Chemical Incident Reporting – Week of 11-4-23

NOTE: See here for series background.

Graham, TX – 11-2-23

Local New Reports: Here, here, and here.

Explosion in sodium hypochlorite (industrial strength bleach) tank at water treatment plant. 1 injured and hospitalized.

Details are sketchy, but it sounds like truck unloading incident, where something other than sodium hypochlorite into the tank that reacted with the bleach still in the tank, producing heat and chlorine gas. That combination frequently results in a quick pressure rise in the storage tank that causes catastrophic failure of containment.

CSB reportable.

Arlington, TX – 11-5-23

Local News Reports: Here, here, and here.

Anhydrous ammonia leak at ice rink. Two people injured, one sent to hospital and released.

This sounds like it was a very low-volume anhydrous ammonia refrigeration system, likely below the minimum level needed to require compliance with EPA/OSHA safety requirements.

Probably not CSB reportable.

Shepard, TX – 11-8-23

Local News Reports: Here, here and here.

Fire and explosion at chemical plant. One injured and hospitalized.

CSB reportable.