From: Ralph Stuart <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (6 articles)
Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2021 06:17:10 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID: A2D312D1-E398-45D4-83D6-60903942ED69**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org


Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at 6:16:57 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 (6 articles)

OFFICIALS RELEASE CAUSE OF FIRE AT BENZIE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Tags: us_MI, education, follow-up, response, other_chemical

DAMAGE COMPLAINTS PILE UP
Tags: Thailand, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical

UPDATE: CREWS STILL WORKING TO MITIGATE AMMONIA LEAK AT DECC, HOPE TO HAVE BUILDING OPEN BY WEDNESDAY
Tags: us_MN, public, release, response, ammonia

NEW ROCHELLE COMPANY ACCUSES CITY OF HAZMAT RISK AT THRUWAY OVERPASS
Tags: us_NY, public, discovery, environmental, waste

FUMES OVERCOME COSMETICS WORKERS AT PERFUME PACKAGING PLANT
Tags: us_NJ, industrial, release, injury, batteries, hydrogen_sulfide

NEW SAFETY RULES PROPOSED AFTER FEBRUARY OIL TANK EXPLOSION THAT KILLED A LOUISIANA TEEN
Tags: us_LA, industrial, follow-up, death, flammables


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OFFICIALS RELEASE CAUSE OF FIRE AT BENZIE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
https://www.manisteenews.com/local-news/article/Officials-release-cause-of-fire-at-Benzie-Central-16312206.php
Tags: us_MI, education, follow-up, response, other_chemical

BENZONIA ‰?? The cause of a fire at Benzie Central High School that caused smoke and fire damage to several rooms has been determined.

According to Amiee Erfourth, superintendent of Benzie Central Schools, a report from the fire marshal stated spontaneous combustion of chemicals used for cleaning started a fire in a maintenance area.


"We think linseed oil was partly to blame," Erfourth said. "It's not a chemical we usually use, but it was used to clean some cutting boards. It has a low flashpoint."

Erfourth said any time linseed oil is used in the future, any paper towels or rags used with it will be stored in water.

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DAMAGE COMPLAINTS PILE UP
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2148287/damage-complaints-pile-up
Tags: Thailand, industrial, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical

SAMUT PRAKAN: More than 1,250 people have filed damage complaints arising from the explosion and fire at the Ming Dih Chemical Company factory in Bang Phli district on July 5.

Bang Kaew police station has set up a special investigation team to look into them.

Station chief, Pol Col Mongkol Onkaew, said on Tuesday that 1,266 people filed complaints between July 5-11, and more were expected.

The damage caused to homes and other property near the factory was initially estimated at 423 million baht, and included 138 cars and 12 motorcycles, he said.

The explosion and fire on July 5 killed one person, a volunteer fireman, and injured 33 other people. Many of the injured were involved in firefighting and rescue efforts.

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UPDATE: CREWS STILL WORKING TO MITIGATE AMMONIA LEAK AT DECC, HOPE TO HAVE BUILDING OPEN BY WEDNESDAY
https://cbs3duluth.com/2021/07/13/breaking-ammonia-leak-forces-decc-evacuation-2/
Tags: us_MN, public, release, response, ammonia

10 P.M. UPDATE -- Duluth HAZMAT and fire crews have stabilized the scene and are still working to mitigate an ammonia leak that forced the evacuation of the DECC Tuesday night.

According to city officials, the leak was detected around 7 p.m. while maintenance was being performed inside the Curling Club.

They say liquid ammonia leaked from the Curling Club's refrigerating system, but as of Tuesday night, it is not spreading.

As of 9:30 p.m., the Curling Club, DECC, and Pioneer Hall were closed and evacuated. Harbor Drive is also closed to traffic and the Minnesota Slip Bridge is in the up position to prevent pedestrian traffic.

While they say there is no threat to the greater area, city officials are asking people to stay away to give crews space to do their jobs.

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NEW ROCHELLE COMPANY ACCUSES CITY OF HAZMAT RISK AT THRUWAY OVERPASS
https://westfaironline.com/138278/new-rochelle-company-accuses-city-of-hazmat-risk-at-thruway-overpass/
Tags: us_NY, public, discovery, environmental, waste

The city of New Rochelle is engaged in an ‰??abnormally dangerous activity,‰?? a company claims, in moving around hazardous materials under a New England Thruway overpass near the downtown.

Starr Tent and Event Group accused the city and Ashby Fuel Corp. of risking harm to others in a lawsuit filed July 8 in Westchester Supreme Court.


The storage area under the New England Thruway that is at the center of the lawsuit. Photo via Google Maps
The hazardous materials pose ‰??a health and safety risk to Starr Tent employees, the residents of New Rochelle, and possibly all drivers on the Thruway that drive over this portion of the Thruway,‰?? the complaint states.

City spokeswoman Kathy Gilwit declined to offer a response to the allegations, citing a policy of not commenting on pending litigation.

Starr leases party tents to wealthy individuals and for events such as the Tribeca Film Festival. It leases a warehouse at 75 Beechwood Ave., near the city‰??s waste transfer station at 85 Beechwood and Ashby‰??s base at 99 Beechwood.

Starr has an easement from the New York State Thruway Authority to use property under the highway for access to the warehouse. Ashby has a permit from the authority to use a portion of the land, according to the complaint, but not for storing hazardous materials.

Ashby allegedly stores ‰??oil trucks, rusted oil tanks, and other dangerous oil and construction debris‰?? under the highway overpass and next to the driveway that leads to Starr‰??s warehouse.

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FUMES OVERCOME COSMETICS WORKERS AT PERFUME PACKAGING PLANT
https://dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/middlesex/business/fumes-overcome-cosmetics-workers-at-perfume-packaging-plant/812461/
Tags: us_NJ, industrial, release, injury, batteries, hydrogen_sulfide

A Hazmat team and other first responders were called on a report of perfume packaging workers in Middlesex County being overcome by fumes, authorities said.

No one was seriously hurt, a report said.

Firefighters found that hydrogen sulfide had leaked Monday morning from a battery that was being charged, an unconfirmed report said.

An initial reports said that one employee was unconscious and as many as 10 workers felt sick.

Monroe Township police could not immediately confirm the incident at Cosmetics & Perfume Filling & Packaging plant on Engelhard Drive.

In addition to the large perfume plant, a Monroe police spokesman said there is a tea factory nearby.

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NEW SAFETY RULES PROPOSED AFTER FEBRUARY OIL TANK EXPLOSION THAT KILLED A LOUISIANA TEEN
https://www.katc.com/news/covering-louisiana/new-safety-rules-proposed-after-february-oil-tank-explosion-that-killed-a-louisiana-teen
Tags: us_LA, industrial, follow-up, death, flammables

Following the death of a teenager this year due to a oil tank explosion, state officials are proposing changes to safety rules.

14 year old Zalee Day, of Ragley, died in the explosion that happened just before 5 p.m. on Sunday February 28, 2021, near Cordial Lane and South Cooley Road.

According to the Adocate, her death prompted the state Office of Conservation to propose rules that would require tank batteries close to homes, schools, churches and roads to have security fencing, warning signs and other protective measures to keep people from getting onto the flammable, hazardous equipment.


State Fire Marshal's Office
In March, the multi-agency investigation was still undetermined, but authorities say the victim's presence near the tanks moments before the incident has been identified as a contributing factor in the case.

Witnesses statements indicate that two tank batteries on an inactive oil field site exploded, one after the other, with one traveling several hundred yards away from its starting location. Firefighters located the body of Zalee Day, near the displaced tanks.

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