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Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (10 articles)
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 2021 06:42:47 -0500
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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, January 4, 2021 at 6:42:25 AM

A service of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
Connecting Chemistry and Safety at http://www.dchas.org
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Table of Contents (10 articles)

DEPUTIES: ROLLOVER CRASH STARTS PROPANE FIRE, FORCES EVACUATIONS IN WILTON
Tags: us_CA, transportation, fire, response, propane

STRANGE ODOR PROMPTS HAZMAT INVESTIGATION AT NORTH SPOKANE MEDICAL BUILDING
Tags: us_WA, public, release, injury, batteries

EMERGENCY SERVICES CALLED TO LEVEL TWO HAZMAT INCIDENT AT THE NORTH MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL IN NORTH LONDON ‰?? UKNIP
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, release, response, unknown_chemical

IDEM INVESTIGATING HAZMAT INCIDENT IN ANDERSON
Tags: us_IN, public, release, response, diesel

NEW KARACHI FACTORY BLAST NOT CAUSED BY EXPLOSIVES: REPORT
Tags: India, industrial, follow-up, environmental

INVESTIGATORS: WOOD STAIN RAGS SPARK WATERVILLE FIRE
Tags: us_ME, public, fire, response, combustible

NEW MASS. LAW BANS LIST OF CHEMICAL FLAME RETARDANTS IN PRODUCTS
Tags: us_MA, public, discovery, environmental, toxics

I-25 IN LAS CRUCES RE-OPENS AFTER HAZMAT CLEANUP FROM OVERTURNED FUEL TANKER
Tags: us_NM, transportation, release, injury, diesel

SHORT LINE RAILROAD SAFETY GROUP LAUNCHES FREE HAZMAT TRAINING
Tags: us_WA, transportation, discovery, environmental

PREVENTING ELECTROSTATIC EXPLOSIONS AND FIRES
Tags: industrial, explosion, environmental, flammables


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DEPUTIES: ROLLOVER CRASH STARTS PROPANE FIRE, FORCES EVACUATIONS IN WILTON
https://fox40.com/news/local-news/deputies-rollover-crash-starts-propane-fire-forces-evacuations-in-wilton/
Tags: us_CA, transportation, fire, response, propane

WILTON, Calif. (KTXL) ‰?? A rollover crash in Wilton Sunday morning started a propane fire, forcing hazmat evacuations in the area.

The Sacramento County Sheriff‰??s Office announced evacuations in the area of Walmort and Reigl roads at 10:39 a.m.


Officials announced that the evacuation center is at the Wilton Community Center on 9717 Colony Road.

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STRANGE ODOR PROMPTS HAZMAT INVESTIGATION AT NORTH SPOKANE MEDICAL BUILDING
https://www.kxly.com/strange-odor-prompts-hazmat-investigation-at-north-spokane-medical-building/
Tags: us_WA, public, release, injury, batteries

SPOKANE, Wash. ‰?? A hazmat investigation prompted the evacuation of a medical building in North Spokane Saturday morning.

Spokane Fire crews first responded to the building for reports of a strange odor. They assessed eight employees for minor symptoms and decided a hazmat investigation was necessary.

Crews determined the smell was coming from a melted battery pack on an electric pallet jack.

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

EMERGENCY SERVICES CALLED TO LEVEL TWO HAZMAT INCIDENT AT THE NORTH MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL IN NORTH LONDON ‰?? UKNIP
https://uknip.co.uk/breaking/news-256757/emergency-services-called-to-level-two-hazmat-incident-at-the-north-middlesex-hospital-in-north-london/
Tags: United_Kingdom, public, release, response, unknown_chemical

Emergency services have been scrambled to the North Middlesex hospital in North London in the early hours on Sunday morning.

Police and the LFB were called to the Stirling Way site following the discovery of unknown material in the staff car park the area has now been cordoned off whilst an investigation and examination take place.

The incident has been declared as Level two hazmat incident this means the release of any quantity of a known solid or liquid toxic material in a critical public area or for the release or potential release of any quantity of an unknown solid, liquid or gaseous toxic material or suspected toxic material needs to dealate with by firefighters wearing specialist protective gas-tight suits

Control zones have been established and are being maintained. Police are stopping members of the public from entering the area

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IDEM INVESTIGATING HAZMAT INCIDENT IN ANDERSON
https://www.heraldbulletin.com/news/idem-investigating-hazmat-incident-in-anderson/article_dc1af5f8-4c72-11eb-b394-27ba73b4f445.html
Tags: us_IN, public, release, response, diesel

ANDERSON ‰?? A state agency called in a company to clean up a hazardous material spill on Anderson‰??s east side on Wednesday

Residents called dispatch at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday about a yellowish system that smelled like oil or diesel in a ditch along MacArthur Drive, according to Debbie Gates, the public information officer for the Richland Township Fire Department.

David Cage with IDEM said the incident is under investigation and a report could be issued in a week.

Gates said in a press release that before units could respond they were notified by a firefighter with the Lafayette Township Fire Department that it was a HazMat incident.

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NEW KARACHI FACTORY BLAST NOT CAUSED BY EXPLOSIVES: REPORT
https://www.samaa.tv/news/2021/01/new-karachi-factory-blast-not-caused-by-explosives-report/
Tags: India, industrial, follow-up, environmental

The explosion at an ice factory in New Karachi was not caused by explosives, according to a chemical report released by the University of Karachi.

Ten people were killed and 22 injured in the explosion on December 24. An FIR in the case has been registered against the factory owner, who is currently abroad.

Moeen Haider, the factory owner, claimed that terrorists were involved in the explosion, adding that it was caused with the help of explosives. In a video statement, he said his factory had been targeted just like the Baldia factory.

His claims have, however, been disproved by the chemical report.

Samples were taken from the blast site and sent to a laboratory at the varsity for forensic testing. The report has been submitted to the police.

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INVESTIGATORS: WOOD STAIN RAGS SPARK WATERVILLE FIRE
https://www.wmtw.com/article/investigators-wood-stain-rags-spark-waterville-fire/35107753#
Tags: us_ME, public, fire, response, combustible

WATERVILLE, Maine ‰??
A fire that badly damaged a Waterville building on Thursday was sparked by chemical-soaked rags.

Waterville Fire and Rescue were called to Kennedy Memorial Drive around 5:30 in the morning with reports of a structure fire.

Crews arriving on scene found smoke and fire on the first and second floors of the building.

Investigators said firefighters were hampered when part of the second story floor collapsed.

According to investigators from the state fire marshal's office, the fire was sparked when rags that had been soaked in wood stain and left inside a plastic bag combusted.

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NEW MASS. LAW BANS LIST OF CHEMICAL FLAME RETARDANTS IN PRODUCTS
https://www.wwlp.com/news/state-politics/new-mass-law-bans-list-of-chemical-flame-retardants-in-products/
Tags: us_MA, public, discovery, environmental, toxics

BOSTON (SHNS) ‰?? Manufacturers and retailers in Massachusetts will be banned from selling or importing covered products like bedding, furniture, children‰??s products, window treatments and carpeting that contain 11 flame-retardant chemicals under legislation signed Friday by Gov. Charlie Baker.

The new law, which does not apply to inventory manufactured prior to Dec. 31, 2021, was celebrated by supporters who have pushed for its passage for years by arguing the chemicals can cause cancer and also are ineffective at slowing down fires.

In a tweet, Sen. Cynthia Creem said she filed flame retardants legislation eight years ago and called its passage a ‰??great start to 2021‰?? and an important way to protect children and first responders from ‰??harmful chemicals.‰?? When products containing the chemicals burn, Creem has said, they create ‰??toxic smoke.‰??

The Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts thanked Creem and Rep. Marjorie Decker of Cambridge for their work on the bill.

‰??This is a massive step forward in protecting our residents and first responders in Massachusetts from the dangers of these toxic chemicals associated with flame-retardant products,‰?? union president Richard MacKinnon Jr. wrote in a message to members.

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I-25 IN LAS CRUCES RE-OPENS AFTER HAZMAT CLEANUP FROM OVERTURNED FUEL TANKER
https://kvia.com/news/new-mexico/2020/12/31/i-25-south-in-las-cruces-remains-closed-due-to-hazmat-cleanup-from-overturned-fuel-tanker/
Tags: us_NM, transportation, release, injury, diesel

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico ‰?? New Mexico State Police shut down a stretch of Interstate 25 in Las Cruces and a hazardous materials team responded Thursday after a rollover crash involving a commercial motor vehicle hauling fuel.

The driver sustained unknown injuries and was transported to an area hospital, police said.

NMSP spokesman Dusty Francisco said the Las Cruces Fire Department‰??s Hazmat team was called about 2 p.m. to assist because diesel and gas was believed to be leaking from the tanker.

Transportation officials said I-25 south and northbound lanes at mile post 18-32 had finally reopened as of 11:30 p.m., after the accident was removed.

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SHORT LINE RAILROAD SAFETY GROUP LAUNCHES FREE HAZMAT TRAINING
https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/20697-short-line-railroad-safety-group-launches-free-hazmat-training
Tags: us_WA, transportation, discovery, environmental

Washington ‰?? The Short Line Safety Institute has published a series of free videos designed to provide railroad workers with an overview of key elements of hazardous materials safety regulations.

The ‰??Fast Class‰?? series ‰?? consisting of five four- to seven-minute videos each covering different topics ‰?? can be used as training tools during safety briefings or as quick refreshers for employees. Topics covered: shipping documentation, placarding, rail car inspection, using an emergency response guidebook and training requirements.

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

PREVENTING ELECTROSTATIC EXPLOSIONS AND FIRES
https://www.chemengonline.com/preventing-electrostatic-explosions-fires/?printmode=1
Tags: industrial, explosion, environmental, flammables

We are all familiar with the electrostatic shocks we receive at home or stores, perhaps from elevator buttons or shop displays, or when getting out of a car. These shocks are examples of ‰??sparks‰?? or sudden discharges of static electricity (Figure 1). They are a nuisance in a home setting, but in an industrial context, electrostatic discharges can and do cause many devastating flash fires and explosions. This is particularly true in the chemical process industries (CPI), where plants routinely handle flammable liquids and solids in ways that inadvertently generate static electricity. These materials are often flammable, of course, and they can be ignited by discharges of the static electricity that they have generated.

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