While preaching the merits of proper chemical storage, we tend to emphasis employee and environmental protection. Even though we would never equate the irreplaceable life of a human to company property, these assets, do in fact, remain the most vulnerable entities on any jobsite. Failure to provide adequate safety measures and containment options can result in a multitude of fees varying in severity. Often as the result of insider information, OSHA routinely makes its rounds to questionable jobsites for surprise visits. Like a highway patrolman lurking in the shadows of a highway overpass, these agents of the chemical law are unforgiving when it comes to chemical storage compliance. Taking precautions today can also help your enterprise avoid costly lawsuits down the road.
Even by practicing due diligence and anticipating the truly unexpected, we can not fathom every possible worst-case scenario that requires immediate mitigation. As evident by the sensational nature of journalism, it’s those freak accidents that garner the most publicity and negative attention. Take for the example ongoing litigation between the family of a deceased 14-year-old girl and the owners of a few derelict oil tanks. In Baton Rouge, La., the family of the girl who died when an oil tank exploded is now taking the matter to court. As evident by pictures that accompanied the news story, the girl was posing on the top of the oil tank. At some point, the tank inexplicably exploded and threw the girl into the air before her body was found hundreds of yards from the tank site.
Separate Dangerous Chemicals and Equipment from the General Public With Proper Signage
The freak tank explosion accident is an extraordinarily rare case of volatility and happenstance. This untimely death could not have been repeated if the same conditions were replicated a thousand different times. To say this accident was a fluke is a complete understatement. But the crux of the family’s claim isn’t the structural integrity of the tanks themselves, but the lack of proper signage in the area surrounding the old tanks.
“The absence of security measures or signage led decedent and plaintiffs to believe that the battery was inactive and abandoned, whereas it was actually active and dangerous,” the complaint states.
If their allegations are true, such an egregious oversight undoubtedly led to the young girl’s demise. As clearly noted, proper chemical storage isn’t always enough to prevent the unthinkable. Companies that handles dangerous chemicals must follow the law to the letter in preventing similar catastrophic evidence. Unfortunately, most companies don’t have the time or resources to research every single line of proper conduct concerning volatile chemicals. Not to downplay the complexity or ignorance of stringent regulations, but chemical jargon and the density of language has proven to be a detriment for some companies who fail to comply with the law.
Rely on Our Knowledgeable Experts to Prevent Costly Lawsuits
As with the case with any regulation, ignorance of the law is never an acceptable excuse. Every industry is taxed with a wealth of information concerning legal operations. We all must be held responsible for on-the-job conduct. Fortunately, U.S. Hazmat Storage has decades of experience concerning proper chemical storage. Our knowledgeable building advisors can steer you in the right direction when it comes to proper chemical storage. Even if you are unsure of your required protection, we can assess your needs and provide practical solutions by the way of an online consultation so your company can avoid costly lawsuits.
