Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 6:16:00 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 (7 articles)
JUST IN: TOXIC GAS FROM BATTERIES WAS RELEASED INTO BALLSTON METRO STATION THIS SUMMER
Tags: us_WA, public, follow-up, environmental, batteries
EXPLOSIVES, DRUG LAB RULED OUT IN DEADLY TEXAS EXPLOSION
Tags: us_TX, public, follow-up, death, propane
TRUST IN SHORT SUPPLY FOLLOWING HEATED NAVY TOWN HALL OVER TOXIC FOAM SPILL AT RED HILL
Tags: us_HI, public, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical
VIC DIRECTORS CHARGED OVER CHEMICAL SPILL
Tags: Australia, public, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical
CARPER APPLAUDS CONFIRMATION OF CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD NOMINEES
Tags: us_DC, public, follow-up, environmental
MERIDIAN FIRE DEPARTMENT WORKING TO CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
Tags: us_ID, industrial, discovery, environmental, diesel
DANGEROUS EXPLOSION AS SOON AS THE CHEMICAL BOX WAS SHAKEN, STIR IN THE AREA
Tags: India, industrial, explosion, death, unknown_chemical
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JUST IN: TOXIC GAS FROM BATTERIES WAS RELEASED INTO BALLSTON METRO STATION THIS SUMMER
https://www.arlnow.com/2022/12/13/just-in-toxic-gas-from-batteries-was-released-into-ballston-metro-station-this-summer/
Tags: us_WA, public, follow-up, environmental, batteries
A hazardous materials situation at the Ballston Metro station over the summer likely exposed riders to toxic gas from batteries.
That’s according to a report at this afternoon’s Washington Metrorail Safety Commission meeting.
As detailed in WMSC’s Twitter thread, the incident happened the evening of Thursday, Aug. 11 and involved old backup batteries in the station’s Train Control Room that were boiling over due to improper charging. On top of that, gas was released into the station because of a faulty ventilation system, according to WMSC.
A fire alarm went off after gas was detected coming from the room, prompting an evacuation and a fire department response that was later upgraded to a full hazmat response. But at least one train stopped at the station and let out riders during that time, exposing them to the toxic gas, WMSC said.
The hazmat response was noted on social media by at least two local journalists, but did not otherwise get much attention at the time.
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EXPLOSIVES, DRUG LAB RULED OUT IN DEADLY TEXAS EXPLOSION
https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/explosives-drug-lab-ruled-out-in-deadly-texas-explosion/
Tags: us_TX, public, follow-up, death, propane
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A drug lab and explosive devices have been ruled out as the possible causes of a deadly explosion that killed four people in San Antonio last week, authorities said Tuesday. They said they are still investigating other possible causes, including potential problems with a propane tank.
The explosion just before midnight Friday destroyed K-Bar Services, which San Antonio Fire Department officials described on Tuesday as an underground residence and construction business located on 75 acres (30 hectares) of property. About 100 vehicles, including construction machinery, cars and recreational vehicles, are also located on the property, the officials said at a news conference.
Wet weather, muddy conditions, structural issues and a large radius of evidence produced by the magnitude of the blast have slowed the investigation, they said.
"It was absolutely unsettling as far as the devastation that we witnessed," said San Antonio Fire Department Chief Charles Hood. "As far as first responders, we don't see things like this type of explosion inside of a building like this."
Witnesses who said they had been on the property prior to the explosion told officials that they could smell gas, and a propane tank on the property had been worked on recently, the fire officials said. They added that foul play has not been ruled out and the investigation is ongoing.
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TRUST IN SHORT SUPPLY FOLLOWING HEATED NAVY TOWN HALL OVER TOXIC FOAM SPILL AT RED HILL
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2022/12/13/trust-short-supply-following-heated-navy-town-hall-over-toxic-foam-spill-red-hill/
Tags: us_HI, public, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - An “inadvertent mishap.”
That’s how the Navy is describing the recent spill of a chemical used to fight fires at Red Hill.
What went wrong is still unclear, but Vice Admiral John Wade, commander of the Joint Task Force Red Hill, said they have ordered an investigation to find out.
Wade said the 1,300-gallon spill happened during maintenance work in November. Crews were testing the fire safety system to prepare for the defueling process.
Wade called it a significant setback.
“One, I believe it raises valid concerns for all stakeholders in the community, our elected officials, everybody about safety and controls to reduce risk,” said Wade. “But the other is it doesn’t help one bit for rebuilding trust with the community and also with our elected officials who will hold us accountable in all other concern parts.”
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VIC DIRECTORS CHARGED OVER CHEMICAL SPILL
https://au.news.yahoo.com/vic-directors-charged-over-chemical-022638928.html
Tags: Australia, public, follow-up, environmental, other_chemical
Three directors of a Victorian company have been charged following a large chemical spill in Melbourne's southwest.
About 13,000 litres of detergent was spilled on March 6 this year, polluting Cherry Creek and Cherry Lake in Altona North.
The Environment Protection Authority alleges MTAW Group Pty Ltd, trading as Melbourne Transport and Warehousing, was responsible for the spill.
The authority in October charged the company with failing to take all reasonably practicable action to reduce the risk of a spill or leak of dangerous goods stored at its Laverton North site.
On Wednesday, the company's three directors were also separately charged over the incident.
"The General Environmental Duty makes protection of the environment everyone's business and our enforcement action sends a strong message to polluters that we will hold them to account," authority chief executive Lee Miezis said.
"Every Victorian, as an individual as well as our companies, have a responsibility to protect the environment from harm."
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CARPER APPLAUDS CONFIRMATION OF CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD NOMINEES
https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases-democratic?ID=D1019D37-1F3D-4299-99B3-7DA49573C5CA
Tags: us_DC, public, follow-up, environmental
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), today praised the confirmations of Stephen A. Owens to be Chairperson and Catherine J.K. Sandoval to be a member of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB).
“I am beyond pleased that the Chemical Safety Board now has a new chair to conduct its business,” said Senator Carper. “While small in size, the CSB plays a vital role in protecting workers and communities across our nation from industrial chemical accidents. The confirmations of Mr. Owens and Ms. Sandoval come at a time when the CSB desperately needs leadership that can help the agency deliver on its important mission for the American people. I congratulate them both and look forward to working with the Biden Administration to fill CSB’s two remaining vacancies.”
Last month, both Owens and Sandoval came before the EPW Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight to answer questions on their nominations.
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MERIDIAN FIRE DEPARTMENT WORKING TO CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/community/local-meridian-fire-department-reducing-chemical-exposure/277-cd3cc152-2cf4-40e9-a18d-55db6868e3fa
Tags: us_ID, industrial, discovery, environmental, diesel
MERIDIAN, Idaho — When Meridian Fire Department Chief Kris Blume got into the career almost 25 years ago, he did not think about the health risks.
“I never had even an awareness that cancer was something that we needed to be aware of,” he said.
But cancer risk is definitely something he is aware of now. A recent 2022 study from the International Agency for Research on Cancer found occupational exposure as a firefighter causes cancer.
Previously, the IARC believed firefighting was “possibly” carcinogenic. Blume said he is trying to minimize exposure to harmful chemicals, especially as the city builds new fire stations around Meridian and orders more trucks.
He said the dangers of the profession are not limited to breathing in diesel exhaust from the fire vehicles, working in burning buildings and being exposed to soot.
“It’s the cumulative effect of all of those small things over a career that leads to a diagnosis of occupational cancer,” Blume said.
Decreasing the rate of cancer among firefighters is both a local and nation-wide effort, he said. Purchasing cutting-edge technology for their trucks and making sure all surfaces are easy to clean helps decrease exposure.
The Meridian Fire Department also uses clean capture diesel systems, which prevent diesel “particulate matter” from being emitted into the station’s garage bay. Blume said they are also evaluating all of their gear.
Firefighter paramedic Chris Goodnight said he is grateful for all the precautions.
“We’re doing everything that we can on our end, whether it’s washing our gear, doing gross de-con at scenes, and not bringing our dirty gear and our dirty equipment back into our trucks and engines,” he said.
Goodnight was under no illusions when starting this career. Despite the potential health risks, he said helping others makes the career worth it.
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DANGEROUS EXPLOSION AS SOON AS THE CHEMICAL BOX WAS SHAKEN, STIR IN THE AREA
https://english.newstracklive.com/news/dangerous-explosion-as-soon-as-the-chemical-box-was-shaken-created-a-stir-ta322-1260751-1.html
Tags: India, industrial, explosion, death, unknown_chemical
Hyderabad: One person was injured in an explosion in the Bada Bazar area of Nizamabad in Telangana. The SHO of One Town police station said that as soon as the news of the blast was received, the police reached the spot and took the injured person to the hospital. He is currently undergoing treatment.
SHO Vijay Babu said that the incident took place at 10 pm. Investigations so far have revealed that the man had shaken the box filled with the chemical, after which it suddenly exploded. The man was injured in the accident. A team of the fire brigade was called to the spot to douse the fire.
Earlier, seven workers were injured in a blast at a chemical factory in the Nalgonda district. The incident took place at Hindis Lab in Veliminadu village of Chityala block. The explosion caused a huge fire in the plant and thick smoke spread in the entire area. As soon as the news was received, fire tenders reached the plant and after a lot of hard work, the fire was brought under control. At the same time, there was a chemical blast near Gooliguda Gol Mosque in the Afzalganj police station area of Hyderabad. One person died in this blast. Another person was injured in the incident.
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