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Pinch-A-Penny cited in hazmat violation

The city finds that the company handled materials improperly, which caused a machine that compacts powdered chorline to smoke.

By LORRI HELFAND
Published April 22, 2006

LARGO - The city cited Pinch-A-Penny on Thursday afternoon for improperly handling hazardous materials last month.

The violation stemmed from a March 23 incident that caused smoke to emanate from a machine that compacts powdered chlorine.

Hazardous material crews and fire rescue squads from throughout the county responded to the pool supply company's corporate headquarters at 14480 62nd St. after rescue personnel detected smoke in the company's Sun Wholesale Supply building.

No one was hurt that day, but Largo Fire Rescue wanted to find the cause to prevent further incidents that could pose dangers to employees and the public.

Investigators researched the issue and recently found that the smoke was caused by a chemical reaction between a powdered substance called trichloroisocyanuric acid and another material.

When heated to the point of decomposition, the chemical can release poisonous and corrosive fumes, according to the manufacturer, but Fire Rescue tests showed no evidence of chlorine gas the day of the incident.

Inspectors found two possible causes.

Towels used to absorb oil from the machine may have been contaminated with an incompatible material, fire Chief Jeff Bullock said. The company's maintenance department had cleaned the machine about 20 minutes before employees noticed smoke from the machine, according to a Largo fire investigation report.

The oil used to lubricate the machine may also be the culprit. Largo Fire Rescue thinks it may be incompatible with the powdered substance and may have caused the powder to decompose, Bullock said.

"This is not my opinion," Bullock said. "This is data from the manufacturer."

Pinch-A-Penny provided Largo investigators with a material safety data sheet from AMSOIL Inc., the company that manufactures the lubricant called Circulating and AW Gear Oil. It advises people who use the lubricant to "avoid contact with strong oxidants." The powdered chemical is an "oxidant," fire officials said.

But company maintenance manager Peter Galioto told Largo Fire Rescue that the lubricants used in the equipment are synthetic and do not react with oxidants. He said the company has also conducted a test for compatibility and has had no problems in the past, according to a Largo fire investigation report.

Pinch-A-Penny president John Thomas declined to comment.

Bullock said Pinch-A-Penny has already taken steps to change how it uses towels. He said he was informed that the company is using different colored towels in different areas and is laundering towels to avoid possible contamination.

The company has not been fined, but it has until May 4 to provide proof that the lubricant is safe to use with the powdered chemical.

If not, Fire Marshal Jim Warman said, "they wouldn't be able to use any of the machines that press (trichloroisocyanuric acid)."

Largo Fire Rescue said Pinch-A-Penny has at least three of those machines.

"They've done a good job managing their materials and managing their risk, but nobody plans an accident," Bullock said.

Lorri Helfand can be reached at lorri@sptimes.com or 727 445-4155.

[Last modified April 22, 2006, 01:38:14]