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Chemical Safety Headlines =46rom Google
Friday, August 5, 2011 8:53:58 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 (13 articles)

SHERIFF'S OFFICE: NEW LEAD ON NC HIGH SCHOOL FIRE
Tags: us_NC, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical, follow-up

INQUIRY OVER COLLEGE FIRE
Tags: New_Zealand, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical

SCHOOL LAB CHEMICALS MADE SAFE BY BOMB TEAM
Tags: Ireland, laboratory, discovery, response, dnph

MERCURY POISONING MAKES RENTERS SICK
Tags: us_OH, public, release, injury, mercury

CLEAN-UP COMPLETE AFTER A HAZMAT CALL
Tags: us_IL, public, release, response, pool_chemicals

CHEMICAL VAPOR CONTAINED AT AMERICAN SYNTHETIC IN RUBBERTOWN
Tags: us_KY, industrial, release, response, toluene

EUREKA FIRE CALLED TO CHEMICAL SCARE AT BAYSHORE MALL; OFFICIALS SAID 
IRRITANT MAY HAVE BEEN PEPPER SPRAY
Tags: us_CA, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

DEPUTIES LOCATE SISSONVILLE METH LAB  
Tags: us_WV, public, discovery, response, meth_lab

CHEMICAL SPILL AT OAKBROOK TERRACE PARK DISTRICT BUILDING
Tags: us_IL, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

BEACHWOOD TEENAGERS' EXPERIMENT LEADS TO EXPLOSION, MINOR INJURY
Tags: us_NJ, public, explosion, injury, chlorine

CREWS CONTINUE TO CLEAN AFTER FATAL SEMI ACCIDENT ON I-465 WEST; VICTIM 
IDENTIFIED
Tags: us_IN, transportation, release, death, gasoline

FIRE IN GREATER NOIDA CHEMICAL FACTORY
Tags: India, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical

CHESCO CHEM. PLANT FIRE CONTROLLED
Tags: us_PA, industrial, fire, injury, hydrogen

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

SHERIFF'S OFFICE: NEW LEAD ON NC HIGH SCHOOL FIRE

http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20110804/APN/1108040785?Title=Sheriff-
s-office-New-lead-on-NC-high-school-fire
Tags: us_NC, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical, follow-up

IBSONVILLE, N.C. - The Guilford County Sheriff's Office says it has new 
information about the fire that destroyed Eastern Guilford High School 
five years ago.

The News & Record of Greensboro reported ( http:​//bit.ly/onoqiL) the sheriff's 
office has set up a cold-case unit to pursue the new lead. It's the 
first case for the two retired officers who were brought together two 
months ago to look into major unsolved crimes.

Col. Randy Powers would not describe the new information.

The fire started Nov. 1, 2006, in an empty chemistry lab on the second 
floor of the high school in Gibsonville and quickly spread in the 
building, which had no sprinklers. No one was hurt, and no one was ever 
charged.

The sheriff's office has said the fire was set intentionally.

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

INQUIRY OVER COLLEGE FIRE

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/news/5261901/Inquiry-over-college-fire
Tags: New_Zealand, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical

Police   and fire safety officers are investigating a fire at Mangere 
College in south Auckland yesterday evening.

Firefighters were called to one of Auckland's largest high schools 
shortly before 5pm after smoke and fire were seen billowing from a 
classroom.

At the peak of the fire, four appliances attended the blaze.

The first unit on the scene called for more backup after reporting that 
the room was well ablaze.

Fire Chief Bob Morrison said that when they arrived they found the 
science lab and adjoining office flaming.

"It was quickly extinguished," he said.

As a precaution fire crews involved underwent a chemical 
de-contamination.

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

SCHOOL LAB CHEMICALS MADE SAFE BY BOMB TEAM

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/school-lab-chemicals-made-safe-by-
bomb-team-2841259.html
Tags: Ireland, laboratory, discovery, response, dnph

An Army bomb disposal team has made safe unstable chemicals found at 
Ashbourne Community College.

The Defence Forces deployed the team to the Co.Meath school after the 
chemical 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine had been found during a routine 
audit in the school lab.

The team removed the chemical to waste ground.

The bomb disposal team then carried out a controlled explosion.

The scene was declared safe at 10.35am.

2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine is used in laboratories, but can crystallise 
and become unstable over time.

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

MERCURY POISONING MAKES RENTERS SICK
http://www.whiotv.com/news/28762442/detail.html
Tags: us_OH, public, release, injury, mercury

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio -- Hazmat crews were in Springfield on Wednesday at a 
home on Casilly Street to clean up mercury.
The last set of renters at the home contracted mercury poisoning. They 
have since moved out.
The Clark County Health District and Ohio Environmental Protection 
Agency called in the federal EPA to clean up the house.
:Paul Atkociunas of the EPA said, "There's a lot of visible beads of 
mercury on the floor of the basement. We started to address that. We've 
vacuumed the floors. A lot of materials downstairs like the wood have 
porous surfaces."
At last check, the mercury levels in the house registered 50 times the 
amount considered safe for humans.

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

CLEAN-UP COMPLETE AFTER A HAZMAT CALL

http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/bensenville/newsnow/x2111989259/Clean-up-com
plete-after-a-hazmat-call
Tags: us_IL, public, release, response, pool_chemicals

Villa Park, IL =97
It=92s business as usual at the Oakbrook Terrace Park District building, 
Heritage Center, 1S325 Ardmore Ave., after a hazmat call was sent out 
Wednesday afternoon when employees at the building noticed a reaction 
taking place between two chemicals.

Laura Barron, park district director, said workers in the building 
noticed an odor that was caused from two pool sanitation chemicals that 
are kept at the building.

As a precautionary measure, the fire department was called and advised 
park district officials on appropriate clean-up of the chemicals.

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

CHEMICAL VAPOR CONTAINED AT AMERICAN SYNTHETIC IN RUBBERTOWN

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110805/NEWS01/308050056/1001/Chem
ical-vapor-contained-American-Synthetic-Rubbertown?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswel
l%7Ctext%7CHome%7Cp
Tags: us_KY, industrial, release, response, toluene

John Wilkinson Jr. , chief of the Lake Dreamland Fire District said the 
department was notified at 4:57 a.m. that there was a a report of leak.

A release valve was triggered when one of the tanks at the plant 
over-pressurized, he said. The venting of the vapor lasted 105 seconds.

The leak triggered a safety procedure at plant that sprayed water on the 
area to reduce the vapors.

The fire department responded as required, but the leak was handled 
through plant systems, Wilkinson said.

They were continuing to monitor the area.

Lake Dreamland firefighters responded early this morning to a Rubbertown 
plant after reports of a toluene vapor leak inside the plant.

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

EUREKA FIRE CALLED TO CHEMICAL SCARE AT BAYSHORE MALL; OFFICIALS SAID 
IRRITANT MAY HAVE BEEN PEPPER SPRAY
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_18622723
Tags: us_CA, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

The Eureka Fire Department responded to the Bayshore Mall on Thursday 
afternoon after two employees reported having burning eyes and throats 
-- symptoms from an unknown substance on site.
Interim Chief Bill Gillespie said two employees of Kay Jewelers 
experienced symptoms associated with pepper spray, but the actual source 
is unclear. One employee began experiencing the burning sensations in 
her eyes and throat Wednesday night as she was closing up shop. She went 
to the hospital and was treated and released.
=94They weren't able to determine what it was,=94 Gillespie said. The 
fire department was called in the next day after another employee began 
feeling similar symptoms while trying to open the store.
Firefighters placed caution tape around the entrance of Kay Jewelers 
after arriving around 1 p.m., Gillespie said. All personnel cleared the 
site shortly before 3 p.m.

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

DEPUTIES LOCATE SISSONVILLE METH LAB  
http://sundaygazettemail.com/News/201108030553
Tags: us_WV, public, discovery, response, meth_lab

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Sissonville man is in jail after police say he 
was caught making methamphetamine.

Kanawha County sheriff's deputies went to a house on Little Debbie Lane 
near Sissonville at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday to investigate a tip about 
methamphetamine, according to Lt. Bryan Stover of the Kanawha County 
Sheriff's Department.

Deputies noticed a strong chemical odor and noticed a burn pile with 
materials commonly used for making meth smoldering in the fire, Stover 
said.

In an outbuilding, Stover said deputies found a gas generator, tubing, 
plastic bottles, coffee filters, Coleman fuel and other materials used 
for making the drug.

County technicians came to the site to dismantle the lab, Stover said. 
He said Jason McMillion, 37, of Sissonville, was at the house at the 
time.

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

CHEMICAL SPILL AT OAKBROOK TERRACE PARK DISTRICT BUILDING

http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/bensenville/features/x1800185652/Chemical-sp
ill-at-Oakbrook-Terrace-Park-District-building
Tags: us_IL, public, release, injury, unknown_chemical

Lombard, IL =97
Emergency crews were dispatched to the Oakbrook Terrace Heritage Center, 
1S325 Ardmore Ave., Wednesday afternoon in response to a hazmat call.

Ralph DeLuca, assistant fire chief for Oakbrook Terrace, said the fire 
department was called after two different chemicals spilled occurred at 
the location earlier today.

Uncertain about the reaction the spills would cause, specialty units 
were called in from neighboring towns to assist with the cleanup.

The occupants of the building were all able to safely evacuate, and one 
person was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure.

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

BEACHWOOD TEENAGERS' EXPERIMENT LEADS TO EXPLOSION, MINOR INJURY

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/08/beachwood_teenagers_experiment.ht
ml
Tags: us_NJ, public, explosion, injury, chlorine

BEACHWOOD =97 Four Beachwood teenagers mixing several items, including 
chlorine, sparked an explosion in a Beach Avenue home last night, 
sending one 17-year-old to the hospital with minor burns, police said.
Borough police Chief William Cairns said the teenagers=92 activity did 
not appear to be anything more than an experiment.
=93They were attempting to make what they accomplished,=94 Cairns said 
this morning. =93There was no indication they were intending to use it.=94

The teen, whose name was not released because of his age, had minor 
burns to his face, chest, arms and eyes. He was taken to Community 
Medical Center in Toms River, where he was treated and then released 
late last night. None of the other boys were injured, Cairns said.

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

CREWS CONTINUE TO CLEAN AFTER FATAL SEMI ACCIDENT ON I-465 WEST; VICTIM 
IDENTIFIED

http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-overturned-semi-closes-ramp-from-crafordsvi
lle-rd-to-i465-20110802,0,7432537.story
Tags: us_IN, transportation, release, death, gasoline

Indianapolis=97 Fire crews from IFD and Speedway closed the ramp from 
westbound Crawfordsville Road and northbound I-465 after a semi 
overturned, killing a Delphi man.

Troopers say the accident happened around 12:40 a.m. Wednesday. Reports 
say Shawn Sullivan, 47, was driving a semi that was pulling a tanker 
trailer loaded with around 8,000 gallons of gasoline westbound on the 
Crawfordsville Road ramp to northbound I-465.

Police say Sullivan lost control and the semi went off the roadway into 
a ditch.  The investigation report states that Sullivan got trapped 
inside the cab of the semi after the tractor trailer overturned.  He was 
pronounced dead at the scene. 

Crews quickly closed the ramp to traffic. Shortly after that, they 
called in a HazMat team from Speedway Fire Department and a tanker from 
the Indianapolis Airport Fire Department to lay down a layer of 
protective foam.  About 3,000 gallons of gasoline leaked from the 
tanker.

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

FIRE IN GREATER NOIDA CHEMICAL FACTORY

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/Fire-in-Greater-Noida-chemic
al-factory/articleshow/9471797.cms
Tags: India, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical

BADALPUR (GREATER NOIDA): A massive fire broke out in a factory 
producing soaps and chemicals on the Dadri-Ghaziabad highway at Badalpur 
around 1pm on Wednesday. Cops said the fire soon raged across the entire 
factory as the chemical drums caught fire, so much so that giant flames 
and dark smoke could be seen from a kilometer away. "Fifteen fire 
tenders were rushed to douse the fire and it was brought under control 
by about 4pm," said Greater Noida fire officer, AR Sharma. 

The officer added that a call for help was even sent to neighbouring 
Noida and Ghaziabad for fire tenders which finally helped douse the fire 
after it raged for more than three hours. The fire fighting teams were 
also successful in keeping three tanks, which had chemicals stored in 
them, from exploding and causing more destruction. "There could have 
been greater destruction if the tanks had caught fire as there were many 
buildings in the vicinity of the chemical factory," said Sharma

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

CHESCO CHEM. PLANT FIRE CONTROLLED

http://articles.philly.com/2011-08-03/news/29846819_1_plant-fire-hydrogen-
three-fire-companies
Tags: us_PA, industrial, fire, injury, hydrogen

t took three fire companies and a couple of hours to bring a hydrogen 
trailer fire under control at a Chester County chemical company, police 
said.

Residents evacuated from nearby homes, however, were not immediately 
allowed to return while fire officials evaluated the scene.

The fire at the Johnson Matthey Co. plant in West Whiteland Township, 
was reported at 10:31 a.m., said Patty Mains, a spokeswoman for the 
county's Department of Emergency Services.

West Whiteland Township Sgt. Martin Malloy said a supply line at the 
plant was damaged yesterday by a truck and was being repaired when the 
blaze, believed to be accidental, erupted.


A repairman was taken to Crozer Chester Medical Center for burns, said 
Malloy. His condition was not known.

Malloy said trucks bring what is termed a "12-pack," tubes of hydrogen 
on a trailer, to the plant and then return to get the trailer when the 
hydrogen has been used.

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