From: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety Headlines From Google (8 articles)
Date: February 13, 2012 9:37:49 AM EST
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
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Chemical Safety Headlines From Google Monday, February 13, 2012 9:15:00 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 (8 articles)
DEPUTIES MAY BECOME FRONT LINE IN METH LAB CLEANUP Tags: us_SC, public, follow-up, response, drugs, waste
EXPLOSION UNDER INVESTIGATION IN DETROIT Tags: us_MI, public, explosion, response, unknown_chemical
CHEMICAL INFERNO AT YORK UNIVERSITY Tags: United_Kingdom, laboratory, fire, response
CLASSES AT SUNY CANTON TO RESUME FEB. 20TH AFTER FIRE IN CHEMISTRY LAB Tags: us_NY, laboratory, follow-up, response, unknown_chemical
LOCAL YMCA EVACUATED DUE TO CHEMICAL SPILL Tags: us_IN, public, release, response, pool_chemicals
HARLINGEN MAN KILLED IN WEST TEXAS OIL WELL EXPLOSION Tags: us_TX, industrial, explosion, death, petroleum
THREE INJURED IN SOUTH JORDAN GAS EXPLOSION Tags: us_UT, industrial, explosion, injury, propane
UPDATE: FIRE OUT AT SUNY CANTON LAB Tags: us_NY, laboratory, fire, response, unknown_chemical
Now that state authorities are stuck with the bill for cleaning up meth labs, they are looking for ways to cut costs and raise money to help pay for disposal of the toxic and potentially explosive chemicals.
Private contractors typically remove the state's meth labs.
But some law enforcement agencies nationwide, including one in the Upstate, have sought to save money by doing much of the work themselves, a trend that accelerated last year when federal funds for cleanup evaporated.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is encouraging the approach by prioritizing funding in favor of states where officers clean up small labs themselves, put the waste in strategically placed containers and call contractors when the waste reaches a certain level.
A South Carolina group that included some of the state's top law enforcement officers and emergency responders recommended against the approach, citing startup costs and liability.
An explosion in downtown Detroit is under investigation after it caused people to evacuate the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall Sunday morning.
According to Detroit Fire Fifth Battalion Chief James Provost, there was an apparent gas explosion around 8 a.m. Sunday outside of
The explosion fed back into the conduit inside the basement of Orchestra Hall causing some damage in at least one room.
DTE and hazmat crews also responded to the scene. Crews carried out gas level monitoring and did not find a potential for further explosions, Provost said.
DTE planned to shutdown the power grid in the area.
The explosion also caused three manhole covers to blow off in the area.
The official cause of the gas explosion has not been confirmed at this time, but is being investigated.
No one was injured during the explosion.
It also caused Sunday's Sphinx15 Finals Competition to be moved. It was scheduled to be held at the Max M.. Fisher Music Center, but was moved to Hill Auditorium on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The competition will start at 2pm.
AN inferno at York University chemistry laboratories last Thursday attended by crews from across the region including one from Selby battled the fire for more than four hours.
A total of 11 engines including a Selby Red Watch crew were scrambled to the scene at 1.08pmas they fought to stop the fire spreading to nearby buildings.
More than 300 square metres of damage were caused to the roof but no chemicals were ignited. Aerial platforms, ten breathing apparatus, CO2 extinguishers and thermal image cameras were used.
Students at SUNY Canton will be out of class for an entire week after a fire at a science lab Friday. Students said they saw black smoke coming from Cook Hall just before noon and the campus was put on lockdown. As our Cara Thomas tells us, no one was hurt and fire officials are now looking into the cause of the fire.
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - More 100 people, including 40 children were evacuated from the YMCA in Lafayette this morning.
An employee raised the alarm when after smelling a strong chlorine smell. Dozens of employees and members were immediately evacuated. Fire officials said the cause of the potentially lethal leak was escaping chlorine vapors caused by an incorrect mixture of pool chemicals.
"When we got in to the building it was above ten to the point where in the room where it was spilled which is the IDLH of dangerous to life and health level, it was above that level. Pretty quickly it started to diminish," said fire chief Richard Doyle.
SOUTH JORDAN - Three people were hospitalized Friday after a propane gas leak sparked an explosion on Old Bingham Highway.
The incident took place around 10 a.m. near 6000 West and Old Bingham Highway, according to South Jordan Fire Capt. Nathan Morreale.. A group of men who had been privately contracted by the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District were inside a vault painting the pipeline.
Morreale said the men were using a heater that was attached to a propane tank in the vault. It was unclear whether the heater was meant to dry the paint or keep the area warm.
"There was a propane tank with a hose on it and the hose leaked," South Jordan city spokeswoman Kelly Pfost said. "We're not sure what sparked the explosion, but we do know it was related to the propane leak."
Morreale said one man suffered burns to his hands and face and was transported to Intermountain Medical Center in a medical helicopter.. He was classified in critical condition.
A fire at SUNY Canton is out, and investigators are searching for the cause of the blaze. At its worst, white smoke bllowed from Cook Hall and firefighters took to the roof to fight flames that seemed to be coming from the building's ventilation system. The fire was declared what officials call a "mass casualty incident," even though no injuries have been reported. Officials say it's a term they use to prepare fire and emergency personnel in case a large number of people are injured. One thing that helped Friday: no classes were in sesson. College officials say many different types of chemicals are stored in the area where the fire broke out, which could be a hazard for firefighters.
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