Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 6:14:56 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)
CHEMICAL LEAK AT JENNIE-O PLANT PROMPTS SHELTER-IN-PLACE IN BARRON COUNTY
Tags: us_WI, industrial, release, injury, other_chemical
CREWS RESPOND TO CHEMICAL TANK FIRE, EXPLOSION AT HAMMONTON, NEW JERSEY PAVING COMPANY
Tags: us_NJ, transportation, explosion, response, asphalt
SAFD REPORT: CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS 'HEAT SOURCE' IN SEPTEMBER LAB FIRE
Tags: us_TX, laboratory, follow-up, environmental, ethanol
70 EMPLOYEES EVACUATED AFTER CHEMICAL REACTION RESULTS IN 'VAPOR PLUME' INSIDE FACILITY NEAR CARY
Tags: us_NC, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical
4 PEOPLE SICKENED, INCLUDING 1 IN CRITICAL CONDITION, IN LAX HAZMAT INCIDENT
Tags: us_CA, public, release, injury, carbon_dioxide
FIREFIGHTERS ON SCENE INVOLVING MERCURY-RELATED HAZMAT INCIDENT IN SOUTH JORDAN
Tags: us_UT, public, release, response, mercury
KATE THE CHEMIST LIGHTS COD ON FIRE – THE COURIER
Tags: us_TX, education, fire, response, unknown_chemical
NO DANGER TO THE PUBLIC AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK IN BARRON COUNTY
Tags: us_WI, public, release, response, other_chemical
33 DRUMS FILLED WITH CHEMICAL LIQUID FOUND IN GOPENG
Tags: Malaysia, public, release, response, waste
NEWPORT NEWS TEACHER LEFT WITH MINOR INJURIES AFTER CHEMISTRY EXPERIMENT FIRE
Tags: us_VA, laboratory, fire, injury, unknown_chemical
EP. 101 WHEN SHOULD INCIDENTS CAUSE US TO QUESTION RISK ASSESSMENTS?
Tags: Japan, industrial, follow-up, environmental, radiation
EVACUATION ORDERS LIFTED FOR RESIDENTS DISPLACED BY SAN JACINTO CHEMICAL SPILL
Tags: us_CA, public, release, response, pool_chemicals
PFAS FIREFIGHTING CHEMICAL FOUND IN DRINKING WATER AT AVALON AIRPORT FIRE STATION
Tags: Australia, industrial, discovery, environmental, other_chemical
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CHEMICAL LEAK AT JENNIE-O PLANT PROMPTS SHELTER-IN-PLACE IN BARRON COUNTY
https://bringmethenews.com/wisconsin-news/chemical-leak-at-jennie-o-plant-prompts-shelter-in-place-in-barron-county
Tags: us_WI, industrial, release, injury, other_chemical
A chemical leak at the Jennie-O plant in Barron, Wisconsin, resulted in a brief shelter-in-place Monday morning.
Two employees drove themselves to a nearby hospital to be treated for possible exposure to Anatox and Lysine. One of those employees was on-site when the chemical leak happened, according to the Barron County Sheriff's Office.
The leak of the two chemicals resulted in the emission of a poisonous vapor in the atmosphere of the building. No other injuries were reported.
The leak was first reported to the sheriff's office at 9:27 a.m. in its main plant feed mill area. Emergency responders determined the chemicals accidentally mixed together, putting the toxic fumes into the air.
The company immediately evacuated the facility, police say.
The shelter-in-place was enacted on the north side of the plant, impacting the Barron County Highway Department and the Riverview Terrace Estates. A "precautionary shelter-in-place" was also put in place on the south side of the plant, shutting down a portion of Hwy 8 to LaSalle Avenue, starting at 6th Street and extending to 11th Street.
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CREWS RESPOND TO CHEMICAL TANK FIRE, EXPLOSION AT HAMMONTON, NEW JERSEY PAVING COMPANY
https://6abc.com/south-jersey-chemical-tank-fire-hammonton-new-jersye-arawak-paving-company-weymouth-road/12404489/
Tags: us_NJ, transportation, explosion, response, asphalt
HAMMONTON, New Jersey (WPVI) -- Firefighters responded to a fire and explosion at a chemical tank in South Jersey.
They declared it a hazardous material situation.
It happened around 11:50 p.m. Monday at the Arawak Paving Company on the 7500 of Weymouth Road in Hammonton, Atlantic County.
The site sits just off the Atlantic City Expressway in an otherwise remote area.
Authorities said the chemical in the burning tank was used for asphalt.
Crews called for multiple water tanker trucks.
The fire has been extinguished.
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SAFD REPORT: CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS 'HEAT SOURCE' IN SEPTEMBER LAB FIRE
https://mesquite-news.com/safd-report-cigarette-lighter-was-heat-source-in-september-lab-fire/
Tags: us_TX, laboratory, follow-up, environmental, ethanol
About $2,000 worth of contents was lost in a small chemical fire in September in a third-floor lab of the Central Academic Building, according to a report from the San Antonio Fire Department.
The fire, reported to SAFD at 5:40 p.m. on Sept. 14, started during a lab in Room 302 of CAB, causing an evacuation of the entire building and canceling classes for the rest of the evening.
The fire was caused by misuse of equipment, according to the 8:31 p.m. report, which described a student conducting an experiment and catching a small plastic beaker of ethanol on fire, along with a small trash bag and a plastic divider.
The heat source, according to the report, was a cigarette lighter.
The BIOL 2421, Introduction to Microbiology, lab was in session at that time, according to JagWire.
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70 EMPLOYEES EVACUATED AFTER CHEMICAL REACTION RESULTS IN 'VAPOR PLUME' INSIDE FACILITY NEAR CARY
https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2022/11/01/70-employees-evacuated-after-chemical-reaction-results-in-vapor-plume-inside-facility-near-cary/
Tags: us_NC, industrial, release, response, unknown_chemical
70 employees were evacuated after chemicals were mixed incorrectly and caused a vapor plume inside a manufacturing plant near Cary Tuesday morning, fire officials said.
The Cary Fire Protection District responded around 7:47 a.m. Tuesday to Wells Concrete, 4012 Northwest Highway in unincorporated Cary, for a call of a structure fire.
Firefighters arrived in five minutes and met with employees, who initially reported there was a fire in the building, according to Cary Fire Protection District Lt. Michael D. Douglass.
A further investigation revealed that there was no fire but instead a hazardous materials incident.
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4 PEOPLE SICKENED, INCLUDING 1 IN CRITICAL CONDITION, IN LAX HAZMAT INCIDENT
https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/national-world/4-people-sickened-including-1-in-critical-condition-in-lax-hazmat-incident/
Tags: us_CA, public, release, injury, carbon_dioxide
At least four people have been sickened, including one who is in “critical condition,” after a carbon dioxide leak at Los Angeles International Airport Monday morning.
The incident was reported around 7 a.m. in the Terminal 8 baggage area, according to a Los Angeles Fire Department news alert.
The leak apparently occurred after a popping sound was heard inside a small utility room at the airport. The four patients were all workers who were in or near the room.
The utility room is equipped with a carbon dioxide fire suppression system that is designed to extinguish a fire without damaging the electrical equipment inside, LAFD Capt. Erik Scott said during a morning news conference.
Three patients, described as two men and a woman, were treated at the scene for minor complaints.
The fourth patient, said to be a man in his 50s, was found pulseless and not breathing inside the utility room, according to the fire department.
“The carbon dioxide displaces the oxygen in the individual’s blood stream and they went into cardiac arrest,” Scott said. He described the Carbon Dioxide as colorless, odorless and tasteless.
The worker was given CPR right away by airport police. “The good news is that individual had a return of spontaneous circulation. What that means, they’re breathing. Their blood is pumping on their own now,” Scott said.
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FIREFIGHTERS ON SCENE INVOLVING MERCURY-RELATED HAZMAT INCIDENT IN SOUTH JORDAN
https://kjzz.com/news/local/firefighters-on-scene-involving-mercury-related-hazmat-incident-in-south-jordan
Tags: us_UT, public, release, response, mercury
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah (KUTV) — Firefighters responded to a mercury spill in South Jordan Monday afternoon. As of Monday evening, crews were still on scene for cleanup efforts.
"Originally it was dispatched as two pounds," said South Jordan Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Lessner. "I don't believe there's that much however."
Lessner said an unknown quantity of mercury spilled from multiple vials in the home.
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KATE THE CHEMIST LIGHTS COD ON FIRE – THE COURIER
https://codcourier.org/kate-the-chemist-lights-cod-on-fire/
Tags: us_TX, education, fire, response, unknown_chemical
Families filled Belushi Performance Hall on Oct. 27 to watch Kate Biberdorf, also known as Kate the Chemist, make gummy worms, build a bubble snowman and breathe fire. Children in the crowd shouted answers to the questions Biberdorf asked as she kept them engaged and energetic through an hour of science experiments.
“This is my last stop on the tour, and it’s the only stop where they’re going to let me play with fire,” Biberdorf said. “Are you excited?” Her question was followed by cheers and applause.
First, Biberdorf introduced herself and her background. She told the audience about the 10th grade chemistry teacher whose passion and energy inspired 15-year-old Biberdorf to become a chemist. After earning her Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry and starting as a professor at The University of Texas at Austin, Biberdorf was itching for more to do. With her boss, she designed an outreach program called Fun With Chemistry.
“I would go out to local Austin schools and blow stuff up and try to get kids excited about science,” Biberdorf said.
This led to Biberdorf doing a monthly television segment, which then led to her getting picked up as “the next Bill Nye” and the birth of her brand, Kate the Chemist.
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NO DANGER TO THE PUBLIC AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK IN BARRON COUNTY
https://www.weau.com/2022/10/31/no-danger-public-after-chemical-leak-barron-county/
Tags: us_WI, public, release, response, other_chemical
BARRON COUNTY, Wis. (WEAU) - A chemical leak occurred at Jennie-O located in Barron County Monday morning.
Highway 8 was temporarily closed and a temporary preventative shelter in place was implemented by the Sheriff’s Department, according to a social post via the Barron County Sheriff’s Department Facebook Page.
According to a media release from the Barron County Sheriff’s Department, preventable shelter in place precautions that the Sheriff’s Department had out have been removed. There is no danger to the public. The media release from the Sheriff’s Department says it was two chemicals that mixed together in a tank on the outside of the building.
The chemicals were later identified in an updated media release from the Barron County Sheriff’s Department as Anatox and Lysine that had been “accidentally mixed together.” Jennie-O immediately evacuated the facility in efforts to protect employees against inhalation hazards.
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33 DRUMS FILLED WITH CHEMICAL LIQUID FOUND IN GOPENG
https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2022/11/845581/33-drums-filled-chemical-liquid-found-gopeng
Tags: Malaysia, public, release, response, waste
IPOH: A total of 33 drums filled with liquid chemicals were found in an open area near the Gopeng Rural Transformation Centre (RTC) near here yesterday evening.
Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) spokesman said the leaking containers were believed to have been illegally dumped by irresponsible parties.
According to the spokesman, the Gopeng Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) received information about the incident at 5 pm and immediately dispatched a team to the location, assisted by the Simpang Pulai Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) and the Pasir Puteh BBP Hazardous Material (Hazmat) team.
"All the drums were found to be leaking and each barrel contained 20 per cent of liquid scheduled waste under the category 'SW 402/ UN 1760.
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NEWPORT NEWS TEACHER LEFT WITH MINOR INJURIES AFTER CHEMISTRY EXPERIMENT FIRE
https://www.wtkr.com/news/newport-news-teacher-left-with-minor-injuries-after-chemistry-experiment-fire
Tags: us_VA, laboratory, fire, injury, unknown_chemical
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A science experiment started a fire Monday and left a Newport News middle school teacher with minor injuries.
It happened at Crittenden Middle School just before 10 a.m. Monday. Fire crews said when they arrived, they saw smoke on the second floor of the school coming from a science lab. Crews told News 3 a chemistry experiment started the fire.
The Newport News Fire Department's Hazardous Materials Team Responded to clear the area, and students were allowed back into school by noon with only certain areas of the school closed off for cleaning.
Crews evaluated eight students who were near the fire when it happened. They were not hurt and were allowed to return to school. The teacher who was treated for minor injuries was released at the scene.
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EP. 101 WHEN SHOULD INCIDENTS CAUSE US TO QUESTION RISK ASSESSMENTS?
https://safetyofwork.com/episodes/ep-101-when-should-incidents-cause-us-to-question-risk-assessments
Tags: Japan, industrial, follow-up, environmental, radiation
This paper reflects on the credibility of nuclear risk assessment in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima meltdown. In democratic states, policymaking around nuclear energy has long been premised on an understanding that experts can objectively and accurately calculate the probability of catastrophic accidents. Yet the Fukushima disaster lends credence to the substantial body of social science research that suggests such calculations are fundamentally unworkable. Nevertheless, the credibility of these assessments appears to have survived the disaster, just as it has resisted the evidence of previous nuclear accidents. This paper looks at why. It argues that public narratives of the Fukushima disaster invariably frame it in ways that allow risk-assessment experts to “disown” it. It concludes that although these narratives are both rhetorically compelling and highly consequential to the governance of nuclear power, they are not entirely credible.
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EVACUATION ORDERS LIFTED FOR RESIDENTS DISPLACED BY SAN JACINTO CHEMICAL SPILL
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/evacuation-orders-lifted-for-san-jacinto-chemical-spill-but-residents-still-encouraged-to-stay-away/
Tags: us_CA, public, release, response, pool_chemicals
Evacuation orders were lifted Sunday morning for residents in a San Jacinto neighborhood that were told to leave after chemicals were found leaking from a storage container.
The chemical spill was first reported around 2:15 a.m. Saturday on the 800 block of Shaver Street.
According to Cal Fire, responding firefighters located pool chemicals leaking from a large shipping container.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for residents in the immediate vicinity of the spill. Additional evacuation warnings were issued to residents in the broader area.
Those warnings and orders remained in place through the night, but the mandatory orders were lifted around 9 a.m. Sunday.
The evacuation warnings remained in place and residents were encouraged to take extra care if and when returning to their homes.
By 12:45 p.m. Sunday, all warnings and orders were lifted
Cal Fire said equipment would be in the area for the duration of the cleanup.
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PFAS FIREFIGHTING CHEMICAL FOUND IN DRINKING WATER AT AVALON AIRPORT FIRE STATION
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-31/pfas-firefighting-chemical-in-drinking-water-at-avalon-airport/101595740
Tags: Australia, industrial, discovery, environmental, other_chemical
The fire station at Avalon Airport has been closed after unsafe levels of PFAS were found in the drinking water.
Key points:
Dozens of firefighters and air traffic controllers are being tested after PFAS was found in their drinking water at Avalon
An investigation is underway into how the chemical entered the drinking water supply
Avalon Airport says the chemical has not been found in the water at the passenger terminal
The union representing aviation firefighters said the firefighting chemical was also detected in the water supply at the air traffic tower south-west of Melbourne.
Airservices Australia, which operates firefighting and air traffic services at the airport, confirmed it had closed the fire station while a new water supply was set up and a deep clean was undertaken.
"Our highest priority is protecting the health and wellbeing of our teams," a spokesperson said.
"Airservices' 30 aviation rescue firefighters and two air traffic controllers stationed at Avalon have been offered expert health advice and free blood testing."
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