Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at 7:22:20 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 (3 articles)
THIRTY-SIX KILLED IN CENTRAL CHINA FACTORY FIRE: STATE MEDIA
Tags: China, industrial, fire, death, unknown_chemical
GRESHAM FIRE HAZMAT HELPS CLEAR HEMP PLANT FIRE IN SHERMAN COUNTY
Tags: us_OR, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
US SENATE DISCUSS CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD WITH NOMINEES
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, unknown_chemical
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THIRTY-SIX KILLED IN CENTRAL CHINA FACTORY FIRE: STATE MEDIA
https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/3/197369/Thirty-six-killed-in-central-China-factory-fire:-state-media%C2%A0
Tags: China, industrial, fire, death, unknown_chemical
Thirty-six people were killed and two are missing after a fire at a plant in central China, state media said Tuesday, citing local authorities.
The fire took place "at a plant in Anyang City, central China's Henan Province on Monday afternoon", news agency Xinhua reported without sharing further details.
State media said rescue services first received reports of a fire at 4:22 pm (0822 GMT) at Kaixinda Trading Co., Ltd.
"After receiving the alarm, the municipal fire rescue detachment immediately dispatched forces to the scene," CCTV reported.
The Standard Channel
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"Public security, emergency response, municipal administration, and power supply units rushed to the scene at the same time to carry out emergency handling and rescue work," it said, adding the fire had been extinguished by around 11 pm local time.
In addition to the dead and missing, two are in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, CCTV added.
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GRESHAM FIRE HAZMAT HELPS CLEAR HEMP PLANT FIRE IN SHERMAN COUNTY
https://pamplinmedia.com/go/42-news/564377-452149-gresham-fire-hazmat-helps-clear-hemp-plant-fire-in-sherman-county?wallit_nosession=1
Tags: us_OR, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
Building in Grass Valley ignites, town briefly evacuated from threat of chemical explosion
A Gresham Fire hazmat team was sent to help clean up the smoldering remains of a hemp plant in Grass Valley that was engulfed in flames Sunday, Nov. 20, leading to evacuations and five burned employees.
The building caught fire Sunday afternoon, and due to the threat of a potential explosion from combustible chemicals, the town was evacuated. The building burned for hours and was fully engulfed in flames, while several small explosions were reported throughout the night.
By Monday morning the fire had died down. The Oregon State Fire Marshal, DEQ, and hazmat teams from Gresham and Umatilla responded to the plant to help clear the building of dangerous chemicals and determine the cause of the fire.
During the evacuation, residents stayed at an overnight shelter at Sherman High School set up by the American Red Cross.
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US SENATE DISCUSS CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD WITH NOMINEES
https://cen.acs.org/safety/industrial-safety/US-senate-discuss-Chemical-Safety/100/i42
Tags: public, discovery, environmental, unknown_chemical
The current state and future goals of the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board became the focus of a Nov. 17 Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing called ostensibly to consider two board nominees.
Steve Owens has been nominated for CSB chair and Catherine J.K. Sandoval for a member slot. Owens has been a board member since February but was recently nominated to chair the board, and Sandoval was nominated in June.
For the past 2 years, the board has had only 1–2 of what should be 5 members. Although the senators supported the CSB’s role in investigating accidents, they quizzed Owens and Sandoval over delays in investigations and reports, as well as other shortcomings.
Owens acknowledged the problems while stressing recent improvements. He noted that, after a 10-month gap, the CSB recently completed three long-delayed reports. He also promised that three more reports would be out by year’s end.
Senators also criticized Owens for staff attrition, noting staff is half of what it was a decade ago. In response, Owens pointed to a greater push for staffing and new hires that include a new chief information officer, other cybersecurity and information technology experts, an additional investigator, and other specialists. He said more hires are in the works.
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