Santa Clara Waste Plant in Santa Paula, Ca

The Santa Clara Waste Plant in Santa Paula had a chemical explosion in mid-November 2014. The plant had mixed sodium chlorite and waste that caused an explosion. The mixture exploded when chemical introduced in a vacuum truck. Over 1,000 gallons of the material spilled, crystalized, dried and ignited into flames. The mixture was not identified when fire fighters went into care for the injured individuals of the explosion. Once the fire fighter trucks went over the mixture the tires began to burst into flames. The fire fighters and injured party were treated at the local hospital for inhalation injury, and rashes.

I believe some of the barriers for healthcare providers and providing care included dealing with an unknown chemical substance. If the environment is not safe for health care providers to be at it is almost impossible to expect the injured individual to be provided adequate care. Fire fighters responded to the injured individual, but caused more injured because the environment was not cleared before emergency responders charged into provide care. As a health care provider I feel that it would be better to neutralize the chemical first then to increase the number of individuals that need to be cared for by exposing myself. If the disaster occurs in the future health care providers should have a list of chemicals that were involved in the explosion.

After the explosion the 126 free way was closed down while detoured traffic and caused local schools to shut down. The plant made a pledge to clean up the spill and remain closed until they went through the proper channels for approval to be reopened. Environmentally, the effects of the mixture are still unknown because the sodium chlorite and waste made a new chemical. Socioeconomically, the plant employed hundreds of workers that lost their jobs when the plant shut down. These workers had to seek unemployment. I feel that we can continue to learn from this disaster.

 

Chen, T., & Goff, K. (2014). Dozens Treated After California Waste Plant Fire. Retrieved April 22, 2015, from http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Firefighters-Hospitalized-After-HazMat-Explosion-283059521.html

Wilson, K. (2015). Chemical that triggered Santa Paula blast . Retrieved April 22, 2015, from http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/county-news/chemical-that-triggered-santa-paula-blast-identified_47049879