From: DCHAS Membership Chair <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (19 articles)
Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2019 07:35:14 -0500
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, February 8, 2019 at 7:34:53 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 (19 articles)

2 INJURED IN KANJIKODE FACTORY BLAZE
Tags: India, industrial, explosion, injury, solvent

LIQUID AT KOSASTHALAIYAR SUSPECTED TO BE INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL FROM A.P.
Tags: India, transportation, fire, response

CREWS INVESTIGATE CHEMICAL AT BLANCHARD ELEMENTARY IN SANTA PAULA
Tags: us_CA, education, release, response, bleach

CHEMICAL CLEAN-UP IN DOWNTOWN DAVENPORT
Tags: us_IA, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

AMMONIA SPILL BEING CLEANED UP AT ARCELORMITTAL BURNS HARBOR
Tags: us_IN, industrial, release, response, ammonia

CREWS WORK TO CLEAN 64,000 GALLON JET FUEL SPILL NEAR HOBBY...
Tags: us_TX, transportation, release, environmental, jet_fuel

GAS LEAK IN WARREN CLOSES DOWN PUMPS AT PARKMAN ROAD GAS STATION
Tags: us_OH, public, release, response, gasoline

HOMES EVACUATED FOLLOWING REPORTED GAS CLOUD IN ENFIELD
Tags: us_CT, public, release, response, unknown_chemical

WILDFIRE SMOKE A 'CHEMICAL SOUP' FOR THOSE WHO INHALE IT
Tags: Canada, public, discovery, environmental

SOLVAY HAZMAT CREWS GET AMMONIA LEAK UNDER CONTROL AT CHEMICAL COMPANY
Tags: us_NY, industrial, release, response, ammonia

HC ATTORNEY RYAN SUES KURARAY FOR 2018 EXPLOSION, ALLEGES CLEAN AIR ACT VIOLATIONS
Tags: us_TX, industrial, follow-up, injury, resin

CHEMCHINA IS FAULTED IN DEADLY ACCIDENT
Tags: China, industrial, follow-up, death, acetylene

STUDENTS FEEL SICK AFTER ELEVATED CARBON MONOXIDE LEVELS
Tags: us_PA, education, release, injury, carbon_monoxide

APOPKA MAN FOUND DEAD IN MOBILE HOME FILLED WITH CARBON MONOXIDE, FIREFIGHTERS SAY
Tags: us_FL, public, release, death, carbon_monoxide

RESIDENT INJURED DUE TO CHEMICAL ODOR IN HALETHORPE
Tags: us_MD, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

GOODS WORTH LAKHS DESTROYED IN FIRE AT LEATHER FACTORY
Tags: India, industrial, fire, injury, fire_extinguisher

LAFD REPORTS NOW-CLEARED CHEMICAL EXPLOSION AT BOYER HALL, 1 MINOR INJURY
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, explosion, injury, acetone

NIOSH PUBLISHES NEW SKIN-HAZARD PROFILES FOR FIVE CHEMICALS
Tags: public, discovery, environmental

FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD TO REQUIRE DISCLOSURE OF CHEMICAL EMISSIONS FROM ACCIDENTS
Tags: industrial, follow-up, environmental


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2 INJURED IN KANJIKODE FACTORY BLAZE
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/2-injured-in-kanjikode-factory-blaze/article26207589.ece
Tags: India, industrial, explosion, injury, solvent

Two persons were injured in a fire that gutted a chemical factory on the Kanjikode industrial estate, near Palakkad, on Thursday. The fire engulfed the thinner-making unit and raged for a few hours, keeping the Fire and Rescue Services at bay.

The injured were identified as Benny K. Andrews, a Fire and Rescue Services official, and factory worker Aruna from Kanjikode.

Hospitalised
There were nine women workers at the factory when the accident occurred around 11 a.m. While Aruna suffered burns, the other women escaped unhurt. Both the injured were admitted to different hospitals.

The police said a can containing thinner caught fire while being loaded into a vehicle. It soon spread to the factory, burning nearly 40,000 litres of turpentine and causing intermittent blasts. The fire got fanned by wind, gutting two vehicles.

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LIQUID AT KOSASTHALAIYAR SUSPECTED TO BE INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL FROM A.P.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/liquid-at-kosasthalaiyar-suspected-to-be-industrial-chemical-from-ap/article26208206.ece
Tags: India, transportation, fire, response

Tension prevailed in areas along the Kosasthalaiyar in Pallipattu taluk, Tiruvallur district, a few days ago as a tanker load of liquid suspected to be industrial chemical was dumped along the river bed and a fire was noticed at the spot.

Amid growing concern among villagers about river pollution, the dumped chemical was covered with sand to temporarily prevent fire or smoke emanating from it. Sources in the Water Resources Department said the site along Kosasthalaiyar river near Karimbedu village, Pallipattu, was only a few kilometres from Sathravada and Ekambarakuppam villages in Andhra Pradesh.

K.M. Ravi, former panchayat president, Kumaramangalam, said villagers noticed a fire along the river bed a few days ago. It was cleared using an excavator, after official inspection. He alleged that industries, including fabric dyeing units, could have dumped the chemical from Andhra Pradesh.

He suggested that the WRD must build retaining walls to shut easy access to the river bed as done in other portions of the waterway.

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CREWS INVESTIGATE CHEMICAL AT BLANCHARD ELEMENTARY IN SANTA PAULA
https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/santa-paula/2019/02/07/crews-investigate-hazmat-incident-santa-paula-school-nearby-roads-closed/2804166002/
Tags: us_CA, education, release, response, bleach

A hazardous-materials crew and firefighters were called to a Santa Paula elementary school shortly before noon Thursday to investigate a strong smell of bleach in the area, authorities said.

The incident was reported at 11:44 a.m. at Blanchard Elementary School in the 100 block of North Peck Road, officials said. Initial reports indicated the chemical was used at a packing house south of the school, fire officials said.

Within the hour, the leak had been contained, said Capt. Stan Ziegler, a spokesman with the Ventura County Fire Department. Teams monitored the air to ensure the atmosphere was OK.

‰??It‰??s not leaking anymore,‰?? he said at 12:45 p.m.

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CHEMICAL CLEAN-UP IN DOWNTOWN DAVENPORT
https://qconline.com/chemical-clean-up-in-downtown-davenport/collection_1dc3642a-f241-5f35-9905-9fbdc40a5b82.html#2
Tags: us_IA, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

Davenport Fire Department engine units and a hazmat team respond to a call reporting a chemical at the Current Iowa hotel in Davenport, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. When firefighters arrived they found two chemicals mixed creating a gas prompting the hotel to be evacuated according to fire marshal Jim Morris. There was one minor injury.

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AMMONIA SPILL BEING CLEANED UP AT ARCELORMITTAL BURNS HARBOR
http://kokomoperspective.com/politics/indiana/ammonia-spill-being-cleaned-up-at-arcelormittal-burns-harbor/article_ae9ca269-596e-509c-9dcf-ae443bf5541b.html
Tags: us_IN, industrial, release, response, ammonia

About 10,000 gallons of ammonia liquor was spilled at the ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor steel mill during a fire and brief power outage Tuesday.

ArcelorMittal contained the spill and has been working to clean it up.

"Ammonia liquor is a liquid waste byproduct from the ammonia scrubbing operations associated with coke production," Indiana Department of Environmental Management Public Information Officer Barry Sneed said. "ArcelorMittal explained that the release resulted from the high voltage power interruption that caused a backup in the production line and an overflow of ammonia liquor onto the ground."

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management's Emergency Response Program visited the mill to oversee the company's response to the spill.

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

CREWS WORK TO CLEAN 64,000 GALLON JET FUEL SPILL NEAR HOBBY...
https://www.click2houston.com/news/crews-work-to-clean-64-000-gallon-jet-fuel-spill-near-hobby-airport
Tags: us_TX, transportation, release, environmental, jet_fuel

HOUSTON - Southwest Airlines and others are investigating what caused a massive fuel spill at the Hobby Airport fuel farm on Sunday.

The spill was one of the largest ever worked by the Houston Fire Department hazmat squad.

HFD, the Port of Houston Fire Department, the Coast Guard and others responded early Sunday morning to reports of a fuel spill.

‰??Initial estimates were 64,000 gallons,‰?? HFD‰??s Sheldra Brigham said, adding that private contractors took over the cleanup effort by Sunday afternoon.

The fuel farm is owned by Southwest and operated by SwissPort, Southwest said, adding that ‰??an equipment malfunction‰?? led to the spill but they ‰??do not know the cause of the malfunction or the amount of fuel that escaped the containment area at this time.‰??

‰??We have multiple controls in place to prevent such an event from occurring,‰?? the Southwest statement continued, ‰??and we‰??ll work to ensure we take the proper steps to prevent any malfunctions from happening in the future.‰??

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GAS LEAK IN WARREN CLOSES DOWN PUMPS AT PARKMAN ROAD GAS STATION
https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/gas-leak-in-warren-closes-down-pumps-at-parkman-road-gas-station/1760273981
Tags: us_OH, public, release, response, gasoline

WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) - It was around 4 p.m. on Wednesday when Warren Fire Department got a call about gasoline bubbling up from an underground tank at the Fast Fuel gas station along Parkman Road.

Hazmat crews immediately put out white pads to soak up any excess gasoline and formed a perimeter to prevent it from escaping. They also blocked off any drains that lead to waterways or sewer lines.

The gas pumps were completely shut off but people were still able to go inside the store.

Warren firefighters and the Hazmat crew said there was no danger to any nearby homes.

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HOMES EVACUATED FOLLOWING REPORTED GAS CLOUD IN ENFIELD
https://www.wfsb.com/news/homes-evacuated-following-reported-gas-cloud-in-enfield/article_21ca9430-2ac6-11e9-9379-abbbbdc6baf2.html
Tags: us_CT, public, release, response, unknown_chemical

ENFIELD, CT (WFSB) - Crews are looking into a hazmat situation in which a cloud of gas forced the evacuation of nearly a dozen homes.

The incident happened in the area of 156 Spring St.

Ten to 12 homes were evacuated, police said.

They called the situation a suspected carbon dioxide leak.

A cloud of gas was reportedly spotted in the backyard of a home by a neighbor. It has since dissipated.

Crews have yet to determine the source of the gas.

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

WILDFIRE SMOKE A 'CHEMICAL SOUP' FOR THOSE WHO INHALE IT
https://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/whistler/wildfire-smoke-a-chemical-soup-for-those-who-inhale-it/Content?oid=13016063
Tags: Canada, public, discovery, environmental

Inhaling smoke from a wildfire can be equal to smoking a couple of packs of cigarettes a day depending on its thickness, said a researcher studying wildfires in Western Canada.

Mike Flannigan, a professor with the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta, said the smoke is like a "chemical soup" that can be trapped in the lungs and cause a number of health issues.

"They are all kinds of particles, mercury, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane ... there's a whole long list."

Depending on the size of the particles, they get trapped in the lungs, accumulate over time and cause "all kinds of problems," Flannigan said.

"The more we are finding out about smoke and health, the more we are finding out it is bad for us, which isn't a surprise but its worse than we thought."

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

SOLVAY HAZMAT CREWS GET AMMONIA LEAK UNDER CONTROL AT CHEMICAL COMPANY
https://cnycentral.com/news/local/solvay-hazmat-crews-get-ammonia-leak-under-control-at-chemical-company
Tags: us_NY, industrial, release, response, ammonia

SOLVAY N.Y. ‰?? An ammonia leak at a chemical company in Solvay that triggered a hazmat response is now under control.
Crews were called to Chemtrade Solutions on Industrial Parkway around 3 p.m. when employees replacing ammonia tanks takes noticed a leak.
Solvay Fire Chief Matt Zingaro said hazmat crews were able to lower the level of ammonia coming out of the leaky valve, but weren‰??t able to completely tighten it. However, Chief Zingaro said the ammonia levels are under an acceptable limit that pose no danger to employees or the public.

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

HC ATTORNEY RYAN SUES KURARAY FOR 2018 EXPLOSION, ALLEGES CLEAN AIR ACT VIOLATIONS
https://setexasrecord.com/stories/511758709-hc-attorney-ryan-sues-kuraray-for-2018-explosion-alleges-clean-air-act-violations
Tags: us_TX, industrial, follow-up, injury, resin

HOUSTON - Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan has filed a lawsuit against Kuraray America for violations of the Texas Clean Air Act. The violations allegedly occurred as a result of an explosion and flash fire that occurred at the company‰??s Pasadena manufacturing plant in May 2018.

Through the lawsuit, the county attorney seeks a court order for Kuraray to engage a third party auditor to review its practices and equipment at the Pasadena plant to ensure there are no future violations. Ryan believes that unless Kuraray is ordered to improve manufacturing operations and procedures at its Pasadena facility, poor safety, operations and management practices at the site may cause future releases that will endanger the public and employees.

Kuraray America is an American subsidiary of a Japanese chemical manufacturing company. It specializes in chemical, fiber and resin production and began operations in Houston in 1986.

On May 19, 2018, a reactor at the plant at 11500 Bay Area Boulevard was pressured to the point that a safety valve lifted, which caused ethylene vapor in the reactor to be released into the atmosphere. The ethylene vapor encountered a contractor‰??s welding equipment, which acted as an ignition source and ignited, causing an explosion and flash fire.

21 workers were injured and transported to area hospitals, three by medical helicopter. The fire is currently under investigation by the Chemical Safety Board and OSHA.

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

CHEMCHINA IS FAULTED IN DEADLY ACCIDENT
https://cen.acs.org/safety/industrial-safety/ChemChina-faulted-deadly-accident/97/i6
Tags: China, industrial, follow-up, death, acetylene

Investigators in Hebei in northern China found that managers of a polyvinyl chloride plant where a deadly accident occurred in November grossly ignored safety. The plant, which produces PVC via the acetylene route popular in China, is run by a subsidiary of ChemChina, one of the country‰??s largest state-owned chemical firms.
In their 37-page report, officials accused leaders of Hebei Shenghua Chemical Industry of initially hiding their company‰??s responsibility. Investigators also faulted Shenghua managers for allowing production and safety staff to be absent, sleep on the job, and spend hours playing with their mobile phones.
The accident occurred on Nov. 28 when vinyl chloride gas escaped from a tank and ignited, immediately killing 23 people, most of them in vehicles outside the plant. Another person died later in a hospital. According to the government‰??s report, over 2,000 m3 of vinyl chloride leaked.
An overly thinned tank seal was the direct cause of the leak, the government investigators found. But the faulty seal would have been easily noticed if Shenghua staff had been regularly inspecting equipment.

Shenghua managers paid almost no attention to safety, according to the report. Line staff had little safety training, standard operating procedures to manage safety did not exist, and managers in charge of safety lacked independence.
Government investigators also faulted the local police force for allowing an illegal parking business to operate next to the plant. The presence of the parking lot made the death toll worse, officials found.

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

STUDENTS FEEL SICK AFTER ELEVATED CARBON MONOXIDE LEVELS
http://levittownnow.com/2019/02/05/students-feel-sick-after-elevated-carbon-monoxide-levels/
Tags: us_PA, education, release, injury, carbon_monoxide

Several students at a Middletown elementary school felt ill Tuesday afternoon following a rise in carbon monoxide levels.

Firefighters, medics, and a member of the county hazmat team responded to Herbert Hoover Elementary School on Trenton Road around 1:45 p.m. for multiple students who complained of feeling ill.

The school was evacuated and students who did not feel well were examined by the Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad and Bensalem EMS. Neshaminy School District Superintendent Joseph Jones told LevittownNow.com no students had to be transported to the hospital.

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APOPKA MAN FOUND DEAD IN MOBILE HOME FILLED WITH CARBON MONOXIDE, FIREFIGHTERS SAY
https://www.wftv.com/news/local/apopka-man-dies-after-carbon-monoxide-fills-mobile-home-firefighters-say/915264781
Tags: us_FL, public, release, death, carbon_monoxide

APOPKA, Fla. - An Apopka man died after his mobile home filled with carbon monoxide gas, according to Orange County Fire Rescue.

Firefighters transported the man to Florida Hospital Apopka around 5 p.m. from the mobile home on Lambing Lane, where he was pronounced dead.

Officials said there was a report of a generator powering the mobile home.

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RESIDENT INJURED DUE TO CHEMICAL ODOR IN HALETHORPE
https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/resident-injured-due-to-chemical-odor-in-halethorpe
Tags: us_MD, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD (WBFF) The Baltimore County Fire Department says that a resident was taken to the hospital after reports of a chemical odor in Halethorpe, on Tuesday evening.
According to officials, around 5:30 p.m., hazmat crews responded to the 4400 block of Fenor Road, for reports of a chemical odor in houses on both sides of the street. Homes were evacuated.
A few minutes later, a spokesperson tweeted that crews were flushing sewer lines with water. One resident was transported with non life threatening injuries.

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GOODS WORTH LAKHS DESTROYED IN FIRE AT LEATHER FACTORY
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/ludhiana/goods-worth-lakhs-destroyed-in-fire-at-leather-factory/724596.html
Tags: India, industrial, fire, injury, fire_extinguisher

Goods and machinery worth lakhs were destroyed in a major fire that broke out at a leather factory situated in Phase 7, Focal Point, this morning. More than 24 fire engines were put into use to completely douse the flames in eight hours.

Two firemen suffered injuries as a cemented shed on which they were standing collapsed.
According to sources, the fire broke out at Chopra Industries Private Limited around 10.30 am. A call was received at the fire control room at 10.53 am.

The fire officials said the fire broke out on the first floor where a huge quantity of leather goods, mainly seat covers, and machinery were lying. They suspect there was chemical stocked on the first floor which caused the fire to become intense.
The officials said there were no fire extinguishers at the factory. Nor had the factory owner obtained the NOC from the Fire Department.

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LAFD REPORTS NOW-CLEARED CHEMICAL EXPLOSION AT BOYER HALL, 1 MINOR INJURY
https://dailybruin.com/2019/02/05/lafd-reports-now-cleared-chemical-explosion-at-boyer-hall-1-minor-injury/
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, explosion, injury, acetone

A chemical explosion in a South Campus laboratory that injured a UCLA employee was reported by the Los Angeles Fire Department this afternoon.

LAFD reported an acetone explosion in a laboratory fume hood in Boyer Hall at 2:18 p.m. Ricardo Vazquez, a UCLA spokesperson, said a chemical spill was prevented because the incident occurred under a fume hood.

One employee suffered superficial burn injuries to his hand and has been treated at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, said Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck.

Beck added that UCPD and LAFD cleared the incident this afternoon, and UCLA Environmental Health and Safety is now cleaning up the area.

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NIOSH PUBLISHES NEW SKIN-HAZARD PROFILES FOR FIVE CHEMICALS
https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/18024-niosh-publishes-new-skin-hazard-profiles-for-five-chemicals
Tags: public, discovery, environmental

Washington ‰?? NIOSH has published five new skin notation profiles to ‰??communicate the hazards of chemical exposure to the skin‰?? and protect workers from chemical contact.
Each notation contains general information about the chemical, along with its potential effects on the skin and overall health. NIOSH also shares the rationale for including the chemical among its skin notation profiles.
The new profiles are:
Atrazine
Catechol
Chlorinated camphere
Pentachlorophenol
Sodium fluoroacetate
In the foreword of each notation, NIOSH Director John Howard points out that because skin is the primary barrier against external environments, it ‰??is often exposed to potentially hazardous agents, including chemicals, which may contribute to the onset of a spectrum of adverse health effects ranging from localized damage to induction of immune-mediated responses or system toxicity.‰??

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FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD TO REQUIRE DISCLOSURE OF CHEMICAL EMISSIONS FROM ACCIDENTS
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/federal-judge-orders-chemical-safety-board-to-require-disclosure-of-chemical-emissions-from-accidents/2019/02/05/8f2f128a-2968-11e9-984d-9b8fba003e81_story.html
Tags: industrial, follow-up, environmental

In a lawsuit filed after Hurricane Harvey, a federal judge has ordered the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board to force the disclosure of chemical emissions resulting from accidents.

More than 1,000 industrial chemical accidents take place every year. The biggest include the explosions that killed 15 people at a fertilizer plant in West, Tex., and the explosions that took place at the Arkema chemical plant in the Houston area after unprecedented flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.

Judge Amit Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said that the Clean Air Act required the federal agency, known as the Chemical Safety Board, to investigate chemical fires, explosions, leaks and other accidents. But the board has not yet put regulations into place that require disclosure.

Mehta observed that the agency has had more than 20 years ‰?? far in excess of any ‰??unreasonable delay‰?? ‰?? to promulgate a final regulation and ordered the board to come up with a regulation within 12 months. ‰??The court will not grant it two full years to do what it should have done long ago,‰?? Mehta wrote.

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