Hydrogen Fluoride Explosion

Mayor Larson Issues Statement in Response to Husky Energy Explosion in Superior, Wisconsin

Source: Fox 21 Local News | May 1st, 2018

Location: United States, Minnesota

Industry type: Oil Refineries

 

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Mayor Emily Larson released a statement this afternoon in response to last week’s explosion at the Husky Energy refinery plant:

“We call ourselves the Twin Ports for a reason. When something significant happens on one side of the bridge, we feel it on the other.

I consider last week’s explosion at the Husky oil refinery as a clear call to action. While it was certainly a traumatic event for refinery workers and a terrifying experience for residents on both sides of the bridge, it could have been much worse. We are collectively thankful for the emergency responders on both sides of the bridge for doing what they do best.

Currently, Husky operates a refinery within a population district of well over 130,000 people. We welcome their investment in our economies and the good paying jobs this work provides. 

However, choosing the known risks of hydrogen fluoride is not something that is in keeping with the premise of being a good corporate partner. It elevates danger to our environment and our people.

As it relates to the health and community risks of hydrogen fluoride, Husky has been provided with a free pass to reconsider their position for its use, and explore safer alternatives. Today I am calling on Husky to publicly commit to eliminating hydrogen fluoride from their oil refining process. In so doing, I am supporting Superior Mayor Jim Paine in his efforts to achieve the same.

As we stood side by side last week in support of clear and stable disaster response, I stand beside Mayor Paine in wanting more and better for our communities. There are other means to enable refining, and Husky has the capacity to choose new systems that maintain product integrity while protecting the health of their workers and decreasing risk to the families and loved ones in the Twin Ports.

It is horrifying to consider what could have happened. Let’s commit ourselves to doing better.”

Last week an explosion at the Husky Energy refinery plant injured at least 16 people and forced an evacuation for Superior residents.
*Original article online at http://www.fox21online.com/2018/05/01/mayor-larson-issues-statement-response-husky-energy-explosion/

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LiveLeake

Published on Oct 17, 2012

Damages from toxic gas leak worsen in southern S. Korea GUMI, South Korea, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- More than 3,000 people have received emergency care for nausea and other symptoms, officials said Sunday, following a disastrous gas leak that also caused widespread damages to crops, livestock and factories in southern South Korea. A total of 3,178 people have been treated for nausea, rashes and other symptoms since the Sept. 27 explosion of a chemical plant that leaked some eight tons of hydrofluoric acid, an acute poison that can damage lungs and bones and affect the nervous system.

Five workers were killed and 18 others were injured in the blast at chemical maker Hube Global at the Gumi National Industrial Complex in the industrial city, about 200 kilometers southeast of Seoul.


The gas leak has cost factories in the industrial complex about 17.7 billion won (US$15.9 million) in lost production, officials said. Hundreds of angry villagers in Gumi who suffered after the massive gas leak moved to a safer region with some residents reporting blood in their saliva.

About 110 elderly people in Bongsan-ri village evacuated to a facility about 10 kilometers away. "We decided to move because the government overlooked us and did not come up with countermeasures," Park Myeong-seok, the head of Bongsang-ri, told reporters. About 190 people in nearby Imcheon-ri left their village and moved to a training center for teenage students. An acrid smell still hangs in the air in the two villages, home to some 1,200 people. Villagers accused the government of failing to give proper and timely information about the gas leak, and expressed disbelief over the announcement hydrofluoric acid was not detected in their towns. Crops and fruit on more than 212 hectares of farmlands and orchards have withered, and some 3,200 livestock animals have been drooling heavily or showing symptoms similar to a cold, according to local officials and villagers.

The central government, under mounting criticism for poorly handling the disaster at the initial stage of the explosion, is considering designating the affected area as a special disaster zone, a move that would bring extra financial support for the victims. On Monday, the government will announce the results of its in-depth inquiry into the gas leak, officials said.

Two workers at top of tank lorry for transfer and two worker at ground level for pump repair and one officer at office building close to tank lorry died. See this tragic event unfold with this CCTV footage of the workers on top of the ISO tank connecting air lines to effect the transfer of HF - moments later the HF is released.

Anhydrous HF leaked from the liquid valve as two workers were on top preparing to connect a Anhydrous Hydroflouric ISO Tank for offloading. They accidentally fully opened the quarter turn valve. An estimated 8 tons of HF was released. 5 people including the 2 workers perished, 18 responders, workers, reporter wound-up in the hospital, almost 3000 villagers from 2 villages downwind of the facility were treated for irritation, exposure.

 Some pre-report key issues to consider are:
1. Both workers had no chemical protective clothing or SCBA
2. No fall protection
3. Emergency response equipment/systems to mitigate the leak

This has been reported to be the worst chemical accident in Korean history.