Chemical Incident Reporting – Week of 9-21-24

Chemical Incident Reporting – Week of 9-21-24

NOTE: See here for series background.

Cleves, OH – 9-24-24

Local News Reports: Here, here, and here.

Styrene was leaking from pressure relief valve on a railcar. Evacuations were ordered. No injuries or damages were reported.

Some news reports called it an ‘open valve’ which would imply someone made a mistake (or deliberately) and left a valve open. One video (here) clearly shows venting through the pressure relief valve. Styrene is a monomer and is capable of self-polymerization being initiated by heat. As the chemical polymerizes it releases heat, increasing the rate of polymerization. The increasing heat in the car raises the internal pressure. The PRV is a safety device that relieves that pressure by venting to the atmosphere. While the chemical is toxic the risk from a catastrophic failure of the railcar due to overpressurization is higher.

Not CSB reportable, this is a transportation incident.

Suffield, CT – 9-25-24

Local News Reports: Here, here, here, and here.

Anhydrous ammonia leak at dairy supply facility lead to evacuations and road closures. No injuries were reported and no damage estimates provided.

Not CSB reportable.