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 Ap0calypse
Stranger
Registered: 05/20/08
Posts: 77
Last seen: 2 months, 27 days
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 3 dead at B.C. mushroom farm
#8885646 - 09/06/08 08:19 AM (2 months, 28 days ago) |
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At least three workers are dead after noxious fumes were released in a utility shed at a mushroom farm in Langley, B.C., the RCMP confirmed Friday night.
At least two other workers were reported in critical condition, and a third was in serious condition, the Mounties said.
Hazardous materials crews converged at about 5 p.m. on Farmers Fresh Mushrooms, located at 237th Street and 16th Avenue in the Vancouver suburb.
Three air ambulances and dozens of firefighters from three different halls were called to the farm after several people working on the site "either accidentally or intentionally released" a toxic chemical, said Langley RCMP Const. Holly Marks.
Details were sketchy, but according to an employee, the three men were in a utility shed containing chemicals used in composting when they were overcome by the noxious fumes.
Other workers went in to try to help them and were overcome by the fumes themselves, Marks said, adding that the men who were in the shed when the gases were released died at the scene.
Jim Sinclair, president of the British Columbia Federation of Labour, said there have been too many tragedies involving farm workers in this province, and called for a public inquiry.
"A year and a half ago we had three women die in a van accident that was completely avoidable," Sinclair said. "Now we have three more deaths. In order to get these deaths under control and to stop them, we need a public inquiry. Let's look at the agriculture industry."
WorksafeBC, formerly the provincial Workers' Compensation Board, and the B.C. Coroner's Service are investigating.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/080905/canada/vancouver_bc_farm_accident
Edited by veggie (09/06/08 08:32 AM)
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MycoAu
Registered: 07/18/07
Posts: 650
Last seen: 14 hours, 28 minutes
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Re: 3 dead at B.C. mushroom farm [Re: Ap0calypse]
#8885712 - 09/06/08 08:43 AM (2 months, 28 days ago) |
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Sad stuff. Did they say what the "fumes" were? I suspect ammonia from urea or another type of nitrogenous material.
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 veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,529
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Re: 3 dead at B.C. mushroom farm [Re: MycoAu]
#8885777 - 09/06/08 09:08 AM (2 months, 28 days ago) |
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Another article says...
Quote:
"It's not clear what the noxious fume was," said RCMP spokesman Corporal Peter Thiessen.
Preliminary evidence suggests the workers were found in an "oxygen deficient area," meaning the fumes forced breathable air out of the area.
I guess more info will be available as the days go by.
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Coaster
Psychosomatic Psychonaught
 
Registered: 05/22/06
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Re: 3 dead at B.C. mushroom farm [Re: veggie]
#8886009 - 09/06/08 10:04 AM (2 months, 27 days ago) |
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wow that blows, the silent killer
like carbon monoxide
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CptnGarden
Tabaquero
Registered: 05/13/04
Posts: 9,831
Loc: the microbial layer
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Re: 3 dead at B.C. mushroom farm [Re: Coaster]
#8886368 - 09/06/08 11:11 AM (2 months, 27 days ago) |
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yeah probably some nitrogen based fume
possibly even methane
more likely its nitrogen though as it was used in composting
carbs and cellulosic material + nitrogen = compost
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Gratos
Just thinkin anddrinkin
Registered: 08/21/05
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Re: 3 dead at B.C. mushroom farm [Re: CptnGarden]
#8888278 - 09/06/08 08:14 PM (2 months, 27 days ago) |
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That really makes you think. Im constantly bombarded by a video of one worker after another going into a room to help other workers who are apparently unconscious on the floor, all of them die from an unidentified gas.
Edited by Gratos (09/06/08 08:20 PM)
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 Chemy
Ëmþàñädá §790.23
Registered: 10/05/07
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Re: 3 dead at B.C. mushroom farm [Re: Gratos]
#8888445 - 09/06/08 09:01 PM (2 months, 27 days ago) |
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My best educated guess is Hydrogen Sulfide produced from some type of manure and/or a sulfate like gypsum.
Quote:
H2S often results from the bacterial break down of sulfates in organic matter in the absence of oxygen, such as in swamps and sewers (anaerobic digestion).
The toxicity of H2S is comparable with that of hydrogen cyanide.
Edited by Chemy (09/06/08 09:17 PM)
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AltonBrown
Friend
Registered: 08/14/08
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Re: 3 dead at B.C. mushroom farm [Re: Chemy]
#8889300 - 09/07/08 01:08 AM (2 months, 27 days ago) |
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fae
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lil_demented
downhill slide
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Re: 3 dead at B.C. mushroom farm [Re: AltonBrown]
#8890859 - 09/07/08 01:00 PM (2 months, 26 days ago) |
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Quote:
AltonBrown said:
fae
lol
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MycoAu
Registered: 07/18/07
Posts: 650
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Re: 3 dead at B.C. mushroom farm [Re: lil_demented]
#8893332 - 09/07/08 09:08 PM (2 months, 26 days ago) |
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H2S is a possibility, but it smells so badly, that they should at least be aware of its presence. However, with exposure to time, the smell (perception) dwindles as the body acclimates to its presence. And any pockets that are suddenly released could easily overwhelm personnel, rendering them unconcious and therefore susceptible to exposure for longer periods.
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Chemy
Ëmþàñädá §790.23
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Re: 3 dead at B.C. mushroom farm [Re: MycoAu]
#8893369 - 09/07/08 09:13 PM (2 months, 26 days ago) |
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Quote:
MycoAu said:
H2S is a possibility, but it smells so badly, that they should at least be aware of its presence. However, with exposure to time, the smell (perception) dwindles as the body acclimates to its presence. And any pockets that are suddenly released could easily overwhelm personnel, rendering them unconcious and therefore susceptible to exposure for longer periods.
Quote:
At 150-250 ppm the olfactory nerve is paralyzed after a few inhalations, and the sense of smell disappears, often together with awareness of danger,
Quote:
Concentrations over 1000 ppm cause immediate collapse with loss of breathing, even after inhalation of a single breath.
Hydrogen Sulfide MSDS:
Quote:
Toxicology
Highly toxic - may be fatal if inhaled. Inhalation of a single breath at a concentration of 1000 ppm ( 0.1% ) may cause coma. Corrosive when moist. Skin contact may cause burns. There is a rapid loss of sense of smell on exposure to gas concentrations above 150 ppm, and this means that the extent of exposure may be underestimated. Perception threshold ranges from 0.5 ppt to 0.1 ppm. Irritant. Asphyxiant.
http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/HY/hydrogen_sulfide.html
Edited by Chemy (09/07/08 09:20 PM)
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King Koopa
Researcher
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Re: 3 dead at B.C. mushroom farm [Re: AltonBrown]
#8893388 - 09/07/08 09:16 PM (2 months, 26 days ago) |
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Quote:
AltonBrown said:
fae
cute
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MycoAu
Registered: 07/18/07
Posts: 650
Last seen: 14 hours, 28 minutes
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Re: 3 dead at B.C. mushroom farm [Re: King Koopa]
#8893657 - 09/07/08 10:16 PM (2 months, 26 days ago) |
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Funny, I didn't even think to post the MSDS. Good information for anybody deciding they want to mess with it or begin deadly habits such as composting.
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