BREAKING: FBI USES DREAMCATCHER TECHNOLOGY TO EXPOSE PLANS OF WOULD-BE TERRORISTS. SEVERAL DREAMING INDIVIDUALS WERE ARRESTED

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUNE 19, 2015

U.S. Citizens Arrested for Dreaming and Attempting to Dream to Provide Material Support to ISIS.  Some of the perps were shot and killed while dreaming.

Omar Sahid Mothman Al-Fak, 28, a U.S. Citizen, was arrested this morning in North Bergen, New Jersey, on charges that he dreamed that he wanted to attempt to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS-institute of sadistic & insane sociopaths), possessed a kitchen knife as a gourmet chef and trafficked falafel bread.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security Jim P. Golfball, U.S. Attorney Sam D. Deterrent of the Northern District of New Jersey and Special Agent in Charge Paul D. Courage of the FBI’s Dreamcatcher Division made the announcement.

“According to the allegations in the complaint, Mothman Al-Fak dreamed that he attempted to provide material support to ISIL and committed other federal knife and food offenses,” said Assistant Attorney General Golfball.  “Counterterrorism is the National Security Division’s highest priority and we will continue to pursue justice against those who seek to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations and to damage our food sources.”

“Today’s charges are a stark reminder that the radical and dangerous dreamers espoused by groups such as ISIL can be spread in our community through dreaming and telepathic media,” said U.S. Attorney Deterrent.  

“Law enforcement will remain vigilant in combating violent extremism in all its forms.”  “We have developed this amazing Dreamcatcher technology where we can see any events in these terrorists minds at the conception phase.  That way we can act as soon as possible, by shooting and killing the perp in his sleep”.

“This arrest demonstrates law enforcement’s number one priority – to keep our communities and our nation safe,” said Special Agent in Charge Courage.  “It is clear that no area is immune from the influence of ISIL and its recruitment machine, not even people’s own sleep or dreams.  

We hope this arrest will serve as a strong message to others who may consider dreaming about providing support to terrorists.  The FBI and our Joint Terrorism Task Force partners are committed to identifying and stopping these individuals.”

This case is being investigated by the FBI’s New Jersey Division’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.  This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of New Jersey and the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of corrupt judges and prosecutors.

United States Files Suit against Texas Subsidiary of BAE Systems Alleging False Claims under Army Contract for Trucks

Friday, June 19, 2015

 

United States Files Suit against Texas Subsidiary of BAE Systems Alleging False Claims under Army Contract for Trucks

 

The United States has filed a complaint against BAE Systems Tactical Vehicle Systems LP (BAE) for knowingly overcharging the Army for materials under a military truck contract, the Justice Department announced today.  BAE is a subsidiary of BAE Systems Inc., headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, which is owned by BAE Systems plc, a global defense, security and aerospace company headquartered in London.  BAE is located in Sealy, Texas. 

“Those who do business with the United States must act in good faith,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, the head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.  “We will ensure that contractors do not abuse the military’s procurement process at the expense of our troops abroad and the taxpayers at home.”

In 2008, the Army Tactical Command Life Cycle Management Command, in Warren, Michigan, awarded BAE a contract to build more than 20,000 trucks for the military, known as Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTVs).  

Government procurement law requires contractors negotiating government contracts above a threshold price, to disclose cost or pricing data relevant to the negotiations.  The purpose of requiring a contractor to disclose this information is to put the government on equal footing with the contractor and ensure a fair and reasonable price.  The government alleges that BAE knowingly inflated the price of the FMTV contract by concealing cost and pricing data on numerous parts and materials during contract negotiations, despite having certified that the data it had disclosed was accurate, complete and current.

“We expect government contractors to act with integrity when they fulfill their contractual obligations to the government,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District of Texas.  “Breach of that trust results in being held accountable in court.”

“Private companies are entitled to earn an honest profit from procurement contracts with the U.S. government, but they may not knowingly overcharge the military for supplies and materials,” said U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade of the Eastern District of Michigan.  “The conduct alleged in this complaint is akin to charging $600 for a hammer.”

The government’s complaint alleges claims under the Truth-in-Negotiations Act, which requires the truthful disclosure of cost or pricing data, and the False Claims Act, which prohibits knowingly submitting false claims for federal funds.   

The lawsuit is being handled by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Texas and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Michigan.  Investigative support is being provided by the Defense Contract Audit Agency, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Army Criminal Investigation Command.  

The case is captioned United States v. BAE Systems Tactical Vehicle Systems, LP (E.D. Mich.).  The claims asserted in this case are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability. 

Arkansas Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Attacks on Central Arkansas Power Grid

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Jason Woodring, 38, of Jacksonville, Arkansas, was sentenced to 15 years in prison today on charges related to his attacks on Central Arkansas’ power grid between August and October 2013.  

In addition to the term of imprisonment, Woodring will be required to pay $4,792,224 in restitution to Entergy for his attacks on the power lines and electrical tower near Cabot, Arkansas, and a switching station in Scott, Arkansas.  Woodring will also pay $48,729 to First Electric Cooperative for damage to the downed power lines and poles in Jacksonville.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Thyer of the Eastern District of Arkansas, Special Agent in Charge David T. Resch of the FBI’s Little Rock, Arkansas, Division and Resident Special Agent in Charge Grover Crossland of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Little Rock Field Office made the announcement.

Today, U.S. District Court Judge Billy Roy Wilson of the Eastern District of Arkansas accepted the plea agreement and imposed the recommended 15-year sentence.  On March 10, 2015, Woodring pleaded guilty to destruction of an energy facility for downing the Cabot power lines and for setting fire to the Scott power station.  

He also pleaded guilty to using fire to commit a felony in relation to the arson in Scott, and to being an illegal drug user in possession of various firearms and ammunition.  Woodring also agreed to forfeit the firearms and ammunition.

Woodring’s 2013 attacks included sabotaging an electrical support tower and downing a 500,000-volt power line onto a railroad track near Cabot, which resulted in approximately $550,000 worth of damage; setting fire to and destroying an Extra High Voltage switching station in Scott, causing over $4 million in damages; and cutting down two power poles, which led to the temporary loss of power to approximately 9,000 people in Jacksonville.  Woodring was charged in an eight-count indictment by a federal grand jury on Nov. 6, 2013.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force; ATF; Union Pacific Police; Entergy; First Electric; the Lonoke County, Arkansas, Sheriff’s Office; Cabot Police; Arkansas State Police; the Conway, Arkansas, Police Department; the Little RockPolice Department; and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael S. Gordon and Cameron Charles McCree of the Eastern District of Arkansas, with the assistance of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

Semi-truck carrying mail spills 250 gallons of fuel on highway after fuel tank rupture in Las Vegas; driver was injured, he will be cited

Associated Press

Updated Thursday, June 18, 2015

The gas tank on a semitrailer carrying mail ruptured on a major highway interchange near downtown Las Vegas, spilling 250 gallons of fuel over the road.

The Nevada Highway Patrol said it closed down the ramp on northbound Interstate 15 connecting to U.S. Highway 95 after the incident was reported about 3:20 a.m. Thursday.

"Diesel is very slippery. It's like ice, really," said Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Loy Hixson.

No mail was damaged and the road reopened around 9 a.m.

Authorities said the driver of the semi was going about 50 miles per hour and headed to Tonopah when he realized he was entering the wrong off-ramp.

He attempted to veer off back into the flow of traffic but stopped on the ramp after the fuel tank was damaged by a barrier.

The driver stopped the truck on an incline and the fuel spilled over all lanes and the shoulder.

The driver suffered minor injuries and authorities said he will face a misdemeanor citation. He has not been named.

Hixson said the spill spanned about 1,500 square feet and would cost about $10,000 to clean up.

In Nevada, those responsible for hazardous material spills must arrange and pay for the cleanup through a private company. Officials with the highway patrol and Nevada Department of Transportation monitor the scene to ensure proper clean up. It wasn't immediately clear whether the truck was owned the U.S. Postal Service.

The cleanup will involve spreading a fine pebble-like absorbent, which is then swept away.

Authorities said the process may be hampered by Las Vegas' triple digit heat on the sizzling asphalt, as it may affect the texture of the absorbent.

Welland Canal fuel spill clean up wrapping up in St. Catharines, Ontario

By Karena Walter, The Standard

Friday, June 19, 2015 9:46:59 EDT PM

Cleaning up Thursday’s fuel oil spill at the mouth of the Welland Canal in St. Catharines took longer than anticipated but was expected to be wrapped up Friday night.

“They’re being very thorough ensuring that any trace elements have been cleaned up,” said St. Lawrence Seaway Corp. spokesman Andrew Bogora Friday afternoon.

The Welland Canal was shut down for most of Thursday after a fuel oil spill at wharf 2 in Port Weller around 1:15 a.m.

Officials said the vessel Atlantic Huron was receiving fuel after exiting the canal with a load of coal when the fuel overflowed. Vessel owner Canada Steamship Lines estimated between 100 to 150 litres of fuel was spilled into Lake Ontario.

The crew activated an emergency response plan and contacted Eastern Canada Response Corp. for clean up. A boom was deployed around the vessel to contain the fuel, which floats on the surface of the water.

It was originally estimated the clean up would be finished Thursday night.
Canada Steamship Lines spokeswoman Brigitte Hebert said Friday there were high winds and waves up to two feet which caused the clean up to take longer than expected.

Borgora said thoroughness was also cause for the longer time.

“The question we’re always looking at is, are the emergency responders acting in a very competent manner? From everything we’ve seen, they’ve exercised the highest degree of competence in cleaning up this spill,” he said.

The Welland Canal reopened Thursday at 4:30 p.m. and remained open Friday while the clean up continued.

Bogora said traffic was ordered to proceed at a slower pace within the area of the spill so the oil wouldn’t be disturbed.

Once the Atlantic Huron ship departs the area and the wharf it’s sitting against is exposed, there may be additional clean up work along the edge, Bogora said.

Thursday’s canal closure caused a small backup with five vessels waiting to proceed through the canal.

55 Gallons of Stolen Diesel Fuel Spills Into Buellton Storm Drain in California

Red diesel fuel stolen from ag or industrial user

Photo Courtesy: Robert Perry

BUELLTON, Calif. - 

  A Friday morning fuel spill in a Buellton neighborhood Kendale Street and Odense Street is now linked to a theft investigation.

At about 8:21 a.m., Santa Barbara County Fire discovered a 55-gallon drum has been completely emptied with diesel leaking onto the roadway and into a storm drain.

A berm was set up to prevent further leakage into the storm drain.

There were a total of nine drums containing up to 440 gallons of red diesel fuel, all which were compromised one way or another, according to Capt. Dave Zaniboni with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. The drums were sitting on top of an abandoned trailer left there overnight.

Kelly Hoover of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's office said the trailer came into Buelton from teh highway 101 Southbound.  Deputies believe the red disel fuel was stolen from an agriculture or industrial user.  Anyone missing fuel is asked to contact local law enforcement or call the Sheriff's Office at (805) 683-2724

Fire officials do not consider there to be any danger to the public.

Buellton Public Works, and Hazmat crews assisted with the cleanup. A vacuum was used to clean up remaining diesel.

after which, clean-up crews will remove the 55 gallons of fuel spilled into the storm drain.

Tanker Truck Overturns Spilling Hydrochloric Acid In Farmington, West Virginia

UPDATE: 6/19 5:50 P.M.

 

Crews have finished extracting the excess acid and are now working on reclamation. Jamison Road is open to Emergency Vehicles Only. It is closed indefinitely to the public. Officials on scene say that they expect the road to be closed for the remainder of the weekend.

 

UPDATE: 6/19 11:18 A.M.

 

West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection officials have released more information into Friday morning's chemical spill. 

 

According to DEP Spokesman Jake Glance, the tanker overturned when the driver apparently swerved to avoid a deer. 

 

He suffered minor injuries and was taken to Fairmont Regional. 

 

Approximately 3,000 gallons of hydrochloric acid or about half of what was inside the tanker, spilled, but no water was contaminated. 

 

Crews are excavating 4-5 inches of dirt from the area and neutralizing it with lime. 

 

Trenches are being dug out around the area to prevent rain from spreading the chemical. 

 

The acid remaining in the tanker is being transferred to another tanker truck. 

 

HAZMAT crews from Marion and Monongalia Counties are on scene, along with the DEP's Homeland Security and Emergency teams. 

 

Jamison Road has been closed since 3:15 a.m. 

 

ORIGINAL:

 

A tanker truck tipped over, spilling hydrochloric acid into the roadway in Marion County early Friday morning.

 

According to Marion County 911 dispatchers, Jamison Road in Farmington was shut down just after 3:00 a.m.

 

Officials are advising drivers to avoid the area until further notice. 

 

One person was transported to Fairmont Regional by the Marion County Rescue Squad. 

 

Crews from Farmington, Fairview and Barackville are working to clear the scene. 

 

Marion County Sheriff's Department and EMS also responded.

'Shelter in place' lifted after dangerous Hydrogen Fluoride chemical exposure on Electron Drive sends 1 to hospital in KY

WHAS11.com Staff, @WHAS11 7:05 p.m. EDT June 19, 2015

The company that the leak occurred at is called Peptides International Inc. It is a biotechnology company.

(Photo: SKY11)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11)

A chemical leak at a Jeffersontown biotech company sends one man to the hospital. 

The incident happened around 11:30 a.m. Friday at Peptides International on Electron Drive in the Jeffersontown Industrial Park.

Jeffersontown Fire Chief Sean Dreisbach said the worker was conducting an experiment in the lab when he was exposed to hydrofluoric acid, a serious corrosive and dangerous chemical commonly called "HF". The man was using a container of HF when its plastic tubing popped off, leading to the exposure.

Officials said the lab worker inhaled the chemical. He was immediately decontaminated outside the facility then taken to the hospital where he was examined and released. Approximately 30 other people working at the site evacuated and were able to get out unharmed.

One worker injured in chemical leak 

"I think it was remarkable that everybody got out of there safely without any other type of exposure because HF is a very dangerous chemical and just one contact can actually be very serious," said Dreisbach. "HF is one of the dangerous chemicals that we deal with in transportation as well as in facilities."

The chemical got into the building's ventilation system. Firefighters could see a small cloud coming from the facility when they arrived.

Emergency crews worked together to evacuate surrounding businesses and the EMA issued a "shelter in place" for everyone within a mile radius of the leak. The agency activated tornado sirens, which led to confusion among some residents.
"The outdoor warning sirens are not only for any kind of inclimate weather. 

They're also for things of this nature like chemical spills in specific areas," explained Jody Duncan, a spokesperson for the EMA.

Some people reported hearing sirens in parts of town that weren't affected by the leak. Duncan said the sirens were activated in the Jeffersontown quadrant, which does include parts of the East End and Downtown.

"Because there was a chemical spill, we had an evacuation order, and the shelter in place, we wanted to make sure people in the area were notified," said Duncan.

Duncan added that anyone with questions about sirens can always call the EMA's non-emergency number or MetroCall 3-1-1.

Peptides International was given the "all clear" early Friday evening. Bob Brousseau, director of corporate communications at Peptides International, said employees are trained to handle situations like these and executed their emergency plan without any problems.

"Safety is our paramount concern, not only for the employees but the surrounding neighborhoods," said Brousseau.

This is the first hydrofluoric acid spill in the company's 32-years of operation, said Broussseau.


//////////-------------------////////

Facts About Hydrogen Fluoride (Hydrofluoric Acid)

FACT SHEET

What hydrogen fluoride is

• Hydrogen fluoride is a chemical compound that contains fluorine. It can exist as a colorless gas or as a fuming liquid, or it can be dissolved in water.
• When hydrogen fluoride is dissolved in water, it may be called hydrofluoric acid.
• Hydrogen fluoride can be released when other fluoride-containing compounds such as ammonium fluoride are combined with water.

Where hydrogen fluoride is found and how it is used

• Hydrogen fluoride is used to make refrigerants, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, high-octane gasoline, aluminum, plastics, electrical components, and fluorescent light bulbs. Sixty percent of the hydrogen fluoride used in manufacturing is for processes to make refrigerants.
• Hydrogen fluoride is also used for etching glass and metal.

How you could be exposed to hydrogen fluoride

• In a natural disaster, you could be exposed to high levels of hydrogen fluoride when storage facilities or containers are damaged and the chemical is released. This release could occur at an industrial site or even a retail location.
• You could be exposed to hydrogen fluoride if it is used as a chemical terrorism agent.
• If you work in an occupation that uses hydrogen fluoride, you may be exposed to this chemical in the workplace.
• You may be exposed to hydrogen fluoride as part of a hobby.

How hydrogen fluoride works

• Hydrogen fluoride goes easily and quickly through the skin and into the tissues in the body. There it damages the cells and causes them to not work properly.
• The seriousness of poisoning caused by hydrogen fluoride depends on the amount, route, and length of time of exposure, as well as the age and preexisting medical condition of the person exposed.
• Breathing hydrogen fluoride can damage lung tissue and cause swelling and fluid accumulation in the lungs (pulmonary edema).
• Skin contact with hydrogen fluoride may cause severe burns that develop after several hours and form skin ulcers.

Immediate signs and symptoms of exposure to hydrogen fluoride

• Swallowing only a small amount of highly concentrated hydrogen fluoride will affect major internal organs and may be fatal.
• Hydrogen fluoride gas, even at low levels, can irritate the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract. Breathing in hydrogen fluoride at high levels or in combination with skin contact can cause death from an irregular heartbeat or from fluid buildup in the lungs.
• Even small splashes of high-concentration hydrogen fluoride products on the skin can be fatal. Skin contact with hydrogen fluoride may not cause immediate pain or visible skin damage(signs of exposure).
• Often, patients exposed to low concentrations of hydrogen fluoride on the skin do not show effects or experience pain immediately. And, severe pain at the exposure site may be the only symptom for several hours. Visible damage may not appear until 12 to 24 hours after the exposure.
• Depending on the concentration of the chemical and the length of time of exposure, skin contact with hydrogen fluoride may cause severe pain at the point of contact; a rash; and deep, slow-healing burns. Severe pain can occur even if no burns can be seen.
• Showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to hydrogen fluoride. Other chemicals also can cause these effects.
• Exposure to hydrogen fluoride can result in severe electrolyte problems.

Long-term health effects of acute exposure to hydrogen fluoride

• People who survive after being severely injured by breathing in hydrogen fluoride may suffer lingering chronic lung disease.
• Skin damage caused by concentrated hydrogen fluoride may take a long time to heal and may result in severe scarring.
• Fingertip injuries from hydrogen fluoride may result in persistent pain, bone loss, and injury to the nail bed.
• Eye exposure to hydrogen fluoride may cause prolonged or permanent visual defects, blindness, or total destruction of the eye.
• Swallowing hydrogen fluoride can damage the esophagus and stomach. The damage may progress for several weeks, resulting in gradual and lingering narrowing of the esophagus.

How you can protect yourself, and what to do if you are exposed to hydrogen fluoride

• First, if the hydrogen fluoride was released into the air, get fresh air by leaving the area where the chemical was released.
  • If the hydrogen fluoride release was outside, move away from the area where the chemical was released.
  • If the hydrogen fluoride release occurred indoors, get out of the building.
• If you are near a release of fluorine or hydrogen fluoride, emergency coordinators may tell you either to evacuate the area or “shelter in place” inside a building to avoid being exposed to the chemical. For more information on evacuation during a chemical emergency, see “Facts About Evacuation.” For more information on sheltering in place during a chemical emergency, see “Facts About Sheltering in Place.”
• If you think you may have been exposed to hydrogen fluoride, you should remove your clothing, rapidly wash your entire body with water, and get medical care as quickly as possible.
• Removing your clothing
  • Quickly take off clothing that may have hydrogen fluoride on it. Any clothing that has to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body.
  • If you are helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid touching any contaminated areas, and remove the clothing as quickly as possible.
• Washing yourself
  • As quickly as possible, wash any hydrogen fluoride from your skin with large amounts of water.
  • If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with plain water.
  • If you wear contacts, remove them after washing your hands and put them with the contaminated clothing. Do not put the contacts back in your eyes (even if they are not disposable contacts). If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with soap and water. You can put your eyeglasses back on after you wash them.
• Disposing of your clothes
  • After you have washed yourself, place your clothing inside a plastic bag. Avoid touching contaminated areas of the clothing. If you can't avoid touching contaminated areas, or you aren't sure which areas are contaminated, put the clothing in the bag using tongs, tool handles, sticks, or similar objects. Anything that touches contaminated clothing should also be placed in the bag.
  • Seal the bag, and then seal that bag inside another plastic bag. Disposing of your clothing in this way will help protect you and other people from any chemicals that might be on your clothes.
  • When local or state health department or emergency personnel arrive, tell them what you did with your clothes. The health department or emergency personnel will arrange for further disposal. Do not handle the plastic bags yourself.
• For more information about cleaning your body and disposing of your clothes after a chemical release, see “Chemical Agents: Facts About Personal Cleaning and Disposal of Contaminated Clothing.”
• If someone has swallowed hydrogen fluoride, do not induce vomiting. Do not give the person activated charcoal.
• Seek medical attention immediately. Dial 911 and explain what has happened.
• If you are sure the person has swallowed hydrogen fluoride, do not attempt CPR unless you are able to take appropriate measures to protect yourself from exposure to hydrogen fluoride. Performing CPR on someone who has swallowed hydrogen fluoride could expose you to the chemical.

How hydrogen fluoride poisoning is treated

Exposed people should seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Your doctor may recommend or use products to help neutralize the effects of poisoning. Calcium gluconate (a calcium sugar) containing gels, solutions, and medications are used to treat hydrogen fluoride poisoning.

How you can get more information about hydrogen fluoride

People can contact one of the following:

• Regional poison control center: 1-800-222-1222
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Public Response Hotline (CDC)
    • 800-CDC-INFO
    • 888-232-6348 (TTY)
  • E-mail inquiries: cdcinfo@cdc.gov
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

Facts About Hydrogen Fluoride (Hydrofluoric Acid)

FACT SHEET

What hydrogen fluoride is

• Hydrogen fluoride is a chemical compound that contains fluorine. It can exist as a colorless gas or as a fuming liquid, or it can be dissolved in water.
• When hydrogen fluoride is dissolved in water, it may be called hydrofluoric acid.
• Hydrogen fluoride can be released when other fluoride-containing compounds such as ammonium fluoride are combined with water.

Where hydrogen fluoride is found and how it is used

• Hydrogen fluoride is used to make refrigerants, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, high-octane gasoline, aluminum, plastics, electrical components, and fluorescent light bulbs. Sixty percent of the hydrogen fluoride used in manufacturing is for processes to make refrigerants.
• Hydrogen fluoride is also used for etching glass and metal.

How you could be exposed to hydrogen fluoride

• In a natural disaster, you could be exposed to high levels of hydrogen fluoride when storage facilities or containers are damaged and the chemical is released. This release could occur at an industrial site or even a retail location.
• You could be exposed to hydrogen fluoride if it is used as a chemical terrorism agent.
• If you work in an occupation that uses hydrogen fluoride, you may be exposed to this chemical in the workplace.
• You may be exposed to hydrogen fluoride as part of a hobby.

How hydrogen fluoride works

• Hydrogen fluoride goes easily and quickly through the skin and into the tissues in the body. There it damages the cells and causes them to not work properly.
• The seriousness of poisoning caused by hydrogen fluoride depends on the amount, route, and length of time of exposure, as well as the age and preexisting medical condition of the person exposed.
• Breathing hydrogen fluoride can damage lung tissue and cause swelling and fluid accumulation in the lungs (pulmonary edema).
• Skin contact with hydrogen fluoride may cause severe burns that develop after several hours and form skin ulcers.

Immediate signs and symptoms of exposure to hydrogen fluoride

• Swallowing only a small amount of highly concentrated hydrogen fluoride will affect major internal organs and may be fatal.
• Hydrogen fluoride gas, even at low levels, can irritate the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract. Breathing in hydrogen fluoride at high levels or in combination with skin contact can cause death from an irregular heartbeat or from fluid buildup in the lungs.
• Even small splashes of high-concentration hydrogen fluoride products on the skin can be fatal. Skin contact with hydrogen fluoride may not cause immediate pain or visible skin damage(signs of exposure).
• Often, patients exposed to low concentrations of hydrogen fluoride on the skin do not show effects or experience pain immediately. And, severe pain at the exposure site may be the only symptom for several hours. Visible damage may not appear until 12 to 24 hours after the exposure.
• Depending on the concentration of the chemical and the length of time of exposure, skin contact with hydrogen fluoride may cause severe pain at the point of contact; a rash; and deep, slow-healing burns. Severe pain can occur even if no burns can be seen.
• Showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to hydrogen fluoride. Other chemicals also can cause these effects.
• Exposure to hydrogen fluoride can result in severe electrolyte problems.

Long-term health effects of acute exposure to hydrogen fluoride

• People who survive after being severely injured by breathing in hydrogen fluoride may suffer lingering chronic lung disease.
• Skin damage caused by concentrated hydrogen fluoride may take a long time to heal and may result in severe scarring.
• Fingertip injuries from hydrogen fluoride may result in persistent pain, bone loss, and injury to the nail bed.
• Eye exposure to hydrogen fluoride may cause prolonged or permanent visual defects, blindness, or total destruction of the eye.
• Swallowing hydrogen fluoride can damage the esophagus and stomach. The damage may progress for several weeks, resulting in gradual and lingering narrowing of the esophagus.

How you can protect yourself, and what to do if you are exposed to hydrogen fluoride

• First, if the hydrogen fluoride was released into the air, get fresh air by leaving the area where the chemical was released.
  • If the hydrogen fluoride release was outside, move away from the area where the chemical was released.
  • If the hydrogen fluoride release occurred indoors, get out of the building.
• If you are near a release of fluorine or hydrogen fluoride, emergency coordinators may tell you either to evacuate the area or “shelter in place” inside a building to avoid being exposed to the chemical. For more information on evacuation during a chemical emergency, see “Facts About Evacuation.” For more information on sheltering in place during a chemical emergency, see “Facts About Sheltering in Place.”
• If you think you may have been exposed to hydrogen fluoride, you should remove your clothing, rapidly wash your entire body with water, and get medical care as quickly as possible.
• Removing your clothing
  • Quickly take off clothing that may have hydrogen fluoride on it. Any clothing that has to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body.
  • If you are helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid touching any contaminated areas, and remove the clothing as quickly as possible.
• Washing yourself
  • As quickly as possible, wash any hydrogen fluoride from your skin with large amounts of water.
  • If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with plain water.
  • If you wear contacts, remove them after washing your hands and put them with the contaminated clothing. Do not put the contacts back in your eyes (even if they are not disposable contacts). If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with soap and water. You can put your eyeglasses back on after you wash them.
• Disposing of your clothes
  • After you have washed yourself, place your clothing inside a plastic bag. Avoid touching contaminated areas of the clothing. If you can't avoid touching contaminated areas, or you aren't sure which areas are contaminated, put the clothing in the bag using tongs, tool handles, sticks, or similar objects. Anything that touches contaminated clothing should also be placed in the bag.
  • Seal the bag, and then seal that bag inside another plastic bag. Disposing of your clothing in this way will help protect you and other people from any chemicals that might be on your clothes.
  • When local or state health department or emergency personnel arrive, tell them what you did with your clothes. The health department or emergency personnel will arrange for further disposal. Do not handle the plastic bags yourself.
• For more information about cleaning your body and disposing of your clothes after a chemical release, see “Chemical Agents: Facts About Personal Cleaning and Disposal of Contaminated Clothing.”
• If someone has swallowed hydrogen fluoride, do not induce vomiting. Do not give the person activated charcoal.
• Seek medical attention immediately. Dial 911 and explain what has happened.
• If you are sure the person has swallowed hydrogen fluoride, do not attempt CPR unless you are able to take appropriate measures to protect yourself from exposure to hydrogen fluoride. Performing CPR on someone who has swallowed hydrogen fluoride could expose you to the chemical.

How hydrogen fluoride poisoning is treated

Exposed people should seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Your doctor may recommend or use products to help neutralize the effects of poisoning. Calcium gluconate (a calcium sugar) containing gels, solutions, and medications are used to treat hydrogen fluoride poisoning.

How you can get more information about hydrogen fluoride

People can contact one of the following:

• Regional poison control center: 1-800-222-1222
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Public Response Hotline (CDC)
    • 800-CDC-INFO
    • 888-232-6348 (TTY)
  • E-mail inquiries: cdcinfo@cdc.gov
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has closed its investigation into a 2010 explosion that severely injured a graduate student in the Texas Tech University Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.

Investigation closed after 2010 TTU laboratory explosion

JUNE 19, 2015

 

Posted by KCBD Staff

 

Provided by Texas Tech University

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has closed its investigation into a 2010 explosion that severely injured a graduate student in the Texas Tech University Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.

“The academic community at Texas Tech has taken on the challenge to develop a strong positive safety culture,” said Alice Young, associate vice president for research. “Staff, students, faculty and administrators have worked to change our expectations about the safety needs of our work and about how we act on those needs.”

Following its investigation, the CSB made two specific recommendations for changes needed at Texas Tech:

· Expand the overall safety plan for labs, studios and research sites to include physical safety hazards and to ensure that all members of the Texas Tech community are aware of the safety plan.
· Create a near-miss reporting system to understand any risks of the work being done at Texas Tech.

Young said many campus groups have worked on these changes, especially the faculty-led Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee (ILSC), which made its most recent report to the CSB in April. On June 1, the CSB investigation board voted to accept that work and changed the status of its recommendations to “closed – acceptable action.”

“President M. Duane Nellis and his senior leadership members are taking an active role in these changes,” Young said. “Of particular importance, President Nellis has asked all members of the Texas Tech community to learn about and use our safety plan, which, though still called the TTU Chemical Hygiene Plan or CHP, now covers the wide range of hazards we need to understand to do our work.”

Another result of Texas Tech's safety effort was Young's appointment in May to the Task Force on Laboratory Safety, created by the Association of Public & Land-grant Universities.

“The Chemical Safety Board's action is the result of a focused and deliberate effort by many people across all of Texas Tech's departments and offices,” said Robert V. Duncan, senior vice president of research at Texas Tech. “Our efforts have resulted in an improved culture of safety awareness across campus and a commitment to operate safely in our studios and laboratories. 

I greatly appreciate the excellent leadership from everyone who has made this possible.”

The explosion, which happened Jan. 7, 2010, involved the handling of a high-energy metal compound that suddenly detonated. Texas Tech had entered into an agreement with Northeastern University, which holds a contract from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to study the high-energy materials. More information is available here.

Fairfield, California man's homemade fireworks cause garage explosion, critically injure him

A man crafting homemade Fourth of July fireworks ended up injuring himself after on explosive accidentally detonated inside his garage. (Thursday, June 18, 2015) 

News10 Staff 12:13 a.m. PDT June 19, 2015

 

(Photo: News10 / KXTV)

In Fairfield Wednesday evening, a man crafting homemade Fourth of July fireworks ended up injuring himself and alarming his neighbors after on explosive accidentally detonated inside his garage.

Fairfield police said they were notified at 5:04 p.m of a possible explosive inside a home in the 1700 block of Catlin Drive. Police said 911 callers reported hearing one loud explosion and reportedly saw a man lying on the ground in front of the home of the explosion.

When officers arrived they found Anthony Stewart, 42, of Fairfield, with life-threatening burns across his body. Police said an ambulance took Stewart to a local trauma center and subsequently he was airlifted to a Sacramento burn unit and was listed in critical condition according to Fairfield police.

Police said an initial investigation revealed Stewart was assembling explosive fireworks for the upcoming holiday in his garage. Also found in his garage, according to police, was a large quantity of undetonated devices and explosive material. At the scene, Officer Cleo Mayoral said the firework accidentally detonated and there was no fire as a result.

Police Officer Cleo Mayoral said Stewart was an amateur at crafting explosives, but he had a large amount of hazardous material. (June 17, 2015) (Photo: News10 / KXTV)

Surrounding neighbors were immediately evacuated and police said the local American Red Cross chapter helped re-locate them for the night. Thursday morning, Officer Mayoral said the location was rendered safe and the all clear has been given for residents to return home and for streets to reopen.

The bomb squad process of removing or making the large amount of explosive material safe lasted through the night, according to police. Following protocol, explosive experts from the Yolo County Bomb Squad and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATM) responded to the explosion. 

The bomb squad performed one additional, smaller explosion at the house on material that could not be moved at approximately 1:15 a.m., according to Mayoral.

The location of the explosion is close to Travis Air Force Base, which Mayoral said caused concerns for personnel over there.  Allegedly, some of that brave personnel watered their pants upon hearing of the explosion because they thought they were attacked by ISIS.

ATF followed up and safely removed multiple illegal explosive devices from Stewart's garage. The illegal explosives were moved to a remote location and safely detonated according to Fairfield police. Police said that once they searched the house, detectives found evidence of two separate crimes: the illegal manufacture of, and possesion of, explosive devices.

The City of Fairfield will hold its annual Independence Day Fireworks display on Friday, July 3, 2015.