Speaking of Canada... I received this message on my chemical spills alert.... more xylene... what would have been consequences if not detected? I'm a few hundred posts behind, but hope to catch up after I finished my work projects.
Broken rail car spring causes chemical spill at rail yard
By Margaret Speirs
Dec 14 2005
A FAST-THINKING CN employee prevented a chemical spill from becoming a potential risk for people on Keith Ave. Dec. 8.
Around 1 p.m. while rail cars were being moved in the CN rail yard, a worker noticed some liquid leaking from the top of a rail car, located a few hundred feet down the tracks from the Petro-Canada refinery, and called for help immediately, said Terrace fire chief Peter Weeber.
The Terrace Fire Department assessed the situation and blocked off a 150-foot area around the rail car in all directions to avoid any exposure to the chemical, determined to be xylene, which is used in petroleum refinement and as a solvent.
Police blocked off traffic on Keith Ave. from the Sande Overpass to the intersection of Hwys 16 and 37. The roads were reopened to traffic after several hours.
A CN hazardous materials response team, employees from Canutec, a federal agency that deals with dangerous chemicals, and chemical experts from Prince George were called in to investigate, according to CN public affairs spokesman Graham Dallas.
Dallas said the investigation revealed that a small amount of xylene leaked due to a broken spring inside an emergency vent valve at the top of the rail car, but the chemical had evaporated and posed no danger to the public.
He said emergency valves eliminate any pressure buildup and this was the first he’d heard of a valve spring breaking.
Weeber said the CN crew transferred the xylene to another rail car and repaired the valve.
leaked due to a broken spring inside an emergency vent valve at the
top of the rail car, but the chemical had evaporated and posed no
danger to the public. <<<<
Reminds me of the airline mechanics.
Illegal mechanics and strange things break.