Search
Search

Report: Ohio Hazmat Release Spread to 16 States

Posted on 6/25/2024 by Lion Technology Inc.

The “average” hazmat shipment travels about 200 miles, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. For hazmat shipped by truck, the average trip is 63 miles.

Mother Nature can move hazardous materials efficiently too—it turns out—for (at least) hundreds of miles. Research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) purportedly shows that pollution from the February 3, 2023 train derailment and chemical release near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border spread across 16 states. 

Report: Ohio Hazmat Release Spread to 16 States

After the derailment, responders performed a "controlled burn" of vinyl chloride that resulted in a plume of smoke.

Impacts From Wisconsin to North Carolina

Researchers at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene collected rain and snow samples from 260 sites around the nation. Areas as far north as Wisconsin and Maine and as far south as North Carolina showed levels of pH and certain compounds higher than any measured in the last 10 years. Researchers noted high chloride concentrations in several states downwind of the incident, as well as historically high levels of alkaline and earth metals.

The regional and even nationwide impact that a single hazmat transportation incident can have underscores the importance of effective hazard communication and hazmat training for personnel who prepare and offer shipments, transport hazardous materials, or respond to emergencies in transportation.

At sites that ship hazmat, "hazmat employees" need hazmat training to comply with complex, stringent regulations to ship hazardous materials safely by ground, air, and vessel. (Details: Who Needs Hazmat Training?).

Emergency responders need the proper level of training and experience laid out in OSHA’s HAZWOPER Standard [29 CFR 1910.210(q)(6)] to safely and effectively limit the spread of a release.

NTSB Board Meeting on East Palestine Incident

On June 25, 2024, at 9:30 AM ET, NTSB presented its Board meeting live. The Board Meeting reviewed findings, probable causes, and safety recommendations from February 2023 hazmat train derailment and chemical release in East Palestine, Ohio.

For more details about the incident, see these earlier blog posts:

Find a Post

Recent Posts

Compliance Topics

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

The instructor clearly enjoys his job and transmits that enthusiasm. He made a dry subject very interesting and fun.

Teresa Arellanes

EHS Manager

This course went above my expectations from the moment I walked in the door. The instructor led us through two days packed with useful compliance information.

Rachel Stewart

Environmental Manager

I will never go anywhere, but to Lion Technology.

Dawn Swofford

EHS Technician

Well designed and thorough program. Excellent summary of requirements with references. Inclusion of regulations in hard copy form, as well as full electronic with state pertinent regulations included is a great bonus!

Oscar Fisher

EHS Manager

The instructor does a great job at presenting material in an approachable way. I have been able to save my company about $30,000 in the last year with what I have learned from Lion!

Curtis Ahonen

EHS&S Manager

The exercises in the DOT hazardous materials management course are especially helpful in evaluating your understanding of course information.

Morgan Bliss

Principal Industrial Hygienist

These are the best classes I attend each year. I always take something away and implement improvements at my sites.

Kim Racine

EH&S Manager

If I need thorough training or updating, I always use Lion. Lion is always the best in both instruction and materials.

Bryce Parker

EHS Manager

The course is well thought out and organized in a way that leads to a clearer understanding of the total training.

David Baily

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Excellent job. Made what is very dry material interesting. Thoroughly explained all topics in easy-to-understand terms.

David Hertvik

Vice President

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Tips to identify and manage universal waste under more-stringent state regulations for generators and universal waste handlers in California.

Download
Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.