From: Ralph Stuart <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (9 articles)
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2021 05:51:20 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID: 9A4B5531-375F-45E0-AE35-8C7BD22A7908**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org


Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at 5:51:07 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 (9 articles)

CLEAN SWEEP LIMITED, DELAYED DUE TO BACKLOG AT HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCINERATORS
Tags: us_WI, public, discovery, environmental, waste

WORKER BURNED IN POSSIBLE EXPLOSION IN SUNNYSIDE TUESDAY
Tags: us_NY, laboratory, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

CHEMICAL SPILL: WARNING NOT TO USE NORTH COAST BEACHES
Tags: South_Africa, public, discovery, environmental, pesticides

DAIKIN-AMERICA EMPLOYEE DIES FROM CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
Tags: us_AL, industrial, release, death, sulfur_dioxide

HAZMAT TEAM CALLED IN AS CREWS KNOCK OUT FIRE IN CARPENTER LAB IN LATROBE
Tags: us_PA, laboratory, fire, response, hydrochloric_acid

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS CALL RESULT OF MIXING HOUSEHOLD CLEANING PRODUCTS ‰?? KINGSTON NEWS
Tags: Canada, public, release, injury, cleaners

HAZMAT INVESTIGATION IN CATOOSA COUNTY AFTER BARRELS DISCOVERED AT ABANDONED CHICKEN HOUSE
Tags: Georgia, industrial, discovery, response, unknown_chemical

ACID SPILL REPORTED AT WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY IN MERIDEN
Tags: us_CT, transportation, release, response, hydrofluoric_acid, nitric_acid, waste

A TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE MOCKED HIS COUNTY'S FACE MASK DIRECTIVE AFTER A LOCAL CHEMICAL LEAK AS 'SWEET LIBT--D HELL'
Tags: us_TX, industrial, release, response, hydrogen_sulfide


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CLEAN SWEEP LIMITED, DELAYED DUE TO BACKLOG AT HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCINERATORS
https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/clean-sweep-limited-delayed-due-to-backlog-at-hazardous-materials-incinerators/article_01dcac4f-bcd8-5f7a-94c8-4fc045e643f9.html
Tags: us_WI, public, discovery, environmental, waste

EAU CLAIRE ‰?? Excess lawn care products and certain household cleaners are among items that will not be accepted at the fall Clean Sweep collection event in Eau Claire County.

Ongoing capacity shortages at incineration facilities used to burn up hazardous materials have created a widespread backlog prompting the local Clean Sweep and similar collection events to cut back on what they‰??ll accept.

‰??Anything that would normally require incineration will not be taken,‰?? said Regan Watts, recycling and sustainability coordinator with Eau Claire County.

Originally scheduled for Sept. 11, the fall Clean Sweep is being pushed back to Oct. 2 to allow collection site WRR Environmental Services more time to ship materials already stored there out for disposal.

‰??To make sure they‰??re not stockpiling too much they need the extra three weeks to clear out the space,‰?? Watts said.

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WORKER BURNED IN POSSIBLE EXPLOSION IN SUNNYSIDE TUESDAY
https://sunnysidepost.com/worker-burned-in-possible-explosion-in-sunnyside-tuesday
Tags: us_NY, laboratory, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical

A worker was rushed to a hospital after suffering burns at a building in Sunnyside Tuesday.

The man was working inside 39-35 47th Ave. ‰?? where AMS Dental Laboratory Inc. is located according to online listings ‰?? when he was burned at around 11 a.m.

It‰??s unclear at this time whether he was burned in an explosion.

The FDNY responded to a report of an explosion in a shed at the address. An aerial view of the address shows a shed on the back roof of the building.

There was no active fire when firefighters reached the scene.

EMS transported the victim to Cornell Hospital in serious, but stable condition.

A NYPD spokesperson said the worker may have been burned while using a machine to melt plastic.

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CHEMICAL SPILL: WARNING NOT TO USE NORTH COAST BEACHES
https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/chemical-spill-warning-not-to-use-north-coast-beaches/
Tags: South_Africa, public, discovery, environmental, pesticides

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has again warned the public not to fish or collect any dead fish along the beaches north of the Umgeni River following a chemical spill in KwaZulu-Natal.

The latest warning comes after some beach users and people who consumed seafood caught in the region became ill, following the Cornubia toxic chemical spill which has severely impacted the uMhlanga Estuary and adjoining coastline. The impact extends from the uMhlanga Estuary to Salt Rock 30 km north and uMngeni 12 km to the south.

The Cornubia toxic chemical spill was caused when the UPL plant was vandalised during the recent public looting.

‰??Multiple toxins, pesticides, many carcinogenic (chemicals) spilled into the stormwater system flowing into the nearby uMhlanga Estuary and into the sea causing mass contamination and mortality of marine life,‰?? the department warned.

‰??Some beach users and seafood eaters have become ill and, as a safety measure, on advice from oceanographers, the provincial government has closed the beaches between the uMgeni River Estuary in the south and Salt Rock in the north, including related activities such as surfing, fishing and harvesting of marine species.‰??

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DAIKIN-AMERICA EMPLOYEE DIES FROM CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/daikin-america-employee-dies-from-chemical-exposure/4014205.article
Tags: us_AL, industrial, release, death, sulfur_dioxide

Sulfur dioxide suspected in death of man in Alabama, more than a month after incident

An employee of Daikin-America, which develops and manufactures fluorochemical products from a plant in Alabama, US, has died from suspected sulfur dioxide exposure at work, according to local media. Wesley Rusk worked in the ‰??gas area‰?? of the plant, and after exposure in early July, he experienced chest tightness, headaches, shortness of breath, and coughing, was hospitalised with low oxygen levels and passed away on 10 August, Rusk‰??s wife told local news. He had been employed by Daikin for 20 years.

The US government‰??s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Osha) is investigating the incident. Osha is also still investigating a previous chemical exposure incident at the same facility from October 2019. As a result of that investigation, the agency has already cited Daikin for three serious violations related to hazardous chemical exposure, and imposed fines totalling more than $40,000 (å£29,000).

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HAZMAT TEAM CALLED IN AS CREWS KNOCK OUT FIRE IN CARPENTER LAB IN LATROBE
https://www.latrobebulletinnews.com/news/local/hazmat-team-called-in-as-crews-knock-out-fire-in-carpenter-lab-in-latrobe/image_a79bafad-8f67-529b-9a06-9493db2c237e.html
Tags: us_PA, laboratory, fire, response, hydrochloric_acid

Firefighters responded to a call for a small electrical fire on Saturday morning in a lab at Carpenter Technology Corp.‰??s site on Ligonier Street, Latrobe. The fire was quickly extinguished, but a hazmat team was called in as a precaution for cleanup as there were three tanks containing hydrochloric acid in the lab. The tank affected by the fire reportedly contained water.

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HAZARDOUS MATERIALS CALL RESULT OF MIXING HOUSEHOLD CLEANING PRODUCTS ‰?? KINGSTON NEWS
https://www.kingstonist.com/news/hazardous-materials-call-result-of-mixing-household-cleaning-products/
Tags: Canada, public, release, injury, cleaners

Kingston Fire & Rescue (KFR) was called to a private residence on Conacher Drive at approximately 10 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021, after a tenant had mixed household cleaning products, creating a strong and toxic odour.

While KFR didn‰??t specify the household cleaners used, two materials commonly mixed in error with such noxious effects are bleach and ammonia, found in many cleaning products.

The Ontario Poison Centre explains what happens when common cleaning chemicals are mixed: ‰??When bleach is mixed with acid (ex/ vinegar, toilet bowl cleaners) it creates chlorine gas. When bleach is mixed with an ammonia product, it creates chloramine gas. Both of these gases are very irritating to inhale and can cause coughing, chest tightness, wheezing and headache. If this occurs, ventilate the area (i.e. open a window) and move to fresh air. Call the Poison Centre right away for treatment advice.‰??

According to the City of Kingston, crews removed the products and used positive pressure to ventilate the interior. The chemicals were separated and set aside in a safe space.

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HAZMAT INVESTIGATION IN CATOOSA COUNTY AFTER BARRELS DISCOVERED AT ABANDONED CHICKEN HOUSE
https://newschannel9.com/news/local/hazmat-investigation-in-catoosa-county-after-barrels-discovered-at-abandoned-chicken-house
Tags: Georgia, industrial, discovery, response, unknown_chemical

ROCK SPRING, Ga. ‰?? A hazardous materials investigation is now underway after a tip led investigators to the discovery of a "substantial quantity" of barrels containing unknown chemicals on Monday, according to Catoosa County Government.

A release from Catoosa County Government says while the chemicals have not yet been positively identified, the site does not appear to pose an immediate threat to nearby residents.

The investigation has expanded to include the Alabama Highway property and other locations outside of Catoosa County, according to the release.

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ACID SPILL REPORTED AT WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY IN MERIDEN
https://www.registercitizen.com/news/article/Acid-spill-reported-at-waste-management-facility-16391081.php
Tags: us_CT, transportation, release, response, hydrofluoric_acid, nitric_acid, waste

MERIDEN ‰?? State environmental officials responded to the scene of an ‰??unknown acid‰?? spill at a waste management facility Monday evening.

Will Healey, a spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said the agency‰??s Emergency Response Unit was called to the Tradebe facility in Meriden for the reported spill.

The acid began leaking from containers inside a tractor trailer outside the facility, according to Healey.

‰??It has been determined that one of the leaking drums contains a mix of hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid and chromium,‰?? Healey said in a statement. ‰??The floor of the trailer has been severely damaged, and several other drums have also been damaged. The entire trailer and the damaged drums will have to be removed.‰??

Later that evening, he said 16 out of 23 damaged drums in the trailer had been packaged and readied to be removed. The remainder will need to be packed up and removed, which he said will need to happen that night.

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A TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE MOCKED HIS COUNTY'S FACE MASK DIRECTIVE AFTER A LOCAL CHEMICAL LEAK AS 'SWEET LIBT--D HELL'
https://news.yahoo.com/texas-state-representative-mocked-countys-152525310.html
Tags: us_TX, industrial, release, response, hydrogen_sulfide

A Texas legislator mocked local officials who issued a shelter-in-place and mask directive after a chemical leak.

Briscoe Cain represents Texas' 128 District. A foul-odored chemical wafted from a chemical plant in his district.

Cain is staunchly opposed to state mask rules and called the chemical plant mask order "sweet libt--d hell."

See more stories on Insider's business page.

A Texas legislator called a face mask and shelter-in-place directive "sweet libt--d hell" after a chemical leak occurred in his legislative district.

Briscoe Cain represents District 128 in the Texas House of Representatives. A chemical plant in La Porte, a city in his district, reported an "odor incident" around 8:30 p.m. on Monday.

Officials originally believed the strong sulfur-like and rotting smell was the result of hydrogen sulfide, a highly toxic and flammable gas used in mining and gas refining, and quickly instituted a shelter-in-place order and mask order. Local authorities also asked residents to turn off air conditioning systems to prevent the chemical from entering homes and businesses.

Despite the toxicity of hydrogen sulfide and complaints from his constituents, Cain mocked the safety directives on Twitter. He's previously posted on Twitter to express his staunch opposition to COVID-19 mask mandates in Texas.

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