MEC&F Expert Engineers : 07/19/16

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

A gas explosion at the Marshall Power Plant in MO, resulted injury for one unnamed Marshall Municipal Utilities employee





One injured in gas explosion at Marshall Power Plant Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Arron Hustead/Staff Writer



The Marshall Power Plant, where one employee was injured in a gas explosion Tuesday afternoon, July 19. No update on the employee's condition was available, though he reportedly left the facility under his own power.
(Arron Hustead/Democrat-News)  A gas explosion at the Marshall Power Plant resulted injury for one unnamed Marshall Municipal Utilities employee Tuesday, July 19.

No update to the employee's condition could be provided, though he reportedly was able to walk from the facility under his own power. MMU was in the process of testing the two power generators located in the facility, Units No. 4 and No. 5, to prepare for a planned maximum operation test run sometime next week. The explosion occurred while employees were in the process of testing the gas pilot for Unit No. 5. General Manager Kyle Gibbs said the unit had not been in operation for approximately a year.

The unit, installed in 1967, had been capable of burning either coal or gas. Gibbs said the unit would likely never be started again and have to be replaced with something else, though both decisions would have to be made by the Board of Public Works.

Gibbs reported significant damage to the unit and the plant, which was shut down pending a safety inspection. Approximately 15 employees were reported in the facility at the time of the explosion. Gibbs said they were very lucky to have not had worse injuries result from the incident.

About 60 farm workers, including several teenagers, were treated in rural McLean, IL after being exposed to residual pesticide



Farm workers treated after pesticide exposure near McLean

Maria Nagle and Kevin Barlow mnagle@pantagraph.com kbarlow@pantagraph.com
5 hrs ago


McLEAN, IL — About 60 farm workers, including several teenagers, were treated in rural McLean after being exposed to residual pesticide Tuesday morning.


The pesticide was sprayed Monday night and the workers "started to feel the effects" while they were in the field detasseling corn Tuesday morning, said Sgt. Don Gamble of the McLean County Sheriff's Department.


Eric Fulk, chief of the Mount Hope-Funks Grove Fire Department, said the workers "just entered the field too soon after pesticide was put on by aerial spray."


“They were starting to feel some skin irritations more than anything,” Fulk said.


The crews were then called in from the field and remained on buses while officials were notified.


At least some of those affected were contract workers of Monsanto.


“The safety of our contract workers is our number one priority,” said external affairs lead Sam Murphey. “As soon as crew members reported symptoms, the entire crew was instructed to leave the field, and decontamination started. Right now, our focus is on making sure the workers are okay and receive any care they need. We’ll be fully reviewing the situation in the coming days.”


The workers were decontaminated with soap and water at a tent sent up in a side yard of a nearby farmhouse. They were then transported to the McLean Christian Church and allowed to go home about 3 p.m.




Several emergency departments including the Normal Fire Department, Bloomington Hazardous Materials Response Team, Bloomington Fire Department, McLean County Sheriff’s Department, Allin Township Fire Department, Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm Service, McLean Fire Department, Minier Fire Department and Danvers Fire Department all assisted at the scene.


Crews set up a command center at a farmhouse located near the intersection of McLean County Road 400 North and McLean Road, roughly between the towns of McLean and Armington and near the McLean/Logan county line. The sheriff's department was notified about 10:12 a.m. Tuesday, said Gamble.


Spokesmen for OSF St. Joseph Medical Center and Advocate BroMenn Medical Center said no patients had been transported to either hospital.


Tom Bielema, area director for the Peoria office of Occupational Safety and Health Administration, declined comment about the incident when reached late Tuesday morning.


However, he said, the office typically responds to such situations in some way. The agency has up to six months to complete any investigation.


In July 2013, about 80 field workers were treated in Urbana after they were accidentally sprayed with fungicide from a crop-dusting plane near Pesotum, according to The Associated Press. In July 2011, two field workers were killed and two more injured when they were hit by an electrical shock from a field irrigation system near Tampico, according to the Chicago Tribune.


Detasseling involves removing tassels that grow on a corn plant, which forces cross-pollination. The steps involved include finding the tassel, pulling it off, and throwing it to the ground.

Diesel fuel spill after the 48-foot fishing vessel Gladstone struck a rock near Jones Island, Wash.


Coast Guard, partner agencies respond to pollution after vessel hits rock near Jones Island, Wash.
Jul 19th, 2016 


A sheen can be seen near the 48-foot fishing vessel Gladstone that struck a rock near Jones Island, Wash., July 18, 2016. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

SEATTLE — Coast Guard and Washington Dept. of Ecology personnel responded to pollution caused after a vessel hit a rock near Jones Island, Monday evening.

Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound incident management division personnel opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and contracted Global Diving and Salvage to mitigate any further pollution from the vessel.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget were notified at 4:36 p.m. by a TowBoat U.S. crew that a 48-foot fishing vessel struck a rock and was taking on water.

Two Good Samaritans responded and removed the owner safely from the boat.

The vessel reportedly had up to 900 gallons of diesel fuel aboard, 700 gallons were recovered from the vessel.

Other agencies aiding in pollution response include Island Oil Spill Association and Vessel Assist.

“Ensuring the safety of the maritime environment, including responding to pollution incidents, is a core mission of the Coast Guard,” said Lt. j.g. Matthew Bolton, response officer, Sector Puget Sound Incident Management Division. “We take all reports of pollution very serious and will work with our state and local partner agencies as well as porfessional orginizations to ensure a proper response and cleanup.”

Vessel Assist sealed the vessel’s hull and transported it to Deer Harbor Marina where Global Diving and Salvage will conduct defueling operations.

Metropolitan Engineering, Consulting, Forensics, and Environmental Remediation Services. Construction, Investigation, Remediation and Forensic Expert Engineers


Construction Defects, Construction Claims, Engineering, Property & Casualty Investigations, Assessment, Site Investigation, Remediation, Litigation and Indoor-Air Expert Engineers

Bill Stephan, PhD, PE, CIH, CHMM, JD, MBA
Principal Engineer

P.O. Box 520
Tenafly, New Jersey 07670-0520
Phone: (973) 897-8162
Fax: (973) 810-0440



__________________________________________________



Firm Overview


The engineering and forensic firm of Metropolitan Forensics and Consulting Engineering and Environmental Services was established for the purpose of providing a high value service to the insurance industry and to the insured companies or individuals. Our founding principal (Bill Stephan) is a licensed professional engineer in several states, including, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.



We specialize in the in-situ remediation of petroleum and chlorinated spills, the defense of liability claims, the investigation and defense of first or third party insurance claims and the handling of subrogation claims.  We are also experts on oil and gas energy sector issues (design, investigations, construction oversight), renewable energy sector (wind turbines, solar panels, biofuels, etc), vapor intrusion evaluation, vapor phase and transport and in design on vapor mitigation systems.  Additionally, we offer forensic engineering services, including age-dating of contaminant releases, construction defects, oversight, evaluation of remedial alternatives, sub-slab ventilation system design and installation.  The list of our core services is:



  • Cause and Origin Investigations
  • Construction Failure Analysis (Residential, Industrial and Commercial)
  • Structural Integrity Evaluation
  • Site Investigation
  • Tank removals and tank installations; licensed and insured to perform entire UST work
  • In-Situ Remediation of Soil and Groundwater
  • Vapor intrusion, indoor air evaluation and mitigation
  • Causation
  • Forensic Investigations (age-dating)
  • Oversight
  • Review of Remedial Action Work Plans
  • Reserve Estimation
  • Cost Allocation
  • RAWP Preparation
  • Site Remediation
  • Cleanup Level Development and Negotiation
  • Subrogation
  • Expert Witness/Litigation Support
  • Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) Services
  • Construction Claims (Delay, Differing Site Conditions, Loss of Productivity, Acceleration, and others)

 





















Additional Specialty Service Areas

Age Dating
Boilers & Burners
Bridges
Building Codes
Building Inspections


Construction Accident
   Reconstruction
Construction Defects
Construction Delay Claims

Construction Surety Claims
Construction Disputes
Construction Differing Condition Claims
Construction Oversight
Construction Management
Construction Acceleration Claims

Construction Failures
Construction Injuries
Contractor Performance Issues
Corrosion


Defective Designs
Defective Roadway Design
   Evaluations


Earthquake
Electrical Accidents/Injuries
Electrical Equipment Failures
Electrical Fires
Elevators, Escalators
   & Conveyors
Embedded Software Hazards
   & Analysis
Equipment Failures
Errors and Omissions
Explosions

Failure Analysis
Fire
Fire Codes
Fire Protection Systems
Fire Suppression Systems

Flood Damage Assessment

Foundation Systems

Gas Systems

Hailstorm damage

Heating & Ventilation Systems
Heavy Construction
Highway/Roadway Design
Human Factors


Indoor Air Quality
Laboratory Services
Ladders, Scaffolding Falls
   & Failures
Lightning

Mechanical Defect Evaluations
Metallurgical Age Dating
Mold Causation
Natural Disasters/Weather
   Related Issues
Nuclear Energy
Occupational Hazards
   & Illness

Piping
Playground Equipment Injuries
Plumbing
Product Failures
Roofing Problems & Failures
Safety Codes
Safety & Human Factors
   Engineering
Scalding
Scene Mapping and Photographs
Sick Building Syndrome
Sports Equipment Injuries
Standardized Codes
Steam Systems
Subrogation Issues


Transportation Issues
Trips, Slips & Falls
Underground Storage Tanks
Utilities Expertise
Vibration
Water Damage
Windstorm



Mission Statement


Our mission is to work as an extension of our clients to expeditiously achieve the most economically favorable resolution of claims on their behalf and on behalf of their insured. We have developed and will continue to create new solutions to the technical problems and issues which are facing the insurance industry and the insureds today.  

Metropolitan provides forensic engineering work (age-dating or fingerprinting), site remediation, auditing, cost control and litigation support services to insurance carriers, their insureds and to private or public companies.  In its risk management role, examines, manages and audits environmental claims to ensure that assessment and remediation services provided to both carriers and policy holders are reasonable and necessary, properly rendered and appropriately charged. 



In its litigation support role, Metropolitan assists carriers and their counsel to ensure that litigious disputes are resolved fairly and reimbursement benefits are provided when appropriate.  The corporations service area includes the entire United States, with our corporate office located in Northern New Jersey.  The Firm's professional staff also travels regularly throughout the United States on assignment.


Forensics at Metropolitan


There are many issues associated with disputes over responsibility for cleanup. Who, what, when, where, and how chemicals were released can be investigated. The tools of forensic investigation include mathematical models, statistical models, fate and transport calculations, chromatography, lead isotope analyses, time of travel assessments, library search site characterization, tracer additives, and recently developed software applications.



Effective forensic project management should include an evaluation of multiple forensic tools based on site specific circumstances. The process of evaluation and the ultimate selection of the forensic tool are critical to a successful outcome. When project budgets allow, combining forensic methods for corroborative evidence can substantially strengthen your client’s position in an effort to prevent or support litigation. The effective forensic consultant must be well acquainted with an ever expanding list of analytical methods, environmental regulations, assessment procedures and remedial technologies.



The forensic field is one that utilizes a wide range of scientific tools to identify and characterize complex adverse environmental events. Some of the scientific disciplines involved in forensics include engineering principles (biological, physical and chemical), hydrology, lithology, geology, site history, site practices, mathematics, and statistics. These areas may be combined with technologies such as respiratory analyses, chromatography/mass spectrometry and chemical fingerprinting methods to answer complex questions with the ultimate goal of establishing responsibility for a particular event. Accurate, defensible forensic analyses are an essential component of any strategy that attempts to resolve the extent of the insurer or insured client responsibilities in the cleanup of contaminants.


Contact us online or call 973-897-8162 to learn more about our forensic services.



Property Damage Services at Metropolitan

Metropolitan assists property owners, claims professionals, businesses, and attorneys in   the assessment of the cause & origin (C&O), extent of damage and required restoration after pipe bursts, settlements, manufacturing and construction failures, fire, flood, earthquake, or storm damage.  Our teams of engineers have extensive experience in the many systems that make up a building including structural, mechanical and electrical systems.   We also have the necessary background to evaluate property damage to items such as communications towers or solar panels. We can help determine alternative, appropriate, and cost effective solutions for repair or restoration of any damaged property, both commercial and residential. 

Providing Competent, Expert and Objective Investigative Engineering and Consulting Services.

Our experts are multi-skilled, competent, and objective professionals who apply their analytical and common sense skills to reconstruct, determine the root cause, and document the events that give rise to property, casualty, and liability claims.  Thorough investigations and detailed measurements/research help us distinguish between pre-existing conditions and sudden and accidental losses.



 






























Our investigations are:

·         Comprehensive & Accurate

·         Legible & Easy to Understand

·         Timely Performed

·         Delivered Quickly

·         Cost Effective

·         Clear & Concise

·         Developed by Professionals

·         Dependable

·         Our own uniform reporting system saves time and money.


Our Fast Track Investigation and Uniform Format Reporting systems allow us to conduct and deliver a comprehensive response to the assigned claim.  In most cases, we will obtain findings based on a site visit, visual observations, photographs, interviews, and field measurements.  Further investigations and testing will be provided upon request and approval by the client.



Forensic Investigation of Property Damage Claims

Metropolitan Consulting, Engineering & Forensics understands your need to complete a claim investigation accurately and efficiently as possible.  Whether it is accident reconstruction, damage due to environmental forces such as wind, water, hail, snow, tornado, etc.; fire origin & cause investigation or any other claim, the engineers at Metropolitan understand both you and your client want to resolve the claim.  The analysis you receive from Metropolitan will be accurate and complete, giving you the information needed in the claim adjustment and analysis.

Our services have extended beyond the forensic analysis phase into the remediation and repair phase of many large loss claims.  Upon the completion of the cause and origin (C&O) investigation, Metropolitan can provide our clients with complete working drawings and specifications needed to repair or rebuilt damaged buildings or other structures.  Metropolitan Consulting & Engineering’ staff possesses many-many years of experience in rehabilitation design, construction management, and project oversight to ensure the loss is restored in a timely and cost-effective manner without sacrificing quality.  Building code knowledge allows us to identify possible code upgrades as needed.  Metropolitan understands constructability and realizes making an insured whole goes beyond forensic investigation and design. We pride ourselves in providing practical solutions contractors can understand and follow.

At the forefront of available technology, we provide professionals and staff capable of handling a variety of engineering evaluations.  Our reports are clear, concise, complete and efficiently produced.  Our engineering objectives are achieved in an ethical manner consistent with the traditions and character of engineering professionals.

Contact us online or call 973-897-8162 to learn more about our property damage services.


Extensive Experience helping Sureties

Metropolitan also has extensive experience helping sureties fulfill their bond obligations resolve disputes after a contractor has defaulted.  This work includes the evaluation of contractor bid pricing, evaluation of the contractor’s ability to perform work, risk assessment, evaluation of termination, construction completion services, claim and litigation support services, loss recovery services, evaluation of payment bond claims, negotiation and settlement of payment bond claims, and construction defects investigation services.  Metropolitan has provided these services for commercial, development, educational, and assisted living projects.


Construction is a business fraught with risk.  Disputes over even the smallest of issues can quickly escalate, with crippling consequences to the project and the parties.  Over the years, the construction industry has developed various methods of contractually allocating the risk of project delay and disruption.  Some of these methods include liquidated damages provisions, "no damages for delay" clauses, mutual waivers of consequential damages, provisions that limit liability, claims notice provisions, and provisions addressing responsibility for the adequacy of the construction plans and specifications.  Parties frequently litigate the sufficiency of these risk-shifting efforts in conjunction with the underlying merits of delay and disruption disputes.
Construction Claims & Disputes
The most frequently encountered claims include:
1.            Construction Delay Claims
2.            Disruption and Loss of Labor Productivity Claims
3.            Design and Construction Defect Claims
4.            Force Majeure Claims
5.            Acceleration or Compression of the Schedule Claims
6.            Suspension, Termination and Default Claims
7.            Differing Site Conditions Claims
8.            Change Order and Extra Work Claims
9.            Cost Overrun Claims
10.         Unacceptable Workmanship or Substituted Material Claims
11.         Non-payment Claims (stop notice (or Notice to Withhold) claims, mechanics’ lien (only for private construction projects) and payment bond claims)



Forensic Engineering Experience Case Studies


Metropolitan staff has developed and utilized scientific methods to assist clients in a variety of ways related to their claim issues. The following is a partial list of such projects:

  • Provided expert witness services for plaintiff seeking remediation of contaminated groundwater that caused indoor air inhalation problems;
  • Testified that engineering and scientific evidence was improperly collected and analyzed and was inadequate to show the age of the release;
  • Origin and cause of retaining wall failures.  
  • Lightning damage to structures or electrical systems and equipment
  • Roof failure or collapse as a result of accumulated load, additional weight and snow drift at hundreds of commercial and residential properties.
  • Demonstrated that solvents in groundwater at client's property originated from off-site dry-cleaner and that client's site actually provided remediation for the off-site release of dry cleaning solvent;
  • Expert witness for property owner impacted by industrial waste disposal from industrial manufacturer;
  • Demonstrated that environmental analysis by a previous consultant for a manufacturing site was inadequate; as a result, the lender's concerns were alleviated and financing proceeded;
  • Chemical "age-dating" and contaminant transport analyses of petroleum in groundwater at a gas station showed that contaminants originated from other parties;
  • Age-dated petroleum release at a former gas station to show that the previous owner of the gas station caused groundwater contamination;
  • Age-dated petroleum releases at an industrial facility to show that the on-site plume was the result of an off-site source;
  • Prepared age-dating reports for over one-hundred residential fuel oil spills;
  • Assisted insurance companies attorneys in defending subrogation claims; was able to demonstrate that the forensic data collected by the first party consultant were collected and analyzed using invalid methods;
  • Demonstrated that structural damage to a residence was from a source other than the alleged high lake level
  • Collected evidence (for the primary responsible party) that identified other responsible parties to share in the cost of a Superfund cleanup;
  • Review of the site data at a bulk petroleum facility indicated that the site releases were not the result of regular oil transfer operations and that they were caused by the negligent actions of the insured’s agents; the case was settled in favor of the insurance company;
  • Was able to demonstrate that the majority of the removal actions at petroleum release sites were neither reasonable nor necessary; as a result of our opinion, the insurance client settled the claim in favorable terms;
  • At several drycleaner sites we were able to demonstrate that the age of the release was much earlier than the parties originally believed; as a result, the insurance client settled the claim at a fraction of the alleged liability;
  • We performed numerous flood and wind damage assessments at commercial and residential properties.
Contact us online or call 973-897-8162 to learn more about our forensic engineering services.




Site Remediation Services


 Characterizing and remediating contaminated sites involve some of the most complex and difficult issues for environmental lawyers and their clients. Problem areas include responding to regulators; negotiating enforcement settlements; negotiating or litigating cost allocation and recovery claims; working with the insured or insurer client, lawyers and regulators to develop efficient, cost-effective remediation approaches; and selling, buying, or developing contaminated properties.



Metropolitan staff has developed and applied an innovative approach to the use of sodium persulfate for the sequential in-situ treatment of subsurface contaminants through chemical oxidation followed by enhanced biological degradation through sulfate reduction. This approach has broad applicability to a wide range of contaminants, and shows strong cost-saving benefits through reducing the initial volume of chemical oxidant necessary and enhancing the in-situ biological degradation of contaminants.



Through proper subsurface geochemical characterization and chemical dosing design, the approach focuses on utilizing the oxidant for immediate mass reduction at the source area, followed by degradation or polishing of the residual contamination using sulfate reducing bacteria.  Depending upon the oxidant activation method, this approach is applicable to petroleum hydrocarbons including both volatiles and PAHs, chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) including chlorinated ethene, ethane and methane groups, as well as PCBs.


Contact us online or call 973-897-8162 to learn more about our Site Remediation Services.





Vapor Intrusion and Indoor-Air Studies


Vapor intrusion has received increased attention over the last few years near contaminated sites because some contaminants have the potential to migrate into nearby buildings and negatively affect indoor air quality. The accumulation of these volatile vapors in buildings can result in significant safety and health concerns.
To properly evaluate vapor intrusion a thorough evaluation of the building's ventilation system and subsurface conditions needs to be conducted by a knowledgeable professional in accordance with state and federal established procedures. 
The evaluation process typically includes a thorough building chemical inventory, the advancement of soil gas probes and the collection of soil gas samples. When indoor air quality problems are identified they can normally be resolved through the modification/installation of a properly designed ventilation system.
Metropolitan is well experienced with U.S. EPA and State vapor intrusion investigation techniques. We have completed numerous vapor intrusion and indoor air quality studies at commercial and residential properties. We have the experience to identify and resolve indoor vapor intrusion problems and the practical know-how to resolve indoor quality issues in an efficient and cost effective manner.
Contact us online or call 973-897-8162 to learn more about our Vapor Intrusion and Indoor Air Studies.




Metropolitan Engineering, Consulting, Forensics, and Environmental Remediation Services.


Construction, Investigation, Remediation and Forensic Expert  Engineers

P.O. Box 520

Tenafly, New Jersey 07670-0520

Ph.: (973) 897-8162

Fax: (973) 810-0440



Contact: Dr. Bill N. Stephan, PhD, PE, JD, CIH, MBA, CHMM






Insurance claim examiners, insureds, insurers, insurance adjusters and risk managers use Metropolitan for determining cause, evaluating the extent of damage, determining the age of the release, separating unrelated damage, analyzing loss scopes and managing restoration data, determining costs to repair, restore or replace, and preparing for insurance appraisals.



Attorneys call on Metropolitan for help when preparing for Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution such as arbitration and mediation


Investigation underway into cause of Tappan Zee Bridge crane collapse. Crane boom hoist cable may be was defective.




















Investigative reporter Jim Hoffer has teh details.

By Jim Hoffer
Updated 1 hr 44 mins ago
NEW YORK (WABC) -- The investigation into what caused the Tappan Zee Bridge crane collapse is underway, with weather already ruled out as a factor.

In the words of one crane expert, "something broke." The question is what and why.

How does a brand new crane, doing routine work suddenly collapse?

The 300-ton crawler crane with a vibrating hammer had been driving in huge bridge pilings when the the giant boom collapsed.

"If I were investigating the first thing is to see if the boom hoist cable broke," said crane investigator Thomas Barth.

Barth is one of the world's top crane accident investigators. He says the new crane's black box, like those in airplanes, will tell whether the crane had recently lifted too heavy a load.

"It tells you if any picks over the rated load charts," said Barth. "When you stress the machine out it may not break at that time, it could be months or years later because of the stress."

It was just five months ago in Lower Manhattan that the collapse of a crawler crane's boom in high winds killed one and injured three people.

The head of the $4 billion Tappan Zee Bridge project says in this case wind was not a factor.

"It was either a problem with the crane, problem with the hammer or it's operator," said Terry Towle, president of Tappan Zee Constructors.

As the largest building site in America, the building of the Tappan Zee has gone fairly smoothly, although five people have died in two separate accidents involving boats hitting a barge.

Had this boom collapse happened at rush hour, there could have been numerous fatalities. In the end, the blame for this close call as with most crane accidents will likely point in one direction.

"It's not the crane's fault, it is human error," said Barth.

Accident investigators say the crane's maintenance records are key to the investigation as is the experience of the crane operator.

What is interesting is that this new crane has a computer in it that would alert the operator if the load he's lifting is stressing the crane, making overload accidents less likely.

Reckless driver arrested in Queens, NY hit-and-run T-bone crash that killed mother, injured daughter





Eyewitness News
Updated 29 mins ago
SOUTH OZONE PARK, Queens (WABC) -- Police have made an arrest in connection with an accident in Queens Sunday that left a woman dead and her 9-year-old daughter injured.

The NYPD arrested 58-year-old Jairam Budhu of Queens on multiple charges, including manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, assault and leaving the scene of an accident causing death.

Authorities said a black BMW SUV caused the crash in South Ozone Park. Surveillance video shows the SUV speeding as it was traveling westbound on 115th Avenue.

According to police, the BMW ignored a stop sign and slammed into a red Toyota Corolla heading north on 130th Street, ejecting the mother and daughter from the car.

The woman, 40-year-old Zaalika Rasool, was pinned under the vehicle and died at the scene.

Her daughter Sarah was hospitalized in stable condition.

Investigators say the BMW hit three parked vehicles before coming to a stop. The driver fled the scene.

Rescue crews removed two other people from the Toyota and took a passenger from the BMW to a hospital.

Worker is crushed to death by falling construction material at En-Plast on FM 1960 near Carlsway Road in Houston, Texas








Worker found dead after an apparent accident in north Harris County. (KTRK)

Updated 36 mins ago 


A worker was found dead today after an apparent accident at a construction site in north Harris County.

Emergency workers tell abc13 the accident happened at En-Plast on FM 1960 near Carlsway Road.

We're told an employee wasn't seen for about 30 minutes when his co-workers began searching for him. He was found under a pile of materials that fell on him, pinning him in the rubble.

The construction workers began digging him out, and gave him CPR, but when EMS arrived, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Harris County Sheriff's Department is investigating.



En-Plast is a USA based company that manufactures engineered pad profiles utilizing post-consumer recycled material and other plastics for multiple in-ground and above ground applications.

  • Our products are unique and used for innovative applications as replacement and enhancement of traditional material in attractive end markets such as noise pollution, water conservation, impact absorption, reinforcement and foundations.

  • Our designs and applications abate installation cost and construction time. The company harbors a distribution point for engineered materials and operates in the Americas through direct sale and strategic partnership channels.

  • En-Plast sources raw material that are currently underutilized or wasted, making an effort to reduce unwanted earth pollutants.

Two Nashua, NH firefighters were hospitalized after a giant, four-alarm fire engulfed a Bay Ridge apartment building





Nashua Firefighters Extinguish 4-Alarm Blaze at Bay Ridge Apartments
Two Nashua firefighters were hospitalized after a giant, four-alarm fire engulfed a Bay Ridge apartment building Sunday.





Nashua, NH

By Jason Claffey (Patch Staff) - July 18, 2016 4:17 pm ET




Nashua, NH — Nashua firefighters extinguished a giant fire at a Bay Ridge apartment complex Sunday in extreme conditions as the heat index soared close to 100. 
Two firefighters were hospitalized with heat exhaustion. They were expected to recover.

Dozens of residents were displaced.

The was fire caused by a propane grill, according to Deputy fire Chief Karl Gerhard. It broke out at about 5 p.m. and was declared under control by about 6 p.m.

"Although the fire heavily damaged the building, 50 percent of the building was saved due to a fire wall slowing fire spread, aggressive fire attack by all fire companies on scene ... and adequate staffing, which allows multiple tasks to be completed in a shorter time frame," Gerhard said in a statement. "All these elements combined provided the best outcome possible given the situation found upon arrival."

Temperatures soared into the high 90s Sunday as firefighters battled the blaze.

Scores of firefighters from Nashua and nine other communities, including across the border in Massachusetts, helped fight the fire.

The Red Cross offered assistance to those displaced.

"In this volatile time in society, the citizens of Nashua should take comfort in the fact that their Nashua area agencies will always prepare and provide our citizens help, and support, when they need it most," Gerhard added.

=========================================
2 Firefighters Hurt, Dozens Displaced in Nashua Fire
A four-alarm fire broke out at a Nashua apartment complex on Bay Ridge Drive Sunday night.

Nashua, NH

By Jason Claffey (Patch Staff) - July 17, 2016 11:55 pm ET




Nashua, NH — Two firefighters were hurt and at least a dozen families were displaced in a four-alarm fire on Bay Ridge Road in Nashua Sunday night.

The fire broke out when a propane grill caught fire at an apartment complex, according to Deputy Fire Chief Karl Gerhard.


The injured firefighters suffered heat exhaustion and were expected to be OK.

The Red Cross was at the scene providing assistance to those displaced.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.