Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Monday, December 19, 2022 at 6:18:39 AM
A service of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
Connecting Chemistry and Safety at http://www.dchas.org
All article summaries and tags are archived at http://pinboard.in/u:dchas
Table of Contents (18 articles)
NESREA PREVENTS 15 VESSELS FROM BRINGING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INTO NIGERIA
Tags: Nigeria, public, discovery, environmental, waste
SMALL FIRE AT WESTLAKE POLYMERS OVERNIGHT
Tags: us_LA, industrial, explosion, response, plastics
HAZMAT TEAM FINDS ELEVATED CARBON MONOXIDE LEVELS AT MEDICAL LAB
Tags: Canada, laboratory, release, injury, carbon_monoxide, propane
CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE EXTINGUISHED SATURDAY MORNING IN RINCON
Tags: us_GA, industrial, fire, response, oxidizer, runoff
GROVELAND FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPILL
Tags: us_MA, transportation, release, response, hydraulic_fluid
GOODS WORTH OVER N300M DESTROYED AS FIRE RAISES CHEMICAL WAREHOUSE ONITSHA
Tags: Nigeria, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
RESIDENTS EVACUATED, 1 IN CUSTODY AFTER ‘POSSIBLE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS’ SUSPECTED INSIDE NEWPORT NEWS HOME
Tags: us_VA, public, discovery, response, unknown_chemical
TRAFFIC ALERT: ALL LANES OF I-65 TO DETOUR THROUGH ARDMORE AS WORK TO CLEAR CRASH SCENE CONTINUES
Tags: us_AL, transportation, release, response, flammables, sodium
IOWA DNR EMERGENCY ORDER STOPS C6-ZERO FROM OPERATING, CLAIMS WATER SOURCES CONTAMINATED
Tags: us_IA, industrial, follow-up, injury, flammables, runoff
TXJ TO PAY $2 MILLION FOR HAZARDOUS WASTE DUMPING IN CALIFORNIA
Tags: us_CA, public, follow-up, environmental, batteries, cleaners, corrosives, flammables, waste
COUNTY SEEKS INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO MARTINEZ REFINERY RELEASE OVER THANKSGIVING
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, dust, metals
CHEMICAL DISCOVERY LEADS TO EVACUATION IN NATCHEZ
Tags: us_MS, public, discovery, response, unknown_chemical
HYDERABAD: CHEMICAL EXPLOSION AT DUMP YARD LEAVES 2 INJURED
Tags: India, public, explosion, injury, solvent
TRUCKING COMPANY SENT VIOLATION NOTICE IN WEST VIRGINIA CHEMICAL SPILL
Tags: us_WV, transportation, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
C6-ZERO EMPLOYEE: PLANT OFTEN HAD FIRES, CHEMICALS ON THE GROUND AND DIDN’T PAY EMPLOYEES
Tags: us_IA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, dye, explosives
CSB RELEASES UPDATE INTO FATAL EXPLOSION AT POLYMERS RESIN PLANT
Tags: us_OH, industrial, follow-up, death, plastics, solvent
2 SENT TO HOSPITAL AFTER 'HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT': AURORA FD
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, injury, unknown_chemical
NEW ANALYSIS FINDS 30% OF CHEMICAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS
Tags: public, discovery, environmental
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NESREA PREVENTS 15 VESSELS FROM BRINGING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INTO NIGERIA
https://businesspost.ng/general/nesrea-prevents-15-vessels-from-bringing-hazardous-materials-into-nigeria/
Tags: Nigeria, public, discovery, environmental, waste
As Nigeria continues to tackle the proliferation of substandard products, the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) disclosed that it turned back 15 vessels carrying hazardous materials into Nigeria.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Director-General of the agency, Mr Aliyu Jauro, explained that the vessels were laden with chemicals and electronics harmful to the environment.
He cautioned that government would not allow any importer to turn Nigeria into a dumping ground for hazardous materials.
“It is allowed to import electronics into Nigeria, but such electronics must be functional and safe.
“Nigeria is not a dumping ground where any waste can be allowed in.
“Most of the items arriving in Nigeria are not good and don’t function well, so only those that are functional and are safe are allowed to be discharged.
“People are able to bring hazardous items into Nigeria because the country’s borders are porous.
“As an agency, we test imported equipment to ensure that they are working perfectly and they are safe for the ecosystem,” he said.
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SMALL FIRE AT WESTLAKE POLYMERS OVERNIGHT
https://www.kplctv.com/2022/12/18/small-fire-westlake-polymers-overnight/
Tags: us_LA, industrial, explosion, response, plastics
Lake Charles, LA (KPLC) - There was a small fire at Westlake Polymers overnight.
Authorities said there was a small release with the fire, but no offsite impact.
No injuries were reported.
Several viewers reported hearing the explosion.
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HAZMAT TEAM FINDS ELEVATED CARBON MONOXIDE LEVELS AT MEDICAL LAB
https://ottawa.citynews.ca/local-news/hazmat-team-finds-elevated-carbon-monoxide-levels-at-medical-lab-6264131
Tags: Canada, laboratory, release, injury, carbon_monoxide, propane
Ottawa Fire Services responded to a call from the Dynacare medical services lab on Peter Morand Crescent, east of the The Ottawa Hospital General Campus, after a report of a propane smell in the building.
An individual from the lab called Ottawa Fires Services (OFS) around 7:53 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, reporting the five people in the lab could smell propane and were experiencing symptoms of "watering eyes." The building was evacuated and the OFS Hazadous Materials (HazMat) team dispatched.
The HazMat team discovered elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the building, peaking at 30 part per million. An acceptable level of carbon monoxide is considered to be less than 25 parts per million as an average over an eight hour period, according to the Ontario regulation for occupational exposure limits.
A fire crew inspecting the roof found a faulty heating system to be the cause. The system was shut down and tagged for inspection.
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CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE EXTINGUISHED SATURDAY MORNING IN RINCON
https://www.wsav.com/crime-safety/chemical-plant-fire-in-rincon-extinguished-saturday-morning/
Tags: us_GA, industrial, fire, response, oxidizer, runoff
RINCON, Ga (WSAV) — A fire at a chemical plant in Rincon could produce an unpleasant rotten egg smell this afternoon.
According to officials, the Rincon Fire Department (RFD) and Effingham County Fire and Rescue (ECFR) responded to the incident at DRT America on the morning of December 17. When crews arrived, they were met with a large amount of fire billowing from the ruptured fuel/oxidizer tank.
Although the smell may be unpleasant, officials say that residents are not in danger. ECFR Chief Clint Hodges said that the air quality will be monitored and water runoff disposed of by a private contractor.
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GROVELAND FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPILL
https://jgpr.net/2022/12/17/groveland-fire-department-responds-to-hazardous-materials-spill/
Tags: us_MA, transportation, release, response, hydraulic_fluid
GROVELAND – Chief Robert Valentine reports that the Groveland Fire Department responded to a small hazardous materials spill on Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday, Dec. 17, at about 12:10 p.m., the Groveland Fire Department was dispatched to Seven Star Road for a report of chemical spill. Upon arrival, first responders learned that a Town of Groveland road sander suffered a mechanical problem and spilled hydraulic fluid on the roadway.
Groveland firefighters, assisted by the Groveland Department of Public Works, used granular absorbents and specially designed absorbent pads to contain and collect the hydraulic fluid.
The total spill is estimated at about 10 gallons. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has been notified.
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GOODS WORTH OVER N300M DESTROYED AS FIRE RAISES CHEMICAL WAREHOUSE ONITSHA
https://www.gistmania.com/talk/topic,551148.0.html
Tags: Nigeria, industrial, fire, response, unknown_chemical
A chemical warehouse located at No. 4 Ajasi Street Onitsha, Onitsha North Local Government Area Anambra, owned by a widow, Mrs Mary Mazeli, was reportedly destroyed by a fire in the early hours of Saturday.
According to Vanguard, an eye witness, Mrs Agom Iweanya (nee Mazeli,) said the fire started around 2 am and destroyed equipments, generator and grinding machine.
According to Mrs. Agom Iweanya, “The building belongs to my late father and it is being managed now by my mother Mrs. Mary Mazeli, who is aged now and indisposed to talk to the press.
“It was around 12am or some minutes past that time that somebody raised the alarm that smoke was coming out from the warehouse. Before we came out because we are living behind the warehouse, fire had engulfed the warehouse and all the trading shops attached to the building.
“You know that this Ajasa Street market is where you can get all type of foods stuffs and ingredient used in cooking by families, unlike Osee Okwodu Market, next to it and known for other house hold goods and beverages sales where you have block stores.
“As the fire started spreading to shops attached to this our house, housing the chemical shop, people started calling the men of the state fire service who came and put it off before it speed to other buildings.
Although it was only the chemical warehouse that got burnt, but it affected other shops belonging to traders of food stuffs, and other cooking materials.
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RESIDENTS EVACUATED, 1 IN CUSTODY AFTER ‘POSSIBLE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS’ SUSPECTED INSIDE NEWPORT NEWS HOME
https://www.yahoo.com/news/residents-evacuated-1-custody-possible-224500190.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAACIB7XHnQbwrvVi1u8miObTFl5DGyK0avUloOcvT8e-gE7UY6mgD1MUfkFSuFwb8ye6CueafqskPj3v83YQ-DGDPzqTkFgSti25eZGqD1nqgVv6qfo4NZzc8gJQv5K4AyiUCAK5j2YdIestnwmJp2Tz1VS49IyA2ahNrxEKIO_50
Tags: us_VA, public, discovery, response, unknown_chemical
Residents were evacuated from their homes Friday as police investigate potentially hazardous materials inside a Newport News home.
Newport News police, the fire department and federal partners responded to a “tactical situation” at a residence at the 900 block of 12th Street.
“Possible hazardous materials” are suspected of being inside the home, police said, prompting the evacuation of nearby residences. Officials did not indicate what the hazardous materials may be.
The person police believe to be responsible is currently in custody at the Norfolk City Jail on warrants obtained earlier this week by Old Dominion Police Department.
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TRAFFIC ALERT: ALL LANES OF I-65 TO DETOUR THROUGH ARDMORE AS WORK TO CLEAR CRASH SCENE CONTINUES
https://www.waaytv.com/news/traffic-alert-all-lanes-of-i-65-to-detour-through-ardmore-as-work-to-clear/article_80af2660-7d8c-11ed-aa6d-8b8e7d5f4d19.html
Tags: us_AL, transportation, release, response, flammables, sodium
Emergency crews are still on the scene of a crash Friday morning that involved a tractor-trailer carrying a highly flammable and volatile chemical solution.
Ardmore Volunteer Fire Department said as of 4 p.m., they were ready to begin trying to move the truck, but in order to do so safely, they need to divert traffic in all lanes of Interstate 65 away from the area near the Alabama-Tennessee state line.
Northbound motorists will be directed to Exit 361 (Elkmont), where they can turn right on Thach Road, then left at Alabama 251 and left again at Main Street in Ardmore. Staying on Main Street will bring motorists back to I-65 at Exit 1 in Tennessee.
Southbound motorists will be directed to Exit 1 (Ardmore) in Tennessee, where they can turn left onto Main Street, then right at Jones Avenue and again at Alabama 53 to rejoin I-65 at Exit 365 in Alabama.
A representative with the Ardmore VFD said the tractor-trailer was carrying sodium methylate solutions in alcohol. The NOAA Office of Response and Restoration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Emergency Management describe the chemical as highly flammable and water-reactive, with the capability to "form explosive mixtures with air."
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IOWA DNR EMERGENCY ORDER STOPS C6-ZERO FROM OPERATING, CLAIMS WATER SOURCES CONTAMINATED
https://www.kcrg.com/2022/12/16/iowa-dnr-issues-emergency-order-c6-zero-following-explosion/
Tags: us_IA, industrial, follow-up, injury, flammables, runoff
MARENGO, Iowa (KCRG) - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued an emergency order to stop C6-Zero from operating in the state of Iowa after its plant in Marengo exploded and injured more than ten people last week.
The order said the facility is “a clear threat to public health and the environment” and another “catastrophic event” is possible because the department doesn’t know what flammable chemicals and gases remain inside the damaged building.
This emergency order also said large run-off pools of contaminated water are flowing into Iowa’s groundwater and the Iowa River, which the report said is a water source for Iowa City and other municipalities. It also said the state tried to regulate the facility multiple times over the last two years, including days before the explosion.
According to C6-Zero, the company has the ability to turn used roof shingles into oil, fiberglass and sand. The company said it creates oil from dipping the shingle into a solution than putting into a machine. According to this report, an employee for C6 Zero told Iowa DNR it expected to process 800 tons of shingles per day with a storage capacity of 2,400 tons of shingles.
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TXJ TO PAY $2 MILLION FOR HAZARDOUS WASTE DUMPING IN CALIFORNIA
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/tjx-ordered-to-pay-2-million-to-california-counties-for-hazardous-waste/103-2abbac82-1b3c-4827-8c2b-effec60d48b4
Tags: us_CA, public, follow-up, environmental, batteries, cleaners, corrosives, flammables, waste
CALIFORNIA, USA — The parent company of TJ Maxx, Home Goods and Marshalls has been ordered by a state judge Friday to pay over $2 million for improperly disposing of hazardous waste in its California facilities.
TJX, a Massachusetts-based retail company with over 300 locations across the California, was sued in October by 38 California Counties — along with the city of Los Angeles and the City of San Diego — for improperly disposing of goods with hazardous materials into normal facility trash bins, which end up in municipal landfills.
Local facilities effected by the unlawful dumping are located in San Joaquin County, Stanislaus County, Tuolumne County and others.
These materials include batteries, aerosol products, electronic devices, cleaning agents, ignitable liquids and other flammable, reactive, toxic and corrosive materials as noted in court documents from the trial.
This violated numerous state health codes resulting high risk of environmental harm, according to the San Joaquin District Attorney's Office.
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COUNTY SEEKS INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO MARTINEZ REFINERY RELEASE OVER THANKSGIVING
https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/martinez-refinery-release-thanksgiving-contra-costa-county-seeks-investigation/
Tags: us_CA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, dust, metals
MARTINEZ – Contra Costa Health (CCH) is recommending that the county lead an independent, community-involved investigation into November's hazardous material release at Martinez Refining Company (MRC).
The release, which started Thanksgiving evening, blanketed the surrounding community in metal-laden dust and wasn't reported to the county health department, which confirmed it with the company days later after hearing about it from residents on social media.
In a statement released late Wednesday, CCH said it will ask the Contra Costa County Industrial Safety Ordinance (ISO) Ad Hoc Committee, which is appointed by the county Board of Supervisors, for the investigation.
CCH said it notified MRC that, based on its initial investigation, it has determined the Nov. 24-25 release was a Major Chemical Accident or Release (MCAR), a legal designation allowing CCH to thoroughly investigate the cause of the release through an independent investigation. The department will also perform followup work to fill safety gaps, and publicly report its activities.
CCH told MRC in a letter Wednesday that the refinery violated state law and local policy when it failed to report the airborne release of more than 20 tons of "spent catalyst," a substance that laboratory testing later showed to contain elevated levels of heavy metals.
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CHEMICAL DISCOVERY LEADS TO EVACUATION IN NATCHEZ
https://www.wlbt.com/2022/12/15/chemical-discovery-leads-evacuation-natchez/
Tags: us_MS, public, discovery, response, unknown_chemical
NATCHEZ, Miss. (WLBT) - The Historic Natchez Foundation had to be evacuated Thursday after a chemical was discovered.
The Natchez Police Department is now working with federal agencies to test the substance to determine exactly what it is.
Evacuations began around 11 a.m. after police got a call about an “unknown chemical.”
Officials at the building were doing an inventory of donations when the discovery was made.
Out of an abundance of caution, police evacuated the building and surrounding streets, including Commerce Street between State and Main Streets as well as Main Street from South Union to Commerce Street.
Emergency Management Director Brad Bradford says his agency will be awaiting test results from the national guard.
The Historic Natchez Foundation works to improve the history and development of the city through the rehabilitation of historic properties, according to its website.
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HYDERABAD: CHEMICAL EXPLOSION AT DUMP YARD LEAVES 2 INJURED
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/hyderabad-chemical-explosion-at-dump-yard-leaves-2-injured20221215222859/
Tags: India, public, explosion, injury, solvent
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], December 15 (ANI): Two persons were injured after a bottle of thinner exploding led to a chemical explosion in a dump yard in Hyderabad.
The Head of the Clues team, Dr Venkanna told ANI that the bottle of thinner exploded in a dump yard after it was left closed.
"A bottle of thinner exploded in the dump yard after somebody left it closed," he said.
The police informed that both the persons injured in the explosion are out of danger now.
"A 45-year-old man and his 15-year-old son were injured in the explosion, they are undergoing treatment in the hospital and are out of danger," he added.
Further details are underway in the case. (ANI)
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TRUCKING COMPANY SENT VIOLATION NOTICE IN WEST VIRGINIA CHEMICAL SPILL
https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/trucking-company-sent-violation-notice-in-west-virginia-chemical-spill/
Tags: us_WV, transportation, follow-up, environmental, unknown_chemical
KANAWHA COUNTY, WV (WOWK) – The legal battle surrounding a chemical spill in the Paint Creek areas continues in Kanawha County.
Kanawha County Commissioners say a Final Notice of Violation was served to Dennis West of Gadsden, Gillard and West, LLC. Dennis West was the driving for the trucking company when his truck crashed on the West Virginia Turnpike near Pax on Aug. 24, 2022, causing the chemical spill and closing part of the West Virginia Turnpike for nearly 20 hours. West, from South Carolina, was arrested on suspicion of DUI following the crash, authorities said at the time of his arrest.
Commissioners say the chemical that spilled into Skitter Creek, which flows into Paint Creek, was a surfactant called Empigen AS/F90, which is not soluble in water. The spill created what the commission calls a “safety hazard and public nuisance” that negatively impacted residents and property in the area.
“We are committed to holding the trucking company responsible for this headache that has been affecting the people of Paint Creek for months now,” said Commission President Kent Carper.
The commission says they are asking the trucking company to respond to the Final Notice with their plan to clean the spill site within 10 days of receiving the letter.
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C6-ZERO EMPLOYEE: PLANT OFTEN HAD FIRES, CHEMICALS ON THE GROUND AND DIDN’T PAY EMPLOYEES
https://www.kcrg.com/2022/12/16/c6-zero-employee-plant-often-had-fires-chemicals-ground-didnt-pay-employees/
Tags: us_IA, industrial, follow-up, environmental, dye, explosives
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - Before an explosion at C6-Zero’s plant in Marengo, Logan Homer said he was driving to confront C6-Zero′s co-founder Howard Brand because he wasn’t fully paid for more than a month’s worth of work.
“I actually ended up losing a house, because of him [Brand] not paying me,” he said.
Homer wasn’t surprised the plant, which recycled roof shingles into oil along with other products exploded. He described to TV9 a plant with multiple problems creating safety hazards for employees including fires happening every other day due to machine malfunctions, chemical leaks, puddles of diesel oil across the plant’s floor and workers not having proper safety equipment like safety harnesses and hard hats.
Marengo Police Chief Ben Gray said on Tuesday the sprinkler system in C6-Zero’s plant wasn’t activated and hydrants on the property were not working. He said the reasons those fire safety protections weren’t working is part of their investigation, which includes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the State Fire Marshall’s Office.
According to documents from the city of Marengo, which our KCRG-TV9 i9 Investigative Team received, firefighters spent around two hours responding to another fire in October. Those records show this was the only time firefighters responded to a fire in the plant, which was caused by a malfunctioning machine.
Homer said staff members would often use fire extinguishers to put out fires before they got out of control, like the fires on Thursday and in October.
According to city officials, the city of Marengo learned C6-Zero was using chemicals after the first fire in October. More than a month later, officials said they still didn’t know about the chemicals used in the building because the company did not file a required form called a Tier Two. Chief Gray said the fire department has filed a claim with C6-Zero’s insurance to avoid paying for cleaning oil stains, which could cost the city around $80,000.
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CSB RELEASES UPDATE INTO FATAL EXPLOSION AT POLYMERS RESIN PLANT
https://www.powderbulksolids.com/industrial-fires-explosions/csb-releases-investigation-update-fatal-explosion-polymers-resin-plant
Tags: us_OH, industrial, follow-up, death, plastics, solvent
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released an update into its ongoing investigation of a fire and explosion at the Yenkin-Majestic OPC Polymers resin plant in Columbus, OH on April 8, 2021.
The update provides a detailed incident description, background information on the facility and production, as well as a history of the equipment. The large explosion and fire led to one fatality and injured eight others.
“This was a very serious incident which led to a fatality, several injuries, and serious damage to the facility and the surrounding community,” said CSB interim executive Steve Owens. “This update provides important information about the events leading up to this incident while our investigation is ongoing.”
The CSB update provides details of the events on the night of the incident. Chemical reactions occurred when a process in a unit referred to as kettle 3 was nearly complete. The CSB determined that during the addition of a solvent to kettle 3, an agitator (stirring mechanism) had not been running for more than an hour. When a worker realized that the agitator had shut down, he turned it on and the product inside the kettle began to quickly vaporize. This increased pressure inside the kettle, which continued to rise until a mixture of resin liquid and flammable solvent vapor released from kettle 3’s manway into the enclosed room where the kettle was located.
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2 SENT TO HOSPITAL AFTER 'HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT': AURORA FD
https://patch.com/illinois/aurora/hazardous-materials-incident-forces-road-closure-aurora-fd
Tags: us_IL, industrial, release, injury, unknown_chemical
AURORA, IL — Two firefighters were injured while handling a "hazardous materials incident" in the 600 block of West Illinois Avenue Thursday, officials said in an update.
The firefighters were wearing protective clothing and breathing air from their SCBA bottles when they entered the building and felt a "burning sensation" around their mask seal. After leaving the building, both were treated for minor injuries before they were taken to a local hospital, officials said. They were later released and returned to their duties.
Crews from the Aurora Fire Department, including its Hazardous Materials Team, were called to the scene at 11:25 a.m. after "some chemicals accidentally got mixed together and caused a vapor," Aurora Fire Department Battalion Chief Jim Rhodes told Patch.
Rhodes said a total of 50 employees to evacuate before calling the fire department. One person was in the room when the incident occurred but was able to safely evacuate.
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NEW ANALYSIS FINDS 30% OF CHEMICAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/12/15/2574468/0/en/New-Analysis-Finds-30-of-Chemical-Safety-Data-Sheets-Tested-Include-Inaccurate-Hazard-Warnings-Put-Workers-at-Risk.html
Tags: public, discovery, environmental
WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The preliminary findings of the BlueGreen Alliance/Clearya project indicate that employers who purchase chemical products and the workers who handle those products do not have the information they need to protect themselves. The analysis, entitled Obstructing the Right to Know: A Bluegreen Alliance/Clearya Analysis Of The Chemical Industry’s Health Hazard Warnings On Safety Data Sheets, found that 30% of the over 650 Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) analyzed included inaccurate chemical hazard warnings.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (HAZCOM) requires that all hazards of all chemicals used in the workplace be identified by the chemical manufacturer or importer. That information is supposed to be included on the SDS for each chemical. Additionally, HAZCOM requires employers to provide information, education, and training to their employees about all the chemical hazards in their workplace.
“Information is only useful if it is accurate and complete,” said Amit Rosner, Co-founder of Clearya, which helps people and organizations create a healthier environment through data-driven insights. “Too many workers are receiving an incomplete picture of the dangers these chemicals present or aren’t being told at all about potentially deadly hazards. Industry needs to do better and regulators should make sure they protect workers.”
There are more than 45,000 chemicals being used in the United States today. Estimates indicate chemical exposures kill between 50,000 to 120,000 U.S. workers every year. The analysis of over 650 SDSs is the first analysis of this scale.
A significant number of SDS omissions concerned carcinogens. Thirty carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substances were present in 512 of the obtained SDSs, and 15% of these SDSs failed to report carcinogenicity in the Hazards Identification section. For example, in an SDS for vinyl chloride—a known human carcinogen—the SDS warned of skin, eye, and respiratory irritation but lacked any mention of cancer. Another SDS for benzene—which should warn of its mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and specific target organ toxicity—only reported skin and eye irritation and harmfulness if swallowed, contacted with skin, or inhaled. The SDS failed to mention the other highly hazardous effects of this well-studied chemical.
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