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Elmwood Park: Acid Gas Vapors Release
8
/
31
/
0
6
,
9
:07AM
BCDHS CASE #2006-8-142
INCIDENT DESCRIPTION:
At 9:07am on the morning of August 31, 2006,
Elmwood Park
authorities were notified that Grant Industries Inc., a chemical plant in their borough, had released acid gas vapors into the atmosphere, potentially impacting nearby residences and businesses. Local police and fire personnel responded to the scene and determined that hydrogen chloride gas had been vented to the outdoor atmosphere due to a chemical reaction being conducted at the facility. The facility’s personnel were evacuated and neighbors were asked to remain indoors. Bergen County Haz-Mat was requested to respond to the scene.
SUMMARY OF BCDHS ACTIVITIES:
Upon arrival at the scene BC Haz-Mat personnel were briefed by local responders. Personnel thereupon spoke with facility representatives and learned that the reaction involved trimethylchlorosilane. Facility personnel had placed a reported 400 kilograms of this product into a vessel used for batch processes and then added 15 gallons of water. The addition of the water resulted in a hydrolysis reaction that liberated hydrogen chloride, an extremely corrosive gas.
BC Haz-Mat personnel used reference materials to confirm this information. After discussion with the fire department incident commander BC Haz-Mat personnel were suited up in chemical protective clothing and made entry into the facility to determine the status of the reaction and the indoor air quality. It was determined that the reaction had terminated and that facility employees would be able to re-enter the building. BC Haz-Mat responders also determined, through outdoor air monitoring, that the hydrogen chloride levels had dissipated.
Facility representatives were advised that no further reactions of this nature would be permitted. Grant Industries Inc. retained the services of a hazardous waste cleanup contractor to properly package the reactants for subsequent disposal.
For more information regarding this incident please contact the duty officer at 201-634-2804 M-F from 8:30-4:30. Please reference BCDHS CASE #2006-8-142.
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