Do you think that you do not have to worry about potential reactive chemistry incidents because your workplace has no intentional chemical reactions? Don\u2019t be fooled \u2013 reactive chemistry\u00a0 incidents can happen almost anywhere. Here are two examples.<\/p>\n
On November 7, 2019, in Burlington, Massachusetts, USA, a restaurant employee accidently spilled a\u00a0 cleaner called \u201cScale Kleen\u201d on the floor. Later, another employee began to clean the floor using a\u00a0 different cleaner, called \u201cSuper 8.\u201d These materials react to release toxic chlorine gas. The restaurant was\u00a0 evacuated. Unfortunately, the restaurant manager was overcome by the fumes and died in the\u00a0 hospital. According to the material safety data sheets, Super 8 contains nearly 10% sodium hypochlorite\u00a0 (bleach), more concentrated than the usual household bleach. Scale Kleen contains both nitric and\u00a0 phosphoric acids, at a total concentration of nearly 40%.<\/p>\n
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A few days later (Nov. 19), at a restaurant in nearby Woburn Massachusetts, two cleaning solutions were mixed, and toxic fumes were released. The restaurant was evacuated, and three people were\u00a0 hospitalized as a precaution.<\/p>\n