Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at 6:44:31 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 (6 articles)
TALLMADGE CIRCLE SHUT DOWN FOLLOWING CRASH
Tags: us_OH, transportation, release, response, other_chemical
FOUR FEARED DEAD, 12 INJURED AS FIRE RAZES CHEMICAL MARKET IN ONITSHA
Tags: Nigeria, public, explosion, death, unknown_chemical
STEELWORKERS TAKE NOTE AS CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD LEADERS VIE TO ‘REBUILD’ AGENCY
Tags: public, follow-up, environmental
EMERGENCY SERVICES RUSH TO MAJOR HOSPITAL AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK AS PARAMEDICS TREAT TWO
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, release, injury, unknown_chemical
AN AMMONIA CLOUD OR LEAK IS IMPACTING THE LOWER VALLEY.
Tags: us_TX, industrial, release, injury, ammonia
GEORGIA CHEMICAL FIRE 'UNDER CONTROL'; EVACUATIONS LIFTED
Tags: us_GA, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical
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TALLMADGE CIRCLE SHUT DOWN FOLLOWING CRASH
https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/traffic/2022/11/09/tallmadge-circle-shut-down-following-crash/69631664007/
Tags: us_OH, transportation, release, response, other_chemical
A suspected drunken driver struck a truck, causing a fuel leak that ended up shutting down Tallmadge Circle on Tuesday evening so a hazmat team could clean up the spill, according to police.
Tallmadge Police Chief Ron Williams said there were no injuries and the hazardous materials team was en route to the scene about 7 p.m. He did estimate when the circle would reopen, but noted traffic in the area has been light.
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FOUR FEARED DEAD, 12 INJURED AS FIRE RAZES CHEMICAL MARKET IN ONITSHA
https://tribuneonlineng.com/four-feared-dead-12-injured-as-fire-razes-chemical-market-in-onitsha/
Tags: Nigeria, public, explosion, death, unknown_chemical
About four people have reportedly died while about 12 persons were said to have sustained various degrees of injury during an explosion at the Onitsha Chemical Market, Onitsha, Anambra State on Tuesday.
The inferno equally destroyed goods and properties worth millions of naira.
After the explosion occurred at about 12:45 pm, a stampede ensued at the market.
Chairman of Onitsha South local government area, Mr Emeka Orji, on getting wind of the incident stormed the area with members of his staff and contacted the Anambra State Fire Service led by Martin Agbili who deplored officers and men of the department from Okpoko in Ogbaru local government area and that of Asaba in Delta State who took over the market.
Also, the Council Chairman Orji contacted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Fegge Rabiu Garuba, who deployed officers and men to the market to guarantee the security of goods and other properties belonging to the traders.
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STEELWORKERS TAKE NOTE AS CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD LEADERS VIE TO ‘REBUILD’ AGENCY
https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/23225-steelworkers-take-note-as-chemical-safety-board-leaders-vie-to-rebuild-agency
Tags: public, follow-up, environmental
Washington — Pledging this past summer to increase agency transparency in fiscal year 2023, Chemical Safety Board interim executive Stephen Owens said to expect regular updates on incident investigations, personnel hiring and other agency developments.
One stakeholder has noticed the change, along with other CSB efforts.
“It’s clear there’s a commitment to reinvigorating the agency and the staff under this new administration,” Steve Sallman, director of United Steelworkers’ environmental, health and safety department, said Oct. 27 during the public comment period of CSB’s most recent public business meeting.
In September, CSB released the dates for each of its FY 2023 business meetings, a notable shift, Sallman said, from the days when the agency was a frequent target for elimination under the Trump administration.
“Our union asked the past administration many times to provide advanced notice of when the CSB’s public business meetings are held so stakeholders could plan accordingly, but those requests were basically ignored,” Sallman said. “We also could not actively participate in the CSB’s public meetings.”
Sworn in Feb. 2 to serve five-year terms on the understaffed CSB, Owens and fellow board member Sylvia Johnson often have spoken of their commitment to transparency and information sharing.
CSB has released three investigation reports since July, Owens pointed out during the meeting, and anticipates releasing three more before the end of the year. Before July, the agency had released one such report in the previous 10 months.
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EMERGENCY SERVICES RUSH TO MAJOR HOSPITAL AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK AS PARAMEDICS TREAT TWO
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11400359/Emergency-services-rush-major-hospital-chemical-leak-paramedics-treat-two.html
Tags: United_Kingdom, industrial, release, injury, unknown_chemical
Emergency services rushed to a major hospital after a chemical leak as on-site medics treated two casualties.
Crews wearing hazmat suits entered the premises before 6pm this evening after being alerted to the leak in Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester.
At least four fire engines were seen at the site on Romsey Road, with firefighters attending from Eastleigh, Redbridge and Romsey.
They worked to contain the five litre leak near to one of the hospital's operating theatres, a spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) told MailOnline.
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AN AMMONIA CLOUD OR LEAK IS IMPACTING THE LOWER VALLEY.
https://www.ktsm.com/news/ammonia-leak-or-cloud-closes-north-loop-impacts-nearby-epcc-campus/
Tags: us_TX, industrial, release, injury, ammonia
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – An ammonia leak is impacting the Lower Valley.
It happened about 6 p.m. at Farmers Select Dairy at 7321 N. Loop and is impacting the nearby El Paso Community College Valle Verde campus.
One person was transported to the hospital.
The community college issued a shelter in place order and then decided to evacuate the Valle Verde campus as much as possible.
Deputy Fire Chief Rick Carson said a few people had to be evacuated and firefighters are working with maintenance crews at the diary to completely shut off the leak.
“It is an ongoing situation,” he said. “You can still smell a few pockets of ammonia, which is to be expected.”
Fire officials are urging residents near the leak to shelter in place, turn off their heating and cooling systems temporarily and close windows and doors.
Temporary shelter is available at North Loop and Hawkins, if needed.
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GEORGIA CHEMICAL FIRE 'UNDER CONTROL'; EVACUATIONS LIFTED
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/neighborhoods-evacuated-burning-georgia-chemical-plant-92793536
Tags: us_GA, industrial, explosion, injury, unknown_chemical
SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Residents were being allowed to return home Monday night after firefighters made progress battling a massive blaze at a chemical plant in Georgia, fire officials said.
At a Monday evening briefing, Glynn County Commission Chairman Wayne Neal said the evacuation orders were being lifted.
“At this point we think everything is under control and contained,” Neal said.
An estimated 100 households were ordered to evacuate Monday morning within a 1-mile radius of the Symrise chemical plant, mostly because of potential smoke hazards. There had also been explosions at the site.
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Capt. Eric Prosswimmer said firefighters had extinguished most of the blaze, but planned to put another layer of foam on the site Monday evening. The state fire marshal's office will investigate where the fire started, he said.
Emergency responders safely evacuated a handful of employees working when the fire broke out about 4 a.m. at the plant outside the port city of Brunswick, said Prosswimmer, who was on the scene with his fire crews from Jacksonville, Florida, sent to help battle the flames.
The fire sent a large plume of thick smoke into the air from the plant about 70 miles (113 kilometers) south of Savannah. The smoke died down for a few hours late Monday morning, then flared up again for a short period in the afternoon — forcing firefighters to back away until it subsided.
Prosswimmer said heat from the fire had caused three metal tanks containing chemicals to explode. Fighting the blaze was further complicated when firefighters depleted more than 1 million gallons (3.8 million liters) of water stored in tanks on the site. Tanker trucks filled with water were brought to the scene, where firefighters also used foam to battle the flames.
Prosswimmer said one firefighter suffering from exhaustion had been taken to a hospital and was in stable condition. There were no other injuries.
The plant is operated by Symrise, a German company that produces fragrances, flavoring and other ingredients for foods and cosmetics. The Georgia plant manufactures fragrance ingredients used in perfumes, detergents and household cleaners, Smyrise spokesperson Christina Witter said.
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