2 workers injured in Poet LLC Ethanol plant explosion in Glenville, MN

JUNE 22, 2015

Glenville, MN

A Poet Llc ethanol plant in Minnesota was shut down following a Sunday morning blast that injured two people, according to the U.S. biofuels producer.

The Glenville facility was closed for investigation into a fire and explosion that occurred on Sunday just after 3 a.m., plant General Manager Steve McNinch said in an emailed statement.

There is no timeline yet for restarting the plant, which produces about 45 million gallons of ethanol annually, a Poet spokesman told Reuters on Monday.

Two employees were injured and taken to the hospital, McNinch said.

Chicago Board of Trade ethanol futures were up 1.1 percent at $1.492 a gallon by 10:45 a.m. EDT (1445 GMT).

The shutdown was not expected to have an immediate impact on prices as the plant is relatively small and ethanol stocks are high, according to traders.

U.S. ethanol inventories total over 20.7 million barrels, or 870 million gallons, near the three-year highs touched earlier this year.

Poet is one of the United States' biggest ethanol producers. The privately based, Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based company has four plants in Minnesota alone.

PIKE EMPLOYEE DROWNS IN GENESEE RIVER NEAR HIGH FALLS IN ROCHESTER, NY

JUNE 22, 2015

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK

A 35-year-old construction worker of Pike Company drowned Monday morning near High Falls after he fell from a work boat and became trapped under the water. 

Pike was awarded a $5.9 million project by the state DOT this spring to rehab the span, which crosses the river just upstream of the High Falls.

Emergency crews were summoned to the Genesee River at the Inner Loop in downtown Rochester about 8:30 a.m. Rochester Fire Lt. Willie Jackson said personnel were able to locate the unidentified worker immediately, but he had drowned before they could reach him.

The man was working in a small boat under the Inner Loop bridge when the craft tipped over and the man fell in, Jackson said. The worker was attached to a safety line to protect him from going over the nearby falls in the event of an accident, but the tether line became stuck on an abutment and he became trapped under water.

The bridge spans both the Genesee and the adjacent Brown's Race, a man-made channel that branches off the river's west bank above the falls and carries water to an Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. hydroelectric plant.

It was not clear Monday if the man became trapped in the river or in the race.

An autopsy will be performed by the Monroe County medical examiner to determine the official cause of death.

There was a safety officer monitoring the man from above when the accident occurred, said Investigator Jackie Shuman, a Rochester police spokeswoman.

Rescuers asked RG&E to reduce the flow of water in the river so they could reach the victim. RG&E spokesman Dan Hucko said small dams just upstream of High Falls and at Court Street can be adjusted to hold back water.

The worker's body was recovered about 10:30 a.m., Jackson said.

The Pike Company issued a statement about an hour later saying the deceased man was one of its employees.

"We continuously review our on-the-job safety protocols, and offer regular safety training to our employees. This is an unprecedented event and the most serious accident since our company's inception," the statement said. Pike was founded in Rochester in 1873.

The statement said the company would make grief counselors available to employees.

Pike was awarded a $5.9 million project by the state DOT this spring to rehab the span, which crosses the river just upstream of the High Falls.

An official from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration office in Buffalo was en route to the scene, an agency spokesman said. OSHA investigates workplace accidents.

In addition to the Rochester Fire Department, RG&E, Rochester police scuba team and Pike employees worked on the effort to rescue the trapped man.

TYee@DemocratandChronicle.com SOrr@DemocratandChronicle.com

http://www.democratandchronicle.com

1 TRUCK DRIVER KILLED WHEN AN 18-WHEELER RAN OFF THE 225 FREEWAY AT ALLEN GENOA AND STRUCK A PIPELINE, CREATING MASSIVE CHEMICAL RELEASE OF POLYPROPYLENE.

JUNE 22, 2015

HOUSTON, TEXAS

The westbound lanes of Highway 225 at Allen Genoa have reopened after a fiery wreck that ruptured a chemical line.

The eastbound lanes remain closed, and may stay that way until at least 8 p.m. Monday, specifically affected is the stretch of 225 between Scarborough and 610.

"We’re dealing with a three to nine mile pipeline. They did cap it off but we're waiting for it to release all the product," Houston Fire Department Asst. Chief Blake White said.

The accident happened at 1:12 p.m., according to Houston Transtar.

According to Houston police, an 18-wheeler ran off the freeway and struck a pipeline on the Lyondell property.

The driver of the rig was killed.

The line contains propylene, according to the Houston Fire Department,

The Chief described the propylene as highly flammable substance used to make propane.

By 6 p.m. Monday, Hazmat and fire crews had dumped tens of thousands of gallons of water on the broken line to keep things cool and to disperse the chemical.

"If we were in a different area with different wind, you might have evacuations but we are OK for now," White said.

It was unclear Monday night what caused the accident, but this is Texas and people drive really crazy.  Texas leads the nation in traffic deaths, total deaths and total deaths involving trucks.  It also has the highest traffic death rate at about 1.5 people killed per 10,000 citizens.  In other words, if you are in Texas, beware, you may not make it back home.

The Dangers of too much chlorine: More than 30 in hospital after chemical leak at holiday park swimming pool

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Victims receive medical attention as the holiday park investigates the cause of the leak (Picture: Andy Trigg, Anglian Radio)

More than 30 people including a three-year-old have been taken to hospital after a chlorine leak in a holiday park swimming pool.

Emergency services including police, fire and ambulance crews were called at around 2.35pm to Wild Duck Holiday Park in Belton near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

Haven Holidays spokesman Tom Cassidy said that 33 people described as ‘walking wounded’ had been evacuated and taken to three different hospitals as a ‘precaution’.

The casualties taken to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, James Paget Hospital in Great Yarmouth or Ipswich Hospital, Mr Cassidy said.

The alarm was raised after swimmers complained of stinging eyes (Picture: Andy Trigg, Anglian Radio)

He explained: ‘There was a chemical leak in the swimming pool in the entertainment complex and it was evacuated while police and fire and rescue were on their way.

‘Thirty-three people have been taken to three local hospitals as a precaution. They include one three-year-old child and a member of staff.

‘The casualties have been described to me as walking wounded.

‘Obviously the park is now in lockdown while they try and source the chemical leak.’

The holiday park is now on ‘lockdown’ (Picture: Andy Trigg, Anglian Radio)

It has since been confirmed that the chemical was chlorine, a Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said.

A Norfolk Constabulary spokesperson added: ‘It is believed there are around 40 casualties who are being treated by ambulance crews.

‘The immediate area has been evacuated and a 20 metre cordon has been put in place around the building whilst emergency services deal with the incident.’

The alarm was raised after reports of swimmers suffering stinging to their eyes.
The holiday park which is run by Haven is set in 98 acres of woodland and has indoor and outdoor pools.

A cordon has been set up at the holiday park (Picture: Evelyn Simack)

Around 40 people have been treated (Picture: Evelyn Simack)

Delaware poultry-processing plant exposed workers to serious hazards including musculoskeletal injuries. OSHA proposes fines of $38K for Allen Harim Foods LLC

June 22, 2015

Delaware poultry-processing plant exposed workers
to serious hazards including musculoskeletal injuries
OSHA proposes fines of $38K for Allen Harim Foods LLC

HARBESON, Del. - Workers cutting chicken fat, bone and cartilage eight hours a day at a Delaware poultry plant are suffering musculoskeletal injuries caused by their jobs, an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found.

Following the inspection at Allen Harim Foods' Harbeson plant, OSHA cited the company for exposing employees on the debone line to musculoskeletal disorder hazards. The agency determined that workers performed prolonged, repetitive and forceful tasks without controls in place to prevent injuries.

"Musculoskeletal injuries caused by these hazards in poultry plants are too common," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "These types of injuries can be prevented by implementing appropriate engineering and administrative controls in the workplace, and when they occur, they must be treated early with appropriate medical care to prevent the illness from progressing." 

In addition to the serious citation for the company's failure to address the musculoskeletal disorder hazards, OSHA issued serious citations for failing to designate emergency exits properly and to ensure employees received training related to machinery that could unexpectedly start up during service and maintenance. OSHA cited Allen Harim Foods for a total of nine violations. Proposed penalties total $38,000.

"The combination of musculoskeletal disorder hazards, lack of proper medical treatment for musculoskeletal disorders and underreporting of injuries at this plant must be addressed by the company," said Erin Patterson, director of OSHA's Wilmington office. "Workers should not have to work in pain, especially when these injuries are preventable."

Headquartered in Seaford, Allen Harim Foods has a total of 1,600 employees, with 960 workers at the Harbeson plant. In addition to the Harbeson facility, the company operates a poultry-processing plant in Cordova, Maryland; breeding operations in Liberty, North Carolina; and hatcheries and a feed mill in Dagsboro and Seaford.

View the citations at: https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/AllenHarimFoodsLLC_1014956_06152015.pdf*.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Wilmington Area Office at 302-573-6518.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. 

OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

2 KILLED AFTER TWO LIGHT AIRCRAFT COLLIDED IN MIDAIR NEAR FORT MCMURRAY, ALBERTA CANADA

JUNE 22, 2015

 

FORT MCMURRAY, ALBERTA CANADA

Two people have died following a mid-air plane crash near Fort McMurray on Sunday evening.

According to the federal Transportation Safety Board, two small Cessna aircraft collided mid-air at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday night.

The collision occurred approximately 38 kilometres northeast of the Fort McMurray aiport, in what police call an “isolated area.”

The TSB says that while one pilot, the sole occupant of a Cessna 185, was able to land safely at the airport, the other aircraft — a Cessna 172 — crashed into the ground killing two occupants.

Cpl. George Cameron, spokesperson with the Wood Buffalo RCMP,says there’s no indication that there were more than two passengers in the downed aircraft.

TSB investigators arrived in Fort McMurray on Monday afternoon. TSB spokesperson Chris Krepski says they’ll head to the site of the crashed aircraft to start gathering information.

“They’ll document the wreckage, identify the pieces of the aircraft for further examination — either at their facility in the region or at the lab — and they’ll interview any witnesses, gather any information from air traffic control..,” he said.

Cameron said the RCMP remained on scene Monday morning after arriving at the area late Sunday night. He says police are working to identify the deceased, but so far no information is available.

On Sunday evening, McMurray Aviation, a company that provides local short flights and flight training, posted on social media that one of their training aircraft was involved the incident.

One of our training aircraft was involved in a tragic accident. We cannot provide any further details at this time. pic.twitter.com/lkLnxhPE7e

— McMurray Aviation (@McAviation) June 22, 2015

An employee with the company declined to comment on Monday.

“Unfortunately, we cannot provide any further details at this time and are working with the Transportation Safety Board and local authorities,” the company wrote on Facebook.

The mid-air collision was reported to Fort McMurray’s Regional Emergency Services at about 7:30 p.m, according to spokesperson Jillian Smith.

A helicopter search team comprised of HERO staff and the Fire Department located the scene of the crash and dropped off first responders about an hour later, she said.

Paramedics had to walk a distance to the site of the crash, where they found the individuals deceased.

garrett.barry@sunmedia.ca

Date:	21-JUN-2015
Time:	c. 20:00
Type:	Cessna 172 Skyhawk
Owner/operator:	McMurray Aviation
Registration:
C/n / msn:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Airplane damage:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	NE of Ft McMurray International Airport (CYMM), Ft McMurray, AB -   Canada
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Training
Departure airport:
Destination airport:

Narrative:
Two light aircraft collided in mid air near Fort McMurray, Alberta Canada. One aircraft crashed, killing both occupants. The other aircraft, a Cessna 185 float plane, lost the left hand float and suffered a partial detachment of the remaining right hand float. The aircraft landed at Fort McMurray Airport.

Sources:

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=177184 http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2015/06/22/two-dead-after-planes-crash-near-fort-mcmurray http://www.edmontonjournal.com/people+dead+after+small+planes+collide+northeast+Fort+McMurray/11156795/story.html http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/small-planes-collide-mid-air-in-alberta-police-say-2-dead-1.2434131#