From: Ralph Stuart <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (12 articles)
Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2021 06:39:37 -0500
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID: 597EB203-4C1A-48AA-B489-5EA30EA1F3C1**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org


Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, November 26, 2021 at 6:38:47 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 (12 articles)

FIRE DESTROYS UK PLASTICS FACTORY
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, explosion, response, plastics

HAZMAT SITUATION CAUSED BY UNDERGROUND FIRE ON HARFORD ROAD
Tags: us_MD, public, fire, response, unknown_chemical

UPDATE: CHEMICAL SPILL CLEANED UP, HIGHWAY 1 NEAR WINDSOR REOPENED AFTER ACCIDENT
Tags: Canada, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical

TRUCKER ALLEGES HE WAS NOT WARNED ABOUT HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, SUFFERED CHEMICAL BURNS WHILE OFF-LOADING AT NRG PLANT
Tags: us_TX, transportation, follow-up, environmental, corrosives, sodium_hydroxide

OFFICIALS: UNSAFE LEVELS OF CHEMICAL FOUND IN TOWN'S WATER
Tags: us_NC, public, follow-up, environmental, water_treatment

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: CHEMICAL SECURED AFTER HAZMAT INVESTIGATION IN EASLEY
Tags: us_SC, public, discovery, response, unknown_chemical

PRESIDENT: ‰??NORMAL OPERATIONS RESUMES AT BERGEN COUNTY COLLEGE AFTER FUMES OVERCOMES FOUR WORKERS INSIDE BUILDING‰??
Tags: us_NJ, education, release, injury, cleaners, grease

HAZMAT SITUATION IN ST. LOUIS SENDS 2 PEOPLE TO HOSPITAL
Tags: us_MO, transportation, release, injury, ammonia

CHEMICALS USED TO MAKE DRUGS FOUND AS CREWS RESPOND TO FIRE IN MANSFIELD, POLICE SAY
Tags: us_MA, public, fire, response, illegal, clandestine_lab

TANKER DISABLED BY FIRE OFF PORTUGAL, 2 CREW DIED ‰?? MARITIME BULLETIN
Tags: Portugal, transportation, fire, death, unknown_chemical

OPERATIONS BACK TO NORMAL AT GATINEAU HOSPITAL AFTER CHEMICAL SCARE
Tags: Canada, industrial, release, response, cleaners

OIL SPILL PROBE FROM VESSEL BUNKERING OPERATION IN ALGOA BAY CONTINUES
Tags: South_Africa, transportation, release, response, diesel, oils


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FIRE DESTROYS UK PLASTICS FACTORY
https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/fire-destroys-uk-plastics-factory/
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, explosion, response, plastics

A PLASTICS factory near Hull in the UK has been destroyed by a fire.

Emergency services were alerted to the fire at 15:30 on 24 November, which sent a huge plume of smoke over the surrounding area. Local residents reported hearing explosions and some in the area were evacuated from their homes. The fire service issued a warning for people in areas affected by smoke to stay indoors, and keep their doors and windows closed. A spokesperson for Humberside Fire and Rescue said that 300 tonnes of plastic fuelled the blaze at Bridgewood UK plastic factory in Hessle, though it is still "too early to tell" what the main source of the fire was, the Hull Daily Mail reports. The newspaper reports that the factory has been completely destroyed, no was hurt in the incident and while there is no longer a plume of smoke billowing from the factory, firefighters continue to put out pockets of fire.

Humberside Fire and Rescue declared a major incident and sent ten fire engines to the site as they fought to bring the fire under control.

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HAZMAT SITUATION CAUSED BY UNDERGROUND FIRE ON HARFORD ROAD
https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/underground-fire-cause-hazmat-situation-off-harford-road-in-parkville
Tags: us_MD, public, fire, response, unknown_chemical

PARKVILLE, Md. ‰?? Several fire agencies from around Baltimore County rushed to a hazmat situation that broke out Wednesday morning in the 9600 block of Harford Road.

Officials said an unknown product ignited a fire underground in the storm drains, that caused high volumes of smoke that could be seen for miles.

Some businesses had to be evacuated. At last check there were no injuries or buildings damaged.

The fire was placed under control in about an hour.

Surrounding streets have since been opened back up to traffic.

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UPDATE: CHEMICAL SPILL CLEANED UP, HIGHWAY 1 NEAR WINDSOR REOPENED AFTER ACCIDENT
https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/highway-1-near-windsor-shut-down-as-firefighters-tackle-commercial-truck-accident-100662221/
Tags: Canada, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical

MOUNT DENSON, N.S. ‰?? The first snowfall of the season kept Hants County firefighters busy, with three motor vehicle accidents reported within a one-hour period.

The most serious of the accidents involved a commercial vehicle carrying dangerous chemicals that overturned on Highway 1 near Windsor.


Paul Maynard, Hantsport‰??s deputy fire chief, said they set up a 50-metre perimeter around the vehicle due to the hazardous materials located inside.

The Kings County Hazardous Material Support Unit was called to Mount Denson to help firefighters tackle a chemical spill. -
‰??There‰??s four 45-gallon drums of chemical that is used to make spray foam insulation and they‰??ve been compromised in the vehicle,‰?? said Maynard, noting the Kings County hazardous material support unit (hazmat) came to assist with the situation.

He estimated about 25 firefighters, plus EHS paramedics, RCMP officers and a tow truck operator were on scene.

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TRUCKER ALLEGES HE WAS NOT WARNED ABOUT HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, SUFFERED CHEMICAL BURNS WHILE OFF-LOADING AT NRG PLANT
https://setexasrecord.com/stories/613301184-trucker-alleges-he-was-not-warned-about-hazardous-materials-suffered-chemical-burns-while-off-loading-at-nrg-plant
Tags: us_TX, transportation, follow-up, environmental, corrosives, sodium_hydroxide

HOUSTON ‰?? A trucker alleges he suffered severe burns while off-loading a chemical at a NRG Energy plant.

Miroslaw Sek filed a complaint filed a complaint Nov. 17 in Harris County District Court against Contanda LLC, BWC Terminals LLC, Shrieve Chemical Company LLC and NRG Texas Power LLC doing business as Sprint Transport LLC negligence.

According to his complaint, Sek was an owner operator of Sprint Transport and on June 8, 2020, was picking up a trailer load for Shrieve Chemical from Contanda and BWC. He claims that when he arrived at Contanda/BWC, he drove to a loading bay where the trailer was loaded by a Contanda/BWC loader.

Sek further claims that he was told he did not need any "hazmat" documents despite the load having "a liquid solution of caustic soda" or Lye which is a corrosive hazardous material. He alleges that as he attempted to connect the hose from his trailer, the chemical discharged onto him and caused him to suffer chemical burns to his skin, face, eyes, nose, arm and other areas of his body.

He claims the defendants' negligence for failing to properly label the chemical, secure the valves or have emergency showers at the off-loading site.

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OFFICIALS: UNSAFE LEVELS OF CHEMICAL FOUND IN TOWN'S WATER
https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Officials-Unsafe-levels-of-chemical-found-in-16648325.php
Tags: us_NC, public, follow-up, environmental, water_treatment

PITTSBORO, N.C. (AP) ‰?? Tests conducted on a North Carolina town's water supply found more than double the amount of a potentially cancer-causing chemical that's considered safe, officials said.

Since Nov. 8, the town of Pittsboro has been performing almost-daily tests for 1,4-Dioxane after the City of Greensboro warned communities downstream of contamination in the Haw River, WRAL-TV reported. At first, town officials reduced the draw from the river in hopes that the contaminated water would flow by.

Pittsboro Town Manager Chris Kennedy said it appeared the discharge had passed without making it into the town‰??s water treatment plant. He said while the town is confident the chemical has passed, there's the possibility that it hasn't.

The Environmental Protection Agency advises that drinking water contain no more than 35 micrograms per liter of 1,4-Dioxane. On Nov. 12, a raw grab from the Haw River at Pittsboro showed it was present at 9.8 micrograms per liter. But by Nov. 17, a similar test found 80.7 micrograms per liter.

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EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: CHEMICAL SECURED AFTER HAZMAT INVESTIGATION IN EASLEY
https://www.foxcarolina.com/news/emergency-management-chemical-secured-after-hazmat-investigation-in-easley/article_4fb325ae-4cb7-11ec-a17d-37270501b3be.html
Tags: us_SC, public, discovery, response, unknown_chemical

EASLEY, SC (FOX Carolina)- Pickens County Emergency Services said secured the chemical found in a recently purchased building near Main Street

Officials said while a construction company was trying to remodel the building, they found a safe from the 1920s that had a device to prevent tampering or theft. According to officials, this security device contained a glass vial filled with a liquid that is an inhalation hazard.

According to officials, there is no immediate threat to the public.

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

PRESIDENT: ‰??NORMAL OPERATIONS RESUMES AT BERGEN COUNTY COLLEGE AFTER FUMES OVERCOMES FOUR WORKERS INSIDE BUILDING‰??
https://www.rlsmedia.com/article/president-normal-operations-resumes-bergen-county-college-after-fumes-overcomes-four
Tags: us_NJ, education, release, injury, cleaners, grease

Local and county hazmat officials have cleared and secured a Bergen County building where four workers were overcome by fumes Tuesday.

The incident happened around 4 p.m. inside the Pitkin Education Building just off Paramus Road.

Addressing the campus in a statement, Bergen County Community College President Dr. Eric M. Friedman confirmed that the building has been cleared and secured. However, it will remain closed this evening for all classes, activities and operations.

Dr. Friedman said Pitkin will reopen tomorrow morning for normal operations.

President Freidman shared his account of the incident in the following statement:

‰??This afternoon, a contractor conducted a routine cleaning of a drain in Bergen Pizza. The cleaner reacted with trapped food/grease and created a localized chemical reaction.

Four College employees in close proximity inhaled the chemical reaction and are currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.

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HAZMAT SITUATION IN ST. LOUIS SENDS 2 PEOPLE TO HOSPITAL
https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/hazmat-situation-st-louis-west-park-avenue/63-68e319b4-05f9-4397-8a40-1b1fffa790e2
Tags: us_MO, transportation, release, injury, ammonia

ST. LOUIS ‰?? Two people were taken to a hospital with chemical burns after a hazmat situation in St. Louis Tuesday morning.
The situation unfolded at around 8 a.m. in the area of West Park Avenue, which is in the Cheltenham neighborhood just south of Forest Park.
St. Louis Fire Department officials told 5 On Your Side a worker with a trucking company had a problem closing a valve on a tank that contained ammonia. The valve released ammonia and caused the worker to be overcome by the fumes.
After fire crews arrived at the scene, the worker was taken to a hospital for chemical burns and other injuries.
While two firefighters attempted to close the valve on the tank, at least one of them was exposed to the chemical on his gear. He also suffered chemical burns and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

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CHEMICALS USED TO MAKE DRUGS FOUND AS CREWS RESPOND TO FIRE IN MANSFIELD, POLICE SAY
https://www.wcvb.com/article/hazmat-crews-responding-to-report-of-chemicals-inside-mansfield-home/38330802
Tags: us_MA, public, fire, response, illegal, clandestine_lab

MANSFIELD, Mass. ‰??
Hazmat crews responded Tuesday to the scene of a fire at a home in Mansfield, where chemicals used in the manufacturing of illegal drugs were found, police said.

Firefighters were called just before 2 a.m. to the home at 48 Stearns Avenue.

Advertisement
Upon arrival of fire crews, all occupants were out of the house uninjured and there was a fire in a bedroom on the second floor of the home.

The fire was quickly knocked down. During the initial investigation for the cause of the fire, fire investigators found chemicals and related items that were being used to manufacture methamphetamine, State Police said.

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TANKER DISABLED BY FIRE OFF PORTUGAL, 2 CREW DIED ‰?? MARITIME BULLETIN
http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2021/11/23/tanker-disabled-by-fire-off-portugal-2-crew-died/
Tags: Portugal, transportation, fire, death, unknown_chemical

Fire broke out in engine room of product tanker CHEMICAL MASTER at night Nov 22 off Portugal coast, Atlantic. Two crew were badly injured and medevaced by Portugal Air Force helicopter, they‰??ve been transferred to hospital but unfortunately, died, reportedly in the morning Nov 23. Tanker is disabled, adrift, with 2 Portugal Navy ships nearby, monitoring situation. Situation unclear, it is not known if crew managed to extinguished fire ‰?? most probably, engine room is sealed with firefighting system being switched on. Understood towage pending, tanker is en route from Haifa Israel to Amsterdam.

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OPERATIONS BACK TO NORMAL AT GATINEAU HOSPITAL AFTER CHEMICAL SCARE
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/operations-back-to-normal-at-gatineau-hospital-after-chemical-scare
Tags: Canada, industrial, release, response, cleaners

A partial evacuation was ordered in the Gatineau Hospital on Monday night after the accidental release of an unnamed ‰??dangerous‰?? material.

In a release late Monday evening, Gatineau firefighters said chemicals used in the laundry operation came into contact and produced noxious fumes at about 7 p.m.

There were no injuries in the incident, according to both firefighters and the hospital administration.

Hazardous materials specialists from Ottawa Fire Services were called to the scene for assistance.

The situation was declared under control at 9:40 p.m.

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

OIL SPILL PROBE FROM VESSEL BUNKERING OPERATION IN ALGOA BAY CONTINUES
https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/oil-spill-probe-from-vessel-bunkering-operation-in-algoa-bay-continues-20211123
Tags: South_Africa, transportation, release, response, diesel, oils

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment along with the SA Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) are still investigating an oil spill that occurred during a vessel bunkering operation in Algoa Bay, the Eastern Cape, last week.

In a joint statement, the department and Samsa said a small amount of emulsified heavy fuel oil, commonly known as tar balls, had washed ashore along the beach between Hougham Park and the Sundays River. Around 80l of fuel entered the sea.

"A service provider has been appointed to remove the tar balls, samples were collected and submitted to Samsa to determine if the oil is from this incident," the statement added.

To date four birds, among them three Cape gannets and an African penguin, were found to be contaminated by oil and have been captured. The birds are being cared for by the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds.

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