MARCH 23, 2015
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J.
About 15 people were being checked for respiratory problems
after pallets burned at a business in Warren County Monday morning. The business is Witte Company, Inc.
The pallets that caught fire quickly were extinguished,
according to staff in the Warren County communications center.
But people complaining of respiratory issues are being
checked. They apparently were exposed to smoke or fumes from that fire.
The pallets may have been impregnated with some unidentified
chemical that caused the irritation.
The post-fire incident was reported as a hazardous materials
leak at Witte Company, Inc., 507 Route 31 in Washington Township.
Pallets now require an IPPC logo which certifies that the
pallet was heat-treated or fumigated with Methyl Bromide.
The standard is a 2 letter country code (xx), a unique number (000) assigned by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), HT for Heat Treatment or MB for Methyl Bromide, and DB to signify debarked.
The standard is a 2 letter country code (xx), a unique number (000) assigned by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), HT for Heat Treatment or MB for Methyl Bromide, and DB to signify debarked.
There are some additional codes that can go on pallets but
the main one to watch out for is MB. It means it was treated with Methyl
Bromide.
If you don't see an IPPC logo then you know not to use it. While a pallet may be perfectly safe without the logo, it could also mean it was treated with chemicals.
Another issue is what has spilled on the pallet. I'd be careful, personally, about oily pallets or ones that have clearly had something spilled on them.
If you don't see an IPPC logo then you know not to use it. While a pallet may be perfectly safe without the logo, it could also mean it was treated with chemicals.
Another issue is what has spilled on the pallet. I'd be careful, personally, about oily pallets or ones that have clearly had something spilled on them.