Thursday, March 26, 2015

CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA BUSINESS AND LOCAL RESIDENTS EVACUATED DUE TO CHEMICAL SPILL OF SODIUM SULFIDE COMPOUND AND THE SUBSEQUENT RELEASE OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE








MARCH 26, 2015

CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA

Star America at 190 Cabarrus Ave West, concord, NC 28025 was evacuated following a chemical spill Thursday morning, according to the Concord Fire Department.  This business finishes women’s full-length and knee length hosiery.

The fire department found a fire in a container of sodium Sulfide.   A fume release caused the evacuations.  Also, it could not have been hydrogen sulfide (as was reported in the news media), as it has no uses in the hosiery finishing business.  Most likely it was a sodium sulfide drum.  Sodium sulfide is used in the dyeing, printing and finishing of cotton hosiery.  For dyeing cotton fabrics with sulphur dyes, the dyebath is prepared by pasting the dye with soda ash and sodium sulphide and hot water.   Sodium sulfide is also used in the textile industry as a bleaching agent.

CFD believes the fire was caused by a reaction to moisture getting into the container, because they found a hole in the container.  About 30 pounds of the chemical leaked.  However, reaction with water will not cause fire, will just release H2S.  Most likely, the drum was subjected to a heat source and caught fire, as it is flammable.

Hazardous fumes were released and 88 employees were evacuated. Local residents were evacuated from their homes as well.  Most likely, the gas was hydrogen sulfide, as sodium sulfide will release H2S in contact with water and under fire conditions.

Hydrogen sulfide gas can cause a wide range of health issues and, in large concentrations, even death, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA.) Most workers are exposed to the gas by breathing it. The severity of issues from hydrogen sulfide are determined by the length of exposure and level of concentration.

Two Star America employees were taken to CMC as a precaution, according to CFD.

Around 2:45 p.m. the building and surrounding areas went through air quality monitoring. 

Once it is all cleared employees and residents will be able to go about their day.