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Subject: Re: transportation policies
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:02:31 -0500
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Subject: Re: DCHAS-L Digest - 17 Dec 2011 to 19 Dec 2011 (#2011-54)
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:31:29 +0000
Author: "Williams, Mark"

(Note: This post is 14 years old and may contain outdated information.)


Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:23:12 -0500
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From: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety"

Subject: Chemical Safety Headlines From Google (17 articles)
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Chemical Safety Headlines =46rom Google
Monday, December 19, 2011 8:24:34 AM

  A service of the ACS Division of ChemicalHealth 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 (17 articles)

ABC NEWS (AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION)
Tags: Australia, public, explosion, injury, chlorine

WHITEPOWDER SHUTS DUNKIN' DONUTS
Tags: us_NY, public, release, injury, dust

BURST PIPE CAUSES SPILL
Tags: Canada, laboratory, release, environmental, acids

TWO KILLED IN FIRE AT ANDHRA PHARMA FACTORY
Tags: India, industrial, explosion, death, pharmaceutical

6 HURT IN FIRE MISHAP AT PATANCHERU PHARMA FIRM
Tags: India, industrial, fire, injury, drugs, pharmaceutical

FIRE OFFICIALS FIND WORKING METH LAB IN MAN'S BACKPACK
Tags: us_OK, public, discovery, response, meth_lab

ORICA'S SHAME: 148 SAFETY BREACHES IN 11 YEARS
Tags: Australia, industrial, release, response, sulfuric_acid

THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE, WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA &GT; NEWS &GT; BREAKING BAD
Tags: us_VA, public,discovery, response, illegal, meth_lab, follow-up

AP: SAFETY SYSTEMS ABSENT DESPITE TWO FIRES
Tags: India, public, fire, injury, fire_extinguisher, follow-up

OR MAN SUFFERS CHEMICAL BURNS CLEANING COAT
Tags: us_OR, public, release, injury, dye, grease, solvent

SAN LUIS OBISPO CONCEALS TOXIC WASTE RELEASE
Tags: us_CA, public, release, response, epoxy, illegal, wastes

FIRE AT ABANDONED BUILDING KILLS ONE, INJURES FOUR IN AP, IBN LIVE NEWS
Tags: India, public, fire, death, unknown_chemical

CMU RESEARCH INSTITUTE EVACUATED BY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPILL
Tags: us_PA, laboratory, release, response, methyl_methacrylate

LEAKING TRUCK SHUTS DOWN ROAD
Tags: us_PA, transportation, release, injury, unknown_chemical

PILBARA TRUCK CARRYING CHLORINE GAS ROLLS OVER NEAR NEWMAN
Tags: Australia, transportation, release, response, chlorine

CURRY SPARKS CHEMICAL SCARE
Tags: Australia, public, release, injury, dust

TREAT A CLOTHING FIRE WITH STOP, DROP, AND ROLL
Tags: laboratory, fire, response


---------------------------------------------

ABC NEWS (AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-19/man-injured-after-chlorine-mixture-explodes/3738182?section=nt
Tags: Australia, public, explosion, injury, chlorine

The town pool in Alice Springs had to be evacuated yesterday following a chemical explosion.
Just before half-past ten yesterday morning, a staff member was mixing chlorine and water in a bucket, when it suddenly exploded.

Everyone from the pool had to be evacuated as a safety precaution.

The 25-year-old employee was takento Alice Springs Hospital in a satisfactory condition.

John Piper from Alice Springs Fire Station says the explosion was a result of incorrect mixing procedures.



---------------------------------------------

WHITE POWDER SHUTS DUNKIN' DONUTS
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/White-powder-shuts-Dunkin-Donuts-2410891.php
Tags: us_NY, public, release, injury, dust

BRUNSWICK =E2=80=94 Nine employees of a Dunkin' Donuts were taken to area hospitals Sunday morning

The incident triggered "a full-blown hazmat response" at the eatery on Hoosick Street, which remained closed all of Sunday, according to Assistant Chief Steve Willson of the Brunswick Fire Department No. 1.

Firefighters from his company, as well as Troy and Hoosick Valley, responded to the 8:50 a.m.call. Employees in the restaurant said a white powder emerged when they cracked open a roll of pennies, prompting feelings of nausea.

Willson said the employees were completely decontaminated =E2=80=94 their clothes were removed and they took special showers at the scene =E2=80=94 before they were taken to St. Mary's and Samaritan hospitals for evaluation. None were admitted, Willson said.

The powder was taken to a State Police labfor testing, and the restaurant remains closed pending the result. Willson said they originally came from a local bank, which rolled them on behalf of an elderly customer.

---------------------------------------------

BURST PIPE CAUSES SPILL

Tags: Canada, laboratory, release, environmental, acids

A burst pipe in a laboratory at 900 Princess St. caused a chemical spill late Sunday morning.

Kingston Fire and Rescue reported that water from the pipe flooded tanks filled with potentially hazardous acids. The area was evacuated and specialists were summoned.

Crews from Utilities Kingston werecalled to inspect the sewers and it was determined that the large volume ofwater diluted the chemicals to the point where they were environmentally benign.

=E2=80=94 The Whig-Standard
---------------------------------------------

TWO KILLED IN FIRE AT ANDHRA PHARMA FACTORYhttp://english.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/contentView.do?contentId=10651737&amp;programId=1073750974&amp;tabId=1&amp;contentType=EDITORIAL
Tags: India, industrial, explosion, death, pharmaceutical

Hyderabad: Two employees were killed in a huge fire at a pharmaceutical company at Patancheru near here, police said.

The fire broke out Sunday at the chemical factory of Rantus Pharma in Pashamylaram industrial area of Patancheru in Medak district, about 50 km from Hyderabad. The factory was completely gutted.

Two employees working at the factory did notreturn home Sunday. Their families lodged a complaint with the police. Investigators Monday found skeletal remains of the missing employees in the rubble. The dead have been identified as stores manager Ravindranath and worker Ram Singh.

It was earlier believed that onlysix workers had been injured in the fire.

According to police, the fire engulfed the factory after a reactor exploded due to an electrical short-circuit. The fire broke out in the evening, and spread to neighboring factories. Fire-fighting personnel had to battle for five hours to control the flames.

This is the second such accident in three days. Four workers of a chemical factory were killed in a reactor blast at Polepalli Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Jadcherla in Mahabubnagar district near Hyderabad last Friday.

---------------------------------------------

6 HURT IN FIRE MISHAP AT PATANCHERU PHARMA FIRM
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/hyderabad/6-hurt-fire-mishap-patancheru-pharma-firm-797Tags: India, industrial, fire, injury, drugs, pharmaceutical

Six workers suffered severe burns in a major fire that occurred in a pharmaceutical factory in the Pashamylaram industrial areain Patancheru, Medak district, on Sunday.

The reactor of Rantus Pharma Pvt. Ltd., which manufactures Tramadol, an analgesic, burst, and fire engulfed the entire building and later spread to adjacent buildings housing chemical companies Chaitanya Chloride, Aurobindo Chemicals and Satya Dev Chemical.

The injured workers were identified as Husain Ali, Javed Ali, Bapar Singh, Ravindernath, Sujam and Sriram. They are being treated at Remedy Hospital in Kukatpally. The condition of one worker is said to be critical.
---------------------------------------------

FIRE OFFICIALS FIND WORKING METH LAB IN MAN'S BACKPACK
http://www.tulsaworld.com/specialprojects/news/crimewatch/article.aspx?subjectid=450&amp;articleid=20111218_450_0_Tulsaf373217
Tags:us_OK, public, discovery, response, meth_lab

Tulsa fire investigators arrested a man after allegedly finding a workingmeth lab in his backpack.
Fire officials said James Dillon,age and hometown unavailable, was questioned after investigators were doingmore work following recent arson fires near the intersection of 5th Street and Madison Avenue.
They noticed a chemical odor, searched his backpack and allegedly found a working "one-pot method" meth lab.

---------------------------------------------
ORICA'S SHAME: 148 SAFETY BREACHES IN 11 YEARS
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/oricas-shame-148-safety-breaches-in-11-years/2396883.aspx
Tags: Australia, industrial, release, response, sulfuric_acid

An acid spill at Orica's Port Kembla chemical plant was the latest in a decade-long series of breaches, it has been revealed.
Nearly 4000 litres ofsulphuric acid were found leaking from the Foreshore Rd Plant on Friday, triggering an angry response from the NSW Government and fresh public scrutinyof the beleaguered chemical maker.

The incident was the sixth at Orica since its Kooragang Island plant showered carcinogenic chemicals over the Newcastle suburb of Stockton in August.
However, a wider analysis of pollution records showsFriday's incident was the 148th licence breach at the Port Kembla site since 2000.

---------------------------------------------

THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE, WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA &GT; NEWS &GT; BREAKING BAD
http://www.vagazette.com/articles/2011/12/17/news/doc4eebf270e3121118201060.txt
Tags: us_VA, public, discovery, response, illegal, meth_lab, follow-up

Thursday's surprisebust of five home meth labs holds a larger lesson. It points up flaws in the safeguards used to prevent criminals from stockpiling over-the-counter medications vital to making the drug.

York-Poquoson Sheriff's Capt. Troy Lyons said the Virginia Sheriffs Association will seek legislation in the General Assembly next month requiring pharmacies to report sales of pseudoephedrine to a centralized database.

That would enable retailers to enforce existing limits on the amount of the drug that can be purchased by consumers.

Psueudoephedrine is the crux of meth labs and is circumvented scientifically in the popular TV series "Breaking Bad."

---------------------------------------------

AP: SAFETY SYSTEMS ABSENT DESPITE TWO FIRES
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ap-safety-systems-absent-despite-two-fires/212946-60-114.html
Tags: India, public, fire, injury, fire_extinguisher, follow-up

KADAPA: The prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Hospital here has poor safety measures despite experiencing two fire mishaps since it inception.
RIMS was established by former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy in 2006 with the objective of providing better medical services and health care for the people of Kadapa district.
Several crores of rupees were spent on providing infrastructure facilities at RIMS, but little attention is paid to safety aspects. The lack of No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire services department only indicates that the building has not complied with the National Building Code. According to district fire officer K Jaganmohan Reddy, RIMS authorities have not even sought the NOC.
There are fire extinguishers at every ward, but they are not functional. The last time the fire extinguishers with dry chemical powder were refilled was in 2007 though it is mandatory to do it once in one year. In case of fire extinguishers with carbon-di-oxide, they need to be checked from time to time. However, it is not being done.

---------------------------------------------

OR MAN SUFFERS CHEMICAL BURNS CLEANING COAT
http://www.necn.com/12/17/11/OR-man-suffers-chemical-burns-cleaning-c/landing_health.html?&amp;apID=616aa07367f44a40acdd7050e814c573
Tags: us_OR, public, release, injury, dye, grease, solvent

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) =E2=80=94 Firefighters in Portland have rescued a man found in his bathroom with severe chemical burns on more than 70 percent of his body.


Portland Fire and Rescue spokesman Paul Corah says the 59-year-old man arrived home Friday from a week-long, out of town job. Hereportedly called his wife to say he was going to try to get some grease stains out of his coat.

His wife came home Friday evening to an overwhelming odor like paint thinner. She found her husband in a bathtub soaked with what seemed to be a solvent-based chemical.

Paramedics found the man semi-conscious. Corah says they held their breath until they could move him out to the fresh air in the front yard and provide first aid.

Portland firefighter and paramedic David Paul says he and other medics wore gas masks in the ambulance while riding with the patient to the Oregon Burn Center.
Hazmat firefighters are working to identify the chemical.


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---------------------------------------------

SAN LUIS OBISPO CONCEALS TOXIC WASTE RELEASE
http://calcoastnews.com/2011/12/san-luis-obispo-conceals-toxic-waste-release/
Tags: us_CA, public, release, response, epoxy, illegal, wastes

Eleven months after a San Luis Obispo city employee dumped toxic chemicals at a public facility, city officials have still not reported the illegal discharge tostate authorities as required by law.
The failure to reportthe spill could leave the city with fines totaling more than $1 million.
"I would hate to imagine the fines that could result from this mess," Doug Dowdin, a city storm water enforcement officialsays in a Feb. 2 email to fellow employees. "I am sure that I don' have to stress the potential liability."
In late January 2011, an angry city employee told several subordinates to pour out cans of acetones (solvents), varnish, epoxy, creosote, enamel paint and latex paint. The chemicals were dumped on an asphalt parking lot that abuts up to a grassy area. Paint and chemicals swirled together creating areas thick with paint and a lower section that included open soil coated with acetones, varnishes and creosotes.

---------------------------------------------

FIRE AT ABANDONED BUILDING KILLS ONE, INJURES FOUR IN AP, IBN LIVE NEWS
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/fire-at-abandoned-building-kills-one-injures-four-in-ap/933797.html
Tags: India, public, fire, death, unknown_chemical

Hyderabad, Dec 16 (PTI) A man was burnt alive, while four others were grievously injured, when an abandoned building, where a huge stock of chemicals wasstored, caught fire in Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh this evening, police said. The mishap took place on the outskirts of Polepally village in Jedcherla mandal around 4.30 pm,after a group of labourers used glass-cutters for dismantling the abandonedbuilding, when the spark, emanating from the glass-cutters lit the chemicalsubstances and the labourers came in contact with the fire, they said. "Oneperson was burnt alive in the incident, while four others sustained about 90 per cent burn injuries and were rushed to different hospitals in Hyderabad," Mahabubnagar DSP Geetha Devi said. The fire was extinguished within an hour and further investigations are on, she said. PTI VVK NP

---------------------------------------------

CMU RESEARCH INSTITUTE EVACUATED BY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPILL
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_772302.html?_s_icmp=NetworkHeadlines
Tags: us_PA, laboratory, release, response, methyl_methacrylate

The Carnegie Mellon Research Institute at the Pittsburgh Technology Center in South Oakland was evacuated on Thursday evening because of a hazardous materials spill, Carnegie Mellon spokeswoman Teresa Thomas said.

Pittsburgh fire Chief Darryl E. Jones said there were no reports of injuries in the spill that occurred around 6 p.m. in a lab on the fourth floor of the center, at 700 Technology Drive on the site of the former Jones &amp; Laughlin steelmill. Paramedics were called to examine at least one person for possible exposure.

Allegheny County emergency dispatchers were told the chemical that spilled was methyl methacrylate.

---------------------------------------------

LEAKING TRUCK SHUTS DOWN ROAD
http://www.wfmz.com/news/Leaking-truck-shuts-down-road/-/121458/5785478/-/ppbgtv/-/
Tags: us_PA, transportation, release, injury, unknown_chemical

MAXATAWNY TWP., Pa. -
A Berks County road was closed after a leaking truck spilled tar all over the place.

Crews were dispatched to Main Street and Alfalfa Lane in Maxatawny Township at 10:30 Thursday morning.

Hazmat crews are still at the scene, trying to clean up the sticky mess.

---------------------------------------------

PILBARA TRUCK CARRYING CHLORINE GASROLLS OVER NEAR NEWMAN
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/pilbara-truck-carrying-chlorine-gas-rolls-over-near-newman/story-e6frg13u-1226223708586
Tags: Australia, transportation, release, response, chlorine

A TRUCK rollover in the Pilbara overnight closed a section of Great Northern Highway overnight 80km north of Newman.

Police spokeswoman Susan Usher said the triple road-train carrying LPG and chlorine gas bottles rolled about 8.30pm on the highway 80km north of Newman.

She said a HAZMAT team, police personnel and FESA workers were sent to the crash as chlorine gas is extremely poisonous.

An ambulance was also on standby, but no injuries have been reported.

---------------------------------------------

CURRY SPARKS CHEMICAL SCARE
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1613155/Curry-sparks-chemical-scare
Tags:Australia, public, release, injury, dust

Apackage of potent curry powder forced the evacuation of a western Sydney mail centre last night, the ABC has reported.

7.30pm.

Hazmat, fire and rescue teams, police and paramedics were called to the scene.

About 150 workers were evacuated from the centre as specialists wearing breathing apparatus examined the parcel.

But what was feared to be a chemical attack turned out to be a pack of particularly spice curry powder.

---------------------------------------------

TREAT A CLOTHING FIRE WITH STOP, DROP, AND ROLL
http://cenblog.org/the-safety-zone/2011/12/treat-a-clothing-fire-with-stop-drop-and-roll/
Tags: laboratory, fire, response

The standard advice for a clothing fire, even in a lab, is still to stop, drop, and roll. According to the National Fire Protection Association Code 45, "Standard on Fire Protection For Laboratories Using Chemicals," A.6.6.3.2:

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