Hazardous waste explosion

In the past, hazardous wastes were often grouped into the following categories (1) radioactive substances, (2) chemicals, (3) biological wastes, (4) flammable wastes, and (5) explosives. The chemical cate-goiy included wastes that were corrosive, reactive, and toxic. The principal sources of hazardous biological wastes are hospitals and biological-research facilities. 

Noland, J. and W. Sisk. "Incineration of Explosives Contaminated Soils," In Management of Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites Proceedings, Washington, D.C., 1984, pp. 203. 

Workers involved in hazardous waste eleanup, handling hazardous materials or other hazardous substanees, faee a more serious safety and health risk than do most eonstruetion or manufaeturing operations. In addition to the typieal slips, trips, and falls found in other eonstruetion or manufaeturing operations, employees handling hazardous waste or ehemieals may eneounter a variety of other hazards ineluding fires, explosions, and health-related issues assoeiated with exposures to toxie substanees. 

Under RCRA. each facility must contain a contingency plan designed to minimize hazards to human hetiltli or tlie enviromiient from fires, explosions, or tuiy unplanned sudden or nonsudden release of hazardous w aste or hazardous waste constituent to air. soil, or surface water. The items tliat follow are applicable to each contingency plan. 

Removal actions are short-term cleanup actions that usually address problems only at the surface of a site. They are conducted in response to an emergency situation (e.g., to avert an explosion, to clean up a hazardous waste spill, or to stabilize a site until a permanent remedy can be found). Removal actions are limited to 12 months duration or 2 million in expenditures, although in certain cases these limits may be extended. Removals may occur at any point in time after the PA has been conducted. 

Figure 23.1 provides a compilation of information on reported emergency incidents at hazardous waste combustion facilities and other TSDFs regulated under the RCRA. It covers emergency incidents such as fires, explosions, hazardous waste spills, or unauthorized releases of hazardous waste. The reported incidents at 24 hazardous waste combustion units and 26 other TSDFs... 

According to a strict reading of the characteristics established by the U.S. EPA and the State environmental agencies, all of these items are hazardous wastes when disposed of, and should therefore be subject to the whole onerous spectrum of handling, transportation, and disposal requirements that have been established for toxins, carcinogens, mutagens, explosives, and other wastes that are threatening to health and the environment. 

An accident occurred in a fuel-blending facility that provided a way to reuse flammable and hazardous wastes. One worker was killed and two others were injured. The explosion and resulting fire caused extensive damage to the facility. 

The chemical process industries employ many substances that contribute to air and water pollution, hazardous waste generation, soil contamination, fire and explosion risks, and the exposure of humans, animals and plants to hazardous and/or toxic substances. This article discusses which substances are hazardous and identifies the opportunities for replacing these substances with less-hazardous substitutes. 

However, various countries use different definitions of chemical waste and there are often several inconsistencies in the definitions. Usually, the definiUon involves qualification of whether or not the material is hazardous. For example, in some counties, a hazardous waste is any material that is especially hazardous to human health, air, or water, or which is explosive, flammable, or may cause disease. Poisonous waste is material that is poisonous, noxious, or polluting and whose presence on the land is liable to give rise to an environmental hazard. But in more general terms (in any country), hazardous waste is waste material that is unsuitable for treatment or disposal in municipal treatment systems, incinerators, or landfills and which therefore requires special treatment. 

Reactivity. A material is considered to be a reactive hazardous waste if it is normally unstable, reacts violently with water, generates toxic gases when exposed to water or corrosive materials, or if it is capable of detonation or explosion when exposed to heat or a flame (40 CFR 261.23). Materials that are defined as forbidden explosives or class A or B explosives by the Department of Transportation are also considered reactive hazardous waste. 

Common hazardous wastes include (a) waste oil, (b) solvents and thinners, (c) acids and bases/alkalines, (d) toxic or flammable paint wastes, (e) nitrates, perchlorates, and peroxides, (f) abandoned or used pesticides, and (g) some wastewater treatment sludges. Special hazardous wastes include (a) industrial wastes containing the USEPA priority pollutants, (b) infectious medical wastes, (c) explosive military wastes, and (d) radioactive wastes or releases. 

To minimize the risk of fire, explosion, or release of hazardous wastes that may contaminate the environment, an industrial plant classified as a generator is required to have the following on site, and immediately accessible to its hazardous waste handling area ... 

A hazardous chemical/oil release (spill or leak) or threat of release, fire or explosion of hazardous waste that may threaten human health or the environment, (a) Call the appropriate State environmental protection agency s regional office, or (b) Call the State police if the incident occurs after 5 p.m., or on a day that the State environmental protection agency is closed, and (c) Call the National Response Center, which usually has a 24-hour toll-free number. 

DNB and 1,3,5-TNB as hazardous wastes that must meet certain disposal requirements. The Department of Transportation has many regulations on the transportation of explosives including... 

TNB is classified as an ERA hazardous waste and disposal must be carried out according to ERA regulations (HSDB 1994). Wastes generated in the manufacture of explosive components such as 1,3- DNB and 1,3,5-TNB are also characterized as hazardous wastes and ERA regulations for disposal must be followed (ERA 1990a). For more information on the regulations that apply to... 

But firefighters today do a lot more than put out fires. Natural disasters, bombing incidents, gas pipe explosions, and hazardous waste spills are just a few of the situations in which firefighters are called on to provide emergency services. Sometimes, these circumstances pose the threat of fire. Other times, a rescue operation may be the main order of business. Whatever the crisis at hand, firefighters are also trained to administer and coordinate basic medical care to any injured persons. 

Incompatible Waste (1) A hazardous waste unsuitable for placement within a specific portion of a landfill because it may cause containment material to corrode or decay or, when combined with other wastes, might produce heat, pressure, fire, explosion, violent reaction, toxic dusts, mists, fumes, or gases. (2) Hazardous wastes which, if mixed, would become more hazardous than either waste individually. 

Particular Attention Given to Hazardous Wastes. In addition to toxicity, hazardous wastes include materials that may become chemically reactive, including ignitability and explosibility, or that may be corrosive. Some toxic materials require extensive pretneatment prior to dumping. See Table 3 on p, 3701. 

As a result of the extensive production of ammunition before and during World War II, a large number of hazardous waste sites still exist in Germany, where both soil and water are polluted by explosives and their transformation... 

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