DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive

Chemical Safety Headlines =46rom Google
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 9:10:46 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 (14 articles)

2 UWF STUDENTS BURNED WHEN CHEM LAB FLASK EXPLODED
Tags: us_FL, laboratory, explosion, injury, nitric_acid

FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO HAZMAT SPILL AT SYOSSET HOME
Tags: us_NY, public, release, injury, pesticides

CHEMICAL FIRE OCCURS AT CLARK RUBBER IN MENTOR
Tags: us_OH, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical

FBI TO ASSIST TPD WITH HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN MIDTOWN HOME
Tags: us_AZ, public, discovery, injury, unknown_chemical

LOCAL OFFICIALS RESPOND TO CHEMICAL INCIDENT AT EAGAN COMPANY
Tags: us_MN, industrial, release, injury, cleaners

OVERHEATING BATTERY PROMPTS CALL TO FIRE DEPARTMENT
Tags: Canada, public, release, response, batteries

HAZMAT TEAMS RESPOND TO DEER PARK HOME
Tags: us_NY, public, discovery, response, waste

CLEARWATER HAZMAT SITE IN CLEAN UP STAGE
Tags: us_FL, transportation, release, injury, phosphoric_acid

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS CALL PROMPTS EVACUATION OF A MIDTOWN HOME
Tags: us_AZ, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

PACKAGE CATCHES FIRE, EMITS WHITE SMOKE
Tags: us_VA, transportation, release, response, fire_extinguisher

AMMONIA SPILL AT FONTERRA PLANT
Tags: New, Zealand, industrial, release, injury, ammonia

HOTEL FIRE OVERNIGHT IN BRISBANE, SCORES EVACUATED TO LAW COURTS
Tags: Australia, public, fire, response, unknown_chemical

MYSTERIOUS HAZE CLEARED AT SDSU
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, discovery, response, unknown_chemical

JAPANESE UNIVERSITIES PLOT SLOW RECOVERY
Tags: Japan, laboratory, fire, response, water, follow-up

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

2 UWF STUDENTS BURNED WHEN CHEM LAB FLASK EXPLODED

http://www.citizen-times.com/article/DP/20110712/NEWS01/110712017/2-UWF-st
udents-burned-when-chem-lab-flask-exploded?odyssey=nav%7Chead
Tags: us_FL, laboratory, explosion, injury, nitric_acid

Two University of West Florida students were burned this afternoon after 
a flask exploded in a chemistry lab.

One student was burned on the arm, and the other was burned on the leg, 
said Kelly Russ, a UWF spokeswoman. 

The students were taken to West Florida Hospital.

The accident happened about 3 p.m. in the Life Sciences Building.

The undergraduate students had been in the lab conducting independent 
research and were finishing up for the day when the incident happened, 
Russ said.

The students had handled a flask with nitric acid in it, she said.

After cleaning the flask and sealing it, it exploded, Russ said.

The explosion did not cause a fire.

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

FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO HAZMAT SPILL AT SYOSSET HOME

http://syosset.patch.com/articles/firefighters-respond-to-hazmat-spill-at-
syosset-home
Tags: us_NY, public, release, injury, pesticides

Syosset Firefighters responded to a Hazmat spill 8:30 a.m. Tuesday 
morning at a Terrehans Lane home in Syosset after a resident dropped a 
glass jar in his garage which contained an insecticide liquid, causing 
dizziness and breathing difficulty for him and his child.

Syosset EMS tended to the aided, while Nassau Police Emergency Services 
and the Fire Marshals Haz-Mat units were called to the scene.

After taking meter readings and a sample of the substance it was 
determined to be Spectracide, a type of insecticide. Both of the aided 
refused medical attention at the scene, and all units were up at 9:25 
AM.

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

CHEMICAL FIRE OCCURS AT CLARK RUBBER IN MENTOR
http://news-herald.com/articles/2011/07/13/news/nh4244798.txt
Tags: us_OH, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical

A Mentor business had to be evacuated Tuesday because of a chemical 
fire.

According to a Mentor Fire Department news release, firefighters were 
called to Clark Rubber, 8837 East Ave., at 4:47 p.m. for a reported 
fire.

Upon arrival, rescue crews saw gray smoke coming from the building, 
which was evacuated.

Because the fire was partially in a salt tank, firefighters used dry 
chemical extinguishers to put it out.

The fire was contained to the tank and the duct area above the tank and 
was declared under control at 5:03 p.m., according to the release.

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

FBI TO ASSIST TPD WITH HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN MIDTOWN HOME

http://www.kvoa.com/news/fbi-to-assist-tpd-with-hazardous-chemicals-in-mid
town-home/
Tags: us_AZ, public, discovery, injury, unknown_chemical

TUCSON - Tucson Police and the Hazardous Material team were on the scene 
of a potential explosive materials situation in midtown throughout 
Monday afternoon and evening.

Officials say a man's family member brought him to a nearby hospital 
with severe burns from chemicals of some kind, and told authorities 
there may be a fire inside a home at Adams and Forgeus, near Tucson and 
Speedway.

Authorities arrived at the home and found a small fire and chemicals 
inside. Chemical and explosives ordinance specialists were called in, 
and a tactical robot was deployed. Two homes nearby were evacuated, 
officials say. TPD later sent in their technicians suited up with proper 
gear on two separate occasions, testing whether the chemicals were safe 
to stay overnight. Sergeant Diana Lopez with TPD said they determined it 
is safe until the FBI comes tomorrow to test the materials.

"FBI will respond in the morning to assist us while we collect the 
hazardous chemicals, and they'll test that for us. So, this may be 
possibly a 2 to 3 day operation in collecting all of the chemicals," 
Lopez said.

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

LOCAL OFFICIALS RESPOND TO CHEMICAL INCIDENT AT EAGAN COMPANY

http://eagan.patch.com/articles/local-officials-respond-to-chemical-incide
nt-at-eagan-company
Tags: us_MN, industrial, release, injury, cleaners

Two cleaning workers were treated after a chemical incident at Materials 
Processing in Eagan on Monday night, according to the Eagan Fire 
Department.

Two cleaning chemicals were mixed together and caused pollution, leading 
one worker to inhale the chemicals. He removed his contaminated clothes, 
was cleaned with a fire hose and was transported by HealthEast 
Paramedics to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to 
a statement from the fire department. The second worker affected was 
treated on the scene. 

Eagan Police and HealthEast Paramedics were dispatched to the scene at 
8:30 Monday night. When they discovered it was a chemical incident, they 
called the Eagan Fire Department. Then the Dakota County Special 
Operations Team was called in to assess the chemicals and contain them.

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

OVERHEATING BATTERY PROMPTS CALL TO FIRE DEPARTMENT

http://www.gulfnews.ca/News/2011-07-11/article-2644932/Overheating-battery
-prompts-call-to-fire-department/1
Tags: Canada, public, release, response, batteries

A car battery which was accidentally left on a charger overnight brought 
members of the Port aux Basques Volunteer Fire Department=E2=80=99s 
hazmat unit to the Canadian Tire store last Wednesday.
 
Fire Chief Jerry Musseau said when staff at the store arrived that 
morning, there was a smoky haze and a strong smell from the battery 
throughout the store. Although there was no fire, the battery had 
overheated through the night and let off fumes.
Staff stayed long enough to open doors and windows but nobody lingered 
in the building, according to Chief Musseau. All employees who were 
inside the store were sent to hospital for precautionary checkups. 
Everyone was fine, according to the fire chief.
Members from the fire department arrived on scene and blocked off the 
parking lot. The hazmat team then suited up and went into the store to 
check the air quality.
"We went in with some gas detection equipment to make sure there 
was nothing in the air and there wasn=E2=80=99t, other than a very 
strong rotten smell in the store,=" said Chief Musseau.
He said the smell was from the sulfur in the battery, but it wasn=E2=80=99
t harmful.
The department used a large fan to vent the entire building for an hour 
and a half.

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

HAZMAT TEAMS RESPOND TO DEER PARK HOME

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/hazmat-teams-respond-to-deer-pa
rk-home-1.3017421
Tags: us_NY, public, discovery, response, waste

Residents were evacuated and hazardous materials teams descended on 
Ponder Lane in Deer Park after containers marked radioactive were found. 
Tests came back negative, residents returned, containers were removed. 

A hazardous waste sticker on garbage placed for curbside pickup on a 
street in Deer Park led to the mobilization of hazmat teams from fire 
departments throughout the Town of Babylon, as well as Suffolk County 
police Emergency Services Unit officers Monday.
An investigation by those teams found no harmful items in that 
container, police said.

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

CLEARWATER HAZMAT SITE IN CLEAN UP STAGE
http://cfjctv.com/story.php?id=3274
Tags: us_FL, transportation, release, injury, phosphoric_acid

    Traffic is moving, but clean up of a hazardous materials spill on 
highway 5 north of Clearwater is still underway.  Just before noon 
Sunday a semi flipped after colliding with a minivan.  The rig was 
carrying hydrochloric and phosphoric acid which spilled across the 
roadway.
     Clearwater Mayor John Harwood says provincial emergency program 
crews have determined all of the hazardous chemicals remain in the 
ground and none of the acid reached nearby Raft River. But Environment 
officials say clearing away the contaminated earth will be a painstaking 
process that will take days. The earth must be scraped away and the 
ground below tested until there is no more sign of the chemicals.
    RCMP say the crash occurred as the semi-trailer was passing a 
minivan.  The driver of the smaller vehicle suffered serious injuries 
and two passengers in the van were slightly injured.  The semi driver 
was not hurt.

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

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS CALL PROMPTS EVACUATION OF A MIDTOWN HOME

http://www.kold.com/story/15062807/hazmat-call-prompts-evacuation-of-midto
wn-homes
Tags: us_AZ, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

TUCSON, AZ (KOLD) =E2=80=93 At least one Midtown Tucson home was 
evacuated because of a hazardous material alert.

Police said they got a call from an area hospital, saying a man showed 
up with possibly life-threatening burns.

He may have gotten the burns from some type of hazardous materials, 
police say.

When asked whether there is a meth lab in the area, TPD spokeswoman Sgt. 
Diana Lopez said, "There is no information at this time that leads us to 
believe that."

A Tucson Police Department bomb squad responded to the scene near Elm 
Street and Tucson Boulevard.

The next door neighbor to the house in question was evacuated. Other 
residents were asked to stay inside while police conducted their 
investigation.  Adams Street between Forgeus Avenue and Sawtelle were 
blocked off for the majority of the day.

Police say they recovered evidence of harmful chemicals but have not 
determined exactly what they are. The FBI will join the investigation.

The homeowner had third degree burns and was taken to another city for 
treatment. It is unclear if he will face any charges.

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

PACKAGE CATCHES FIRE, EMITS WHITE SMOKE

http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/norfolk/package-catches-fire-emits
-white-smoke
Tags: us_VA, transportation, release, response, fire_extinguisher

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Fire officials said the suspicious package that 
created a Hazmat situation at a UPS warehouse in Norfolk contained a 
fire extinguisher.

According to Capt. Mike Marsala with the Norfolk Fire Department , a 
small box discharged a white powdery substance around 6:40 a.m. as it 
was tumbling down the conveyer belt in the facility in the 3300 block of 
Croft Street.

Fire officials are now trying to figure out why one of the fire 
extinguishers went off.

The package was in the conveyer system 15 feet in the air. Norfolk Fire 
Department spokesman Harry Worley said the package had to be brought 
down so it could be evaluated by bomb technicians.

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

AMMONIA SPILL AT FONTERRA PLANT
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5272415/Ammonia-spill-at-Fonterra-plant
Tags: New, Zealand, industrial, release, injury, ammonia

LATEST: Three Fonterra workers injured in an ammonia spill at the 
Whareroa site have been treated by ambulance paramedics and are not 
believed to be seriously affected by the spill.

Roads to the site have now been reopened following the leak about 
1.30pm.

Fire Service area chief Pat Fitzell said the leaked ammonia was being 
dispersed by the wind.

The Fire Service's specialist chemical hazard vehicle from New Plymouth 
was on its way to Hawera, Fitzell said.

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

HOTEL FIRE OVERNIGHT IN BRISBANE, SCORES EVACUATED TO LAW COURTS

http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2011/07/hotel-fire-overnight-in-brisban
e-scores-evacuated-to-law-courts.html
Tags: Australia, public, fire, response, unknown_chemical

=EF=BB=BFAround a hundred people had to be evacuated from the Brisbane 
YMCA overnight after a chemical fire.

Queensland Fire and Rescue says a 20 litre drum of cleaning product 
caught fire about ten-thirty last night. Guests were allowed back into 
the inner-city building three hours later - when the chemical smoke 
cleared.

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

MYSTERIOUS HAZE CLEARED AT SDSU

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Mysterious-Haze-Cleared-at-SDSU-1253
53668.html
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, discovery, response, unknown_chemical

An unusual haze was emitting outside a San Diego State University 
laboratory this morning, according to the San Diego Fire Department. The 
haze has since cleared from the Chemical Science Laboratory on campus, 
and there is no fire hazard at this time.

A hazmat team is on scene trying to determine where the haze came from.

Originally, the haze was thought to be a fire. Firefighters did not 
enter the building right away because of a radioactive placard on the 
door.

There is no cause as to where the haze came from, according to SDFD.

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

JAPANESE UNIVERSITIES PLOT SLOW RECOVERY
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2011/July/11071102.asp
Tags: Japan, laboratory, fire, response, water, follow-up

Four months have passed since the earthquake and subsequent tsunami 
devastated the east coast of Japan. And while rebuilding is now under 
way, progress at the local level is slow and impeding the recovery of 
universities in the disaster-stricken area. 

According to estimates by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, 
Sports, Science and Technology, the total damage to universities could 
exceed =C2=A590 billion, although it is highly likely that this figure 
will rise as reconstruction continues. 

Tohoku University, one of the world's top engineering universities, 
arguably suffered the most damage. Property damage to the university is 
estimated at over =C2=A577 billion (=C2=A3596 million) in total, 
according to Japanese news agency Kyodo Tsushin. Around 7000 pieces of 
lab equipment were destroyed and 28 buildings will need to be rebuilt. 



A severely damaged building on the Aobayama-campus at Tohoku University

=C2=A9 Tohoku University
The Aobayama-campus was among the most seriously damaged. A fire swept 
through the chemistry department, fuelled by lab chemicals. On top of 
this, efforts to douse the fire caused serious water damage to the 
building and electrics. The building was declared off-limits, and the 
laboratory work was moved to other buildings as research groups were 
unable to function. However, restoration of the laboratories is 
proceeding apace and is almost completed, with researchers expected to 
be able to move back in shortly. 

Tadahiro Komeda, a professor of nanotechnology at Tohoku University, 
estimates that it will take more than a year for research to get back to 
the stage it was at before the earthquake struck, even in the 
Katahira-campus which suffered relatively little damage. 

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