From: Ralph Stuart <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (12 articles)
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2022 06:34:00 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID: DF54DE23-56B8-4EAF-84ED-24C7E3C3FBAE**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org


Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, July 25, 2022 at 6:33:49 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)

EXPLOSION AT WAIKATO UNIVERSITY SERIOUSLY INJURES STAFF MEMBER
Tags: New_Zealand, laboratory, explosion, injury, gas_cylinders

MULTIPLE CASUALTIES FEARED IN EXPLOSION IN ILLEGAL FIRECRACKER FACTORY IN BIHAR'S SARAN
Tags: India, industrial, explosion, injury, fireworks, illegal

CHEMICAL RELEASE IN NC CITY WAS SO ‰??STINKY‰?? IT BROKE THE LAW
Tags: us_NC, public, release, response, thiols, waste

ALPENA COUNTY TO REMOVE HAZARDOUS MATERIAL FROM FAIRGROUNDS ‰?? WBKB 11
Tags: us_MI, public, discovery, response, waste

HYDERABAD: FIRE BREAKS OUT IN PRIVATE LABORATORY AT JEEDIMETLA
Tags: India, laboratory, explosion, response, unknown_chemical

MULTIPLE CREWS RESPOND TO FIRE AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY LAB
Tags: us_NY, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical

EAST ST. LOUIS RESIDENTS ASKED TO STAY INSIDE AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, injury, unknown_chemical

SEVERAL TREATED AFTER CHEMICAL EXPOSURE AT ULTIUM CELLS PLANT
Tags: us_OH, industrial, release, injury, unknown_chemical

STEPHEN OWENS NOMINATED FOR CHAIRMAN OF CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD
Tags: public, discovery, environmental

FIREFIGHTERS TACKLE MAJOR BLAZE NEAR CHEMICAL FACTORY IN WOLLASTON
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical

EASTMAN POWER OUTAGE, SHUT DOWN RESULT IN RELEASE INTO AIR, WATER
Tags: us_TN, industrial, release, response, ethylene_glycol, hydraulic_fluid, plastics

1 DEAD, 3 INJURED AFTER EXPLOSION AT CHEMICAL RESEARCH LAB IN MONTREAL REGION
Tags: Canada, laboratory, explosion, death, plastics


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EXPLOSION AT WAIKATO UNIVERSITY SERIOUSLY INJURES STAFF MEMBER
https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/300645522/explosion-at-waikato-university-seriously-injures-staff-member
Tags: New_Zealand, laboratory, explosion, injury, gas_cylinders

A Waikato University staff member has been seriously injured after an explosion at its Hamilton campus.

Two St John ambulances, two rapid response vehicles, and a manager, rushed to the campus in Hillcrest at 8.16am on Monday, a statement said.

One person was seriously injured and was transported to Waikato Hospital.

An email to staff from Waikato University‰??s senior deputy vice-chancellor professor Alister Jones said it was a ‰??minor explosion‰?? from a gas cylinder outside a science laboratory near the EF link building.

‰??The site of the explosion has been secured and it is safe to be on campus.‰??

Fire and Emergency sent three fire trucks from Hamilton and Chartwell, a spokesperson said. The last fire truck left at 8.53am.

More information would not be provided by Fire and Emergency due to industrial action.

WorkSafe was notified of the incident and was making enquiries.

‰??We are unable to give further information at this stage,‰?? a spokesperson said.

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

MULTIPLE CASUALTIES FEARED IN EXPLOSION IN ILLEGAL FIRECRACKER FACTORY IN BIHAR'S SARAN
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/blast-illegal-firecracker-factory-bihar-saran-district-1979415-2022-07-24
Tags: India, industrial, explosion, injury, fireworks, illegal

A massive blast occurred in an illegal firecracker factory operating inside a house in Khodaibagh area of Khaira police station in Bihar's Saran district on Sunday.
It is being said that four to five people have been seriously injured in the explosion and their bodies are still inside the debris. As per locals, there is little chance of them surviving.

After the incident, Saran SP Santosh Kumar, after inspecting the spot, confirmed the death of four and injuries to two people. He has asked for a forensic team to investigate the tremendous explosion in the firecracker factory.
The house belongs to one said to be Reyaju Miyan. The structure has been completely demolished by the explosion. A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team is reaching the spot from Muzaffarnagar to investigate the matter.

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CHEMICAL RELEASE IN NC CITY WAS SO ‰??STINKY‰?? IT BROKE THE LAW
https://www.cbs17.com/news/north-carolina-news/chemical-release-in-nc-city-was-so-stinky-it-broke-the-law/
Tags: us_NC, public, release, response, thiols, waste

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) ‰?? Officials say an environmental cleanup company violated a county‰??s ‰??objectionable odor rule‰?? when it accidentally released a smelly chemical that offended nostrils and caused alarm across Charlotte earlier this month.

The Charlotte Observer reports that the area‰??s 911 system was flooded with calls on July 14 from people who thought they smelled a gas leak.

In fact, though, a company called Legacy Environmental Services accidentally released a chemical called mercaptan while it was recycling metal tanks.

Mercaptan smells like rotten eggs and is added to natural gas so people can detect leaks.

The Observer reported Friday that Mecklenburg County officials say the release has been classified as a violation and that they‰??re seeking more information from the company to determine next steps.

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

ALPENA COUNTY TO REMOVE HAZARDOUS MATERIAL FROM FAIRGROUNDS ‰?? WBKB 11
https://www.wbkb11.com/alpena-county-to-remove-hazardous-material-from-fairgrounds
Tags: us_MI, public, discovery, response, waste

ALPENA, Mich. ‰?? Alpena County has approved the removal of hazardous waste from the Fairgrounds.

The Finance Committee voted this morning to remove the waste, which is in the form of 55-gallon drums of paint. Since these were disposed of improperly in the landfill, the county needs to hire an outside company to dispose of the waste. Officials say the only way to dispose of these materials is to make sure they are first completely dry.

‰??People bring in paint, and that‰??s considered hazardous material,‰?? Chairman Bill Peterson said. ‰??We had to bring a company in and dispose of it.‰??

There is no set timetable right now for the removal of the waste.

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

HYDERABAD: FIRE BREAKS OUT IN PRIVATE LABORATORY AT JEEDIMETLA
https://telanganatoday.com/hyderabad-fire-breaks-out-in-private-laboratory-at-jeedimetla
Tags: India, laboratory, explosion, response, unknown_chemical

Hyderabad: A major fire broke out in a private laboratory at the industrial estate in Jeedimetla on the city outskirts here on Saturday. No casualties were reported in the fire and the cause of fire was yet to be known, police said.

According to the police, fire spread to drums filled with chemicals, which exploded, thus increasing the intensity of the fire. Fire caught the plastic containers which were filled with chemicals, which triggered dark smoke, with the flames spreading to the adjacent company as well.

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

MULTIPLE CREWS RESPOND TO FIRE AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY LAB
https://www.weny.com/story/46943995/multiple-fire-crews-respond-to-flames-at-cornell-university-lab
Tags: us_NY, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical

According to Ithaca Fire Rescue, the blaze was called in at 1:30 am at the lab in the Vet Research Tower.

Additional units were requested to the scene at that time and fire crews entered the lab and put out the blaze. A fourth alarm was called because of the potential hazards the lab may have presented and the need for decontamination of department personnel.

No injuries were reported, The cause of the fire is not yet known and investigators from IFD and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control are investigating.

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

EAST ST. LOUIS RESIDENTS ASKED TO STAY INSIDE AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK
https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/east-st-louis-reported-chemical-leak/63-41f0a8f7-b278-4882-8cd8-1e4a4b8b0bf8
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, injury, unknown_chemical

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. ‰?? An all-clear has been given to the residents of East St. Louis Saturday evening after they were made aware of a chemical leak earlier in the day.
Residents were welcome to return to their normal activities, the City of East St. Louis said.
The city advised its residents via Facebook Saturday morning to avoid certain areas due to a chemical leak.
The announcement was made at about 9 a.m. The city told residents from the 25th to 29th block of State Street to Bond Avenue to avoid the area and stay inside because of a reported chemical leak.
In an emergency alert sent out to citizens via East St. Louis' emergency alert system Code Red, residents were advised to stay inside their homes and avoid the area until 3 p.m. Saturday.
East St. Louis emergency personnel and the St. Clair County hazmat teams responded to the leak, according to the Facebook post.
East St. Louis Fire Chief Jason Blackmon told 5 On Your Side shortly before 1:30 p.m. Saturday the leak was being contained by the hazmat team.
Blackmon and ESDA Deputy Director Lee Coleman later gave the all-clear.
"I thank you for your compliance and patience as we worked to isolate the impact of today's emergency event. Truly, our top concern was for the safety of those in the community," Robert Eastern III, Mayor of East St. Louis, said.
Blackmon said the leak was coming from the Allnex USA plant located at 2904 Missouri Avenue.
The city also advised in the post for anyone feeling ill in the area to go to the nearest emergency room.
The type of chemical and the severity of the leak were not released.
On July 10, two workers in the Allnex plant were injured when a fire broke out within the plant. Originally believed to be as a result of a chemical explosion, Allnex issued a statement about the fire on July 11 stating the cause was unknown.

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

SEVERAL TREATED AFTER CHEMICAL EXPOSURE AT ULTIUM CELLS PLANT
https://www.wfmj.com/story/46943638/several-treated-after-chemical-exposure-at-ultium-cells-plant
Tags: us_OH, industrial, release, injury, unknown_chemical

Several people were treated or taken to the hospital after a potential chemical exposure at Ultium Cells LLC in Lordstown.

According to the Lordstown Fire Department, a few people working at the Tod Avenue plant complained of a reaction to a chemical in the area where they were working.

A representative from Ultium Cells says 2 employees were transported to the hospital as a result of the exposure. Others were treated at an in-house medical site and had family members come pick them up.

At this time, it's unclear what led to the exposure or how many people total were affected.

In a statement, Ultium Cells said "air samples were taken in the area with a certified meter, and all tests were at safe levels."

When we asked Ultium what chemical their employees were exposed to, their representative responded with the same above statement. We also asked why employees would need to be hospitalized if levels were safe, but the Ultium representative did not respond to the question.

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

STEPHEN OWENS NOMINATED FOR CHAIRMAN OF CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD
https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/infrastructure-security/stephen-owens-nominated-for-chairman-of-chemical-safety-and-hazard-investigation-board/
Tags: public, discovery, environmental

President Biden nominated Stephen A. Owens to serve as chairman of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.

Owens is a member of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), appointed by President Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in December 2021. Since being sworn in, Owens has worked to increase transparency and information-sharing by the CSB, identify ways to reduce the backlog in the CSB‰??s investigative reports, and increase collaboration and communications between agency leadership and CSB career professional staff and stakeholders. Prior to joining the CSB, he was an attorney in Phoenix, Arizona, focusing on environmental, safety, and health issues, and also advising clients on a range of matters relating to chemical safety and safe chemical practices. Owens previously served as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency‰??s (EPA) Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, where he was responsible for overseeing EPA‰??s chemical regulatory programs. He also previously served as Counsel to the Subcommittee on In!
vestigations and Oversight of the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology, and Chief Counsel and later State Director for then-U.S. Senator Al Gore (D-TN).

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

FIREFIGHTERS TACKLE MAJOR BLAZE NEAR CHEMICAL FACTORY IN WOLLASTON
https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/firefighters-tackle-major-blaze-near-chemical-factory-in-wollaston-3779427
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical

Emergency services rushed to the blaze at Steadfast Roofing Merchants Ltd in Doddington Road at around 10.30pm. The premises neighbours chemical manufacturer, Spectrum Chemicals Ltd.

A spokesperson for the Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service said: ‰??Firefighters likely to be on scene for most of the night and are urging people to avoid the area and for nearby residents to close doors and windows for the time being. Thank you for your support.‰??

Crews from Wellingborough, Earls Barton, Rushden, Burton Latimer and The Mounts are currently at the scene along with specialist units from Corby and Towcester.

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

EASTMAN POWER OUTAGE, SHUT DOWN RESULT IN RELEASE INTO AIR, WATER
https://www.timesnews.net/news/local-news/city-officials-strongly-urge-citizens-to-avoid-eastman-area/article_1dc61aac-09d0-11ed-a79a-87bda5f56fd6.html
Tags: us_TN, industrial, release, response, ethylene_glycol, hydraulic_fluid, plastics

KINGSPORT ‰?? Eastman Chemical Company released substances into the air and river on Friday amid a plant shutdown and power outage.

The Kingsport-based company experienced a power outage around 10 a.m. on Friday, after which the plant was shut down. The company is yet to cite the cause for the outage.

Following the shutdown, oil was released into the river. The company also said methyl iodide and iodine was released into the air and appeared as a ‰??purple plume‰?? rising from a ‰??site flare‰?? at Eastman.

Late Friday, Eastman spokeswoman Kristin Parker said that ethylene glycol had also been released into river and that the incident had been reported to the appropriate regulatory agencies and downstream users.

Ethylene glycol is used in the production of consumer products such as paints, plastics, and cosmetics.

Parker added that the company has confirmed that the oil released earlier was hydraulic oil.

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

1 DEAD, 3 INJURED AFTER EXPLOSION AT CHEMICAL RESEARCH LAB IN MONTREAL REGION
https://globalnews.ca/news/9010144/1-dead-3-injured-montreal-chemical-research-lab-explosion/
Tags: Canada, laboratory, explosion, death, plastics

A man in his 40s is dead and two other people were sent to hospital following a chemical lab explosion in Montreal‰??s Dorval suburb on Friday morning.


Authorities say they were called around 11:30 a.m. to Polymer Source research center on Avro Avenue.

The business markets itself as a chemical laboratory that supplies research grade polymers and biopolymers to scientists.

Officials say the death of the victim was pronounced at the scene by emergency services before they could get him to hospital.

Two other people were also sent to hospital to treat wounds from the blast, but authorities did not specify the severity of their injuries.

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