
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Table of Contents (13 articles)

SMALL EXPLOSION AT LSU DAIRY SCIENCE LAB LEAVES TWO INJURED
Tags: us_LA, laboratory, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

CHEMICAL BOMBS FOUND IN LIBERTY TWP., SHERIFF WARNS RESIDENTS
Tags: us_OH, public, explosion, response, bomb

4 TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER CHEMICAL EXPOSURE AT GEORGIA STATE LAB
Tags: us_GA, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical

FIRE ORIGINATES FROM CHEMICAL SHOP IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDING
Tags: Bangladesh, public, explosion, death, flammables, solvent

CHEMICAL COMPANY FIRE REIGNITES BRIEFLY
Tags: us_OK, industrial, follow-up, response, unknown_chemical

SUSPECTED 'HASH OIL' LAB EXPLODES IN MALIBU HOME; 1 MAN BURNED
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, explosion, injury, drugs

TOXIC CHEMICAL SPILL IN SOUTH AUCKLAND
Tags: New_Zealand, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical, toxics

SALTNEY: TEN PEOPLE HOSPITALISED AFTER CHEMICAL INCIDENT AT SALTNEY INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, release, injury, cleaners

CREWS CLEAN UP CHLORINE SPILL CAUSED BY VANDALS AT CAMARILLO YMCA
Tags: us_CA, public, release, response, chlorine, hydrochloric_acid

EXPERTS WARN CHEMICAL SPILLS, AGING INFRASTRUCTURE COULD CUT OFF D.C. WATER
Tags: us_DC, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical

EXPLOSIVE FIRE ROCKS TULSA CHEMICAL BUSINESS
Tags: us_OK, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

FAULTY SEAL LEADS TO OIL WELL BLAST
Tags: us_NM, public, explosion, injury, petroleum

AMMONIA LEAK PROMPTS EVACUATIONS IN AIRPORT INDUSTRIAL AREA
Tags: us_HI, industrial, release, response, ammonia


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SMALL EXPLOSION AT LSU DAIRY SCIENCE LAB LEAVES TWO INJURED
http://www.wafb.com/story/25217135/small-explosion-at-lsu-dairy-science-lab-leaves-two-injured
Tags: us_LA, laboratory, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -
A small explosion at the LSU Dairy Science Building in the laboratory has left two people injured.

Capt. Cory Lalonde with the LSU Police Department says two people were conducting an experiment and there was a small explosion. He says it appears to be an accident.

A female suffered significant cuts on her hand and was transported to the hospital by ambulance. A man also suffered minor injuries.

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CHEMICAL BOMBS FOUND IN LIBERTY TWP., SHERIFF WARNS RESIDENTS
http://www.fox19.com/story/25217960/chemical-bombs-found-in-liberty-twp-sheriff-warns-residents
Tags: us_OH, public, explosion, response, bomb

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, OH (FOX19) -
A series of incidents involving chemical reaction bombs has prompted the Butler County Sheriff's Office to warn citizens of their dangers.

Officers say the warning stems from two separate Liberty Township incidents in which residents found chemical bombs. Both incidents resulted in property damage and posed inherent physical dangers to the finders.

In the first incident, a caller found five chemical bombs in the 5200 block of Aspen Valley Drive. Officers say that the individual collected them and put them in the trash on Sunday. On Monday, the individual heard an explosion and went outside to investigate. Authorities say a woman found an additional bomb and brought it home to show her husband. Police say she dripped the contents on her carpet, leaving a burn trail on her carpet.

A second incident occurred Thursday morning in the 5200 block of Aspen Valley Drive. Officers say a resident found a chemical bomb lying in his driveway and attempted to kick it to the curb.

Officers say the bomb exploded, spraying the victim with acidic contents. Police say the victim was not injured but his boots and driveway sustained damage.

Sheriffs say that chemical bombs usually are made in plastic soda or water bottles. Pressure is generated inside the bottled by reacting with an acid or base with a metal in most cases. Officers say the reaction generates heat and Hydrogen gas as it builds pressure. An explosion sends acidic contents and shards of plastic in every direction.

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4 TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER CHEMICAL EXPOSURE AT GEORGIA STATE LAB
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/breaking-news/authorities-respond-chemical-spill-georgia-state-l/nfXXm/
Tags: us_GA, laboratory, release, injury, unknown_chemical

Four people were transported to a hospital after being exposed to a chemical at a Georgia State University lab on Thursday afternoon.
The Natural Sciences Building at 50 Decatur Street was evacuated as a precautionary measure after the incident occurred around 2:30 p.m., Atlanta fire department spokeswoman Janet Ward said. The site was all clear by 4:45 p.m.
A group of workers and students were moving a drum of chemicals in a third-floor lab in the science building when there was a spill, university spokeswoman Andrea Jones told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
After being exposed to a chemical, they were decontaminated and transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, according to Ward.
The chemical vendor was called to the scene and assisted the Atlanta fire department and a hazmat team, Jones said.

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FIRE ORIGINATES FROM CHEMICAL SHOP IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDING
http://www.thedailystar.net/one-killed-10-burnt-critically-19630
Tags: Bangladesh, public, explosion, death, flammables, solvent

One person was killed and 10 others were injured as flammable chemicals caught fire and exploded at a shop on the ground floor of a residential building in the capital's Tejgaon yesterday.
Most of the victims were pedestrians and at least six of the injured are fighting for life with over 30 percent of their bodies burnt. Two university students and a minor boy are among the injured.
The dead is Abdul Latif, 50, a rickshaw van puller. He had been admitted to the burn unit of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital with 96 percent burns. He succumbed to his injuries around 1:00am today.

Sources said the blast occurred at Mahfuz Sewing and Electric, a shop that sells accessories for garment factories in East Tejturi Bazar near Farmgate around 2:45pm.
?We had brought a 200-litre barrel of paint thinner into our shop and opened it and we smelt something very unusual. As soon as I rushed out of the shop, I saw a fire followed by a loud bang," Mahmudul Hasan, owner of the shop, told The Daily Star at a hospital writhing in pain.
At least 35 percent of his body was burnt.

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CHEMICAL COMPANY FIRE REIGNITES BRIEFLY
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/chemical-company-fire-reignites-briefly/article_2fb296c2-ca90-518d-981d-353dfad28d94.html
Tags: us_OK, industrial, follow-up, response, unknown_chemical

Firefighters returned to an east Tulsa chemical business early Thursday after a blaze that damaged the building Wednesday night reignited.
Crews arrived about 2:30 a.m. at Sabre Chem Inc., 9919 E. 47th Place, to put out several hot spots, Fire Department spokesman Stan May said.
No injuries were reported, even though the building's roof collapsed while crews were on the scene, he said.
The owner of the business said Thursday that he knows what sparked the blaze.
"I know exactly what caused it," owner Scott Bever said. "It was a static charge that sparked it."
Bever said the charge quickly ignited nearby industrial materials and fluids.
"It's cool, low humidity in there," he said. "I don't know why it happened."
An official cause of the fire, which led to several explosions, has not been determined, May said.

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SUSPECTED 'HASH OIL' LAB EXPLODES IN MALIBU HOME; 1 MAN BURNED
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-suspected-hash-oil-lab-explosion-malibu-20140409,0,7719214.story#axzz2yTxGnuDN
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, explosion, injury, drugs

A suspected drug lab at a home in Malibu caught fire and exploded Tuesday, injuring one person who had to be transported to the hospital via helicopter, authorities said.

Firefighters responded to the home in the 1200 block of Encinal Canyon Road shortly before 6:15 p.m. to find it fully engulfed in flames, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Authorities later discovered the substance ?honey oil? -- a type of marijuana oil -- at the residence, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sgt. Fray Lupian told KTLA-TV.

A 25-year-old man who was burned in the explosion and ensuing fire was airlifted to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center to be treated for his injuries, authorities said.

The man, who was not immediately identified, would likely be arrested on drug-related charges after recovering, Lupian said.

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TOXIC CHEMICAL SPILL IN SOUTH AUCKLAND
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/news/nbnat/1949919907-toxic-chemical-spill-in-south-auckland
Tags: New_Zealand, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical, toxics

A highly toxic chemical has seen a workplace evacuated in south Auckland this morning.

Fire crews were called to National Steel in Wiri just after 8.00AM after staff reported an unusual chemical smell coming from some cars they were crushing.

A Fire Service communications spokesman says the chemical posed no hazard to people outside the property.

Fire crews are still at the Hobill Avenue business, waiting on representatives from WorkSafe New Zealand to arrive before clearing the chemical.

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SALTNEY: TEN PEOPLE HOSPITALISED AFTER CHEMICAL INCIDENT AT SALTNEY INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/saltney-ten-people-hospitalised-after-6940184
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, release, injury, cleaners

Ten people have been taken to hospital after inhaling chemicals following a spill at a plant in Saltney this morning

"Of the 12, ten people have been taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital in a stable condition, two people have been discharged at the scene."

The Incident Response Unit from Deeside and the Environmental Protection Unit from Wrexham are also at the factory.

A fire service spokesman said emergency services were called after two cleaning agents are understood to have been mixed, causing a release of toxic vapour.

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CREWS CLEAN UP CHLORINE SPILL CAUSED BY VANDALS AT CAMARILLO YMCA
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2014/apr/09/hazmat-crews-respond-to-chlorine-spill-at-ymca/
Tags: us_CA, public, release, response, chlorine, hydrochloric_acid

Fire and hazardous materials crews Wednesday cleaned up a chemical spill caused by vandals at the Camarillo YMCA, officials said.

The incident was reported about 7 a.m. in the 3100 block of Village at the Park Drive. Someone had broken into the outdoor pool area and knocked over two 55-gallon drums of chlorine and muriatic acid, authorities said. People swimming in the outdoor pool noticed a strong odor and alerted authorities.

The building was evacuated, and crews made sure the wind didn?t pick up and carry the strong odor.

Residents nearby were asked to remain indoors until about noon. No injuries were reported.

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EXPERTS WARN CHEMICAL SPILLS, AGING INFRASTRUCTURE COULD CUT OFF D.C. WATER
http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/04/experts-warn-chemical-spills-aging-infrastructure-could-cut-off-d-c-water-102008.html
Tags: us_DC, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical

(WJLA) - After a chemical spill in West Virginia?s Elk River left 300,000 residents without drinking water for several days in January, cities across the country started reviewing their infrastructure and emergency preparedness plans.

Continue reading
On Wednesday, experts told the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments that a similar crisis could happen anywhere.

D.C. Water General Manager George Hawkins said, ?All of our greatest fears are connected to loss of service? [Drinking water is] not an add on. It's not an amenity. It's a necessity.?

If a similar spill happened in the Washington region, its impact would be 15 times larger. But how likely is that?

Washington is better situated ? the experts said ? because there are fewer industrial sites along the Potomac, the local watershed is protected by forests and the river has a high volume of water.

Still, there are low probability threats that would mean high impact consequences such as the Colonial Oil Pipeline that carries petroleum under the Potomac rupturing, or a train or semi-truck carrying chemicals falling off a bridge.

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EXPLOSIVE FIRE ROCKS TULSA CHEMICAL BUSINESS
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/explosive-fire-rocks-tulsa-chemical-business/article_b73ba847-03bc-5907-a235-3c03bc78f1e6.html
Tags: us_OK, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

A fire destroyed an east Tulsa chemical business that was rocked by several explosions Wednesday night.
Firefighters responded about 8:20 p.m. to reports of explosions in the area near 47th Street and Mingo Road, said Tulsa Fire Department spokesman Stan May.
When fire crews arrived, heavy smoke was coming from Sabre Chem Inc., 9919 E. 47th Place, and the building was fully involved in flames, he said.
A large plume of smoke and flames could be seen from nearby highways, including the Broken Arrow Expressway.
The business owner was at the scene and told firefighters that all employees were accounted for, May said.
Additional explosions occurred while firefighters were at the scene, and there was one minor injury to an employee, he said.
A second alarm was called, and firefighters needed about 40 minutes to get the fire under control.
"It didn't look that bad when we got here, but there were some explosions after we arrived," May said.
Hazardous materials crews were brought to the scene because of the nature of the business, which May said dealt with industrial and oil-field fluids.

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FAULTY SEAL LEADS TO OIL WELL BLAST
http://www.isssource.com/faulty-seal-leads-to-oil-well-blast/
Tags: us_NM, public, explosion, injury, petroleum

A failed seal on a well created a pressure buildup of air and crude oil which led to an explosion near Loco Hills, NM, Wednesday leaving four people injured, officials said.
One worker ended up flown by helicopter to the University Medical Center in Lubbock, TX, after a failed seal on a well created a pressure buildup within the well after a pipe released below the surface, resulting in a blowout, according to the Eddy County Sheriff?s Office.

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AMMONIA LEAK PROMPTS EVACUATIONS IN AIRPORT INDUSTRIAL AREA
http://www.k5thehometeam.com/story/25197474/ammonia-leak-prompts-evacuations-in-airport-industrial-area
Tags: us_HI, industrial, release, response, ammonia

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -
An unknown number of workers were evacuated Tuesday after an ammonia leak was detected at the Unicold Corporation building in the airport industrial area on Oahu.

Honolulu police closed Koapaka Street and Ualena Street from Paiea Street to Ohohia Street while Hazmat crews investigated.

According to the Honolulu Fire Department, the leak was contained around 1:44 p.m.

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