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Officials plan emergency responses - silica catalyst dust
By DUSTIN BLEIZEFFER
Star-Tribune energy reporter
GILLETTE -- On Monday, March 25, 2002, residents of Newcastle's north side awoke an unusual brown dust that had settled on their cars, houses and everywhere in the neighborhood.
Having heard no sirens or warnings of potential danger, they began their daily routines, along with the added step of sweeping the fine-powdery stuff off of their cars.
More than two years later, many of those residents suspect they may be suffering ongoing health problems related to inhalation and topical contact with the dust -- a silica catalyst that was accidentally discharged out of a stack at the nearby oil refinery. At the time, Newcastle officials complained that residents didn't receive the detailed information they needed soon enough to avoid unnecessary exposure.
Refinery and local health officials say they're better prepared to respond to a similar situation today. However, there are still gaps in the emergency response system.
"One thing we are working on, but is not fully operational yet, is a reverse 911 system," said Bob Neufeld, environmental manager for the Wyoming Refining Co.
When the system is completed, emergency managers will be able to send out a recorded message to every home with a telephone in a matter of three or four minutes with detailed information about an emergency.
Neufeld said the refinery is also working with local radio stations. Radio stations typically do not air public service announcements directly from the refinery, so the refinery is developing a chain of notification through local emergency responders to the radio media.
In most cases, the company or source of a chemical spill is also the source of information about the chemical. Such was the case in the 2002 silica catalyst spill.
"That information, the refinery had to answer that because they have the hazardous material information on what they carry," said Laurie Bickford, public health nurse at Weston County Public Health.
As for medical advice, Bickford said people concerned for their health were advised to see their local doctors.
Contrary to popular belief, most public health offices and the Wyoming Department of Health don't have the authority or resources to give out more medical advice in emergency situations, said David Barber, environmental epidemiologist for the Department of Health.
"A lot of people expect that it's there or think it should be there, but it isn't," Barber said. "Many (Wyoming counties) just don't have extensive chemical or industrial response personnel trained and ready to go."
Barber said legislators are becoming more aware of the need to add medical expertise to local hazardous materials response programs. In fact, his agency has been asked to write a report on the need, he said.
"However, in terms of the resources that have been authorized for the health department at this time, in terms of anything other than responding to infectious disease, those resources aren't out there," Barber said.
Star-Tribune energy reporter Dustin Bleizeffer can be reached at (307) 682-3388 or dzeffer@trib.com.
Herbicide poses minimal threat to humans, officials say
By: CHRISTEN KELLEHER, Staff Writer
06/22/2005 - The goal: To make Lake Quonnipaug a weed free zone. Pending Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection agency approval, parts of the north and south cove in Lake Quonnipaug will be treated with the herbicide known as Sonar SRP.
The herbicide will be used to control invasive weeds and plants, which threaten fish and other animals in the water and on nearby land.
The herbicide will be sprayed across an area of less than five acres.
Spraying, which began this week and continues through June 30, is part of a research effort on the control of aquatic weeds by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
According to the company that produces Sonar SRP, SePRO in Carmel, Ind., the two ingredients that could threaten animals are fluridone and pyridinone.
These two ingredients could, in large doses, also be harmful humans. Potential health effects at large doses include eye irritation and respiratory difficulty.
Inhalation can irritate the upper respiratory tract including the nose and throat, and excessive inhalation of the substance could lead to long-term lung damage.
Anyone who inhales large doses of the herbicide should immediately be exposed to fresh air.
To avoid breathing the dust, people should wear a respiratory mask and wash their hands thoroughly after applying the herbicide.
If the chemical gets on skin, it is advised to wash immediately to avoid burns, absorption or irritation.
Fluridone in animals has been shown to cause liver and kidney damage and repeated exposure to the chemical may give animals a disabling disease of the lungs called "silicosis."
Manufacturers of the herbicide recommend following precautions carefully to avoid adverse effects. In order to avoid impact on threatened or endangered species, users of the product should not dump the chemical in the water or apply to any trees or shrubs growing in the water. Application to such plants could be harmful.
The herbicide in its liquid form is a dark gray color. It also comes in a dark brown pellet variety with a faint musty odor. Company representatives say that the substance is not flammable but if burned, can emit a toxic fume.
Swimming at Lake Quonnipaug will not be restricted while the herbicide is being applied.
Guilford Environmental Planner Leslie Kane was not available for comment. Greg Bugbee of the Office of Soil and Water at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven was not available for comment.
Operating Heavy Machinery:The Most Common Injuries and How to Avoid Them
By Aurora Mae
Industrial injuries can be debilitating and life-endangering; there are reasons that safety rules exist for jobs that require operating heavy machinery. Remember that if you chop your finger off or crush your hand, you’ll wish you had paid more attention. So make sure to always be careful and obey operating procedures carefully; it is so much better to be safe than sorry.
There are ways to prevent accidents involving heavy machinery, though there are always freak accidents that can’t be helped no matter what. Freak accidents aside, there are some practical ways you can protect yourself, both by following the rules and adding a few of your own. The spine, hands, head, lungs, eyes, skeleton, and skin are the primary areas of your body that are at a risk for injury.
Common industrial injuries:
Silicosis: also called Grinder’s disease, silicosis is a respiratory disease that is caused by working in a confined, dusty environment. Take precautions against this by always wearing a mask or respirator when you’re working with potentially dangerous materials like fiberglass and asbestos.
Air embolism: an air embolism occurs when small pockets of air get into a person’s blood stream. It is caused by working with compressed air close to cuts in the skin. This can be avoided simply by wearing bandages or hand protection over any cuts or abrasions.
Asbestos poisoning: this happens through working in close proximity to asbestos and usually through the inhalation of dust containing amounts of the toxin. Avoid asbestos if you can, but if you can’t, always wear a respirator; a face mask won’t be nearly as effective.
Decompression sickness: otherwise known as the bends, this sickness is a group of symptoms that are caused by working in a high pressure environment, such as under water. Avoid this by taking the necessary safety precautions outlined in the job manual for your workplace.
Hand-arm vibration syndrome: HAVS, or ‘white finger,’ is a vascular disease caused by long-term use of vibrating tools. If you are concerned about this potential danger, talk to both your doctor and your supervisor; more often than not you can come to an arrangement, especially if your physical safety is being compromised.
Common causes of work injuries related to heavy machinery:
Some common causes of injury due to heavy machines include: the misuse of vehicles, lifting of heavy loads, machinery or tool failures, and exposure to toxins or general hazards. Inadequate safety equipment, clothing and training, jewelry, or long hair that is caught or tangled in heavy machinery, are all examples of factors that contribute to workplace injuries.
General workplace hazards:
General hazards that an individual may encounter on the job include exposure to electricity, explosive materials, fire, flammable gasses, heights, heat, high pressure gasses or liquids, hot materials, fast moving or sharp machinery, and toxic chemicals.
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