You can always expect the unexpected in heavy industry and manufacturing. Accidents will happen. Even with the most astute observations and implementations, your base of operations is only one misstep away from catastrophe. How you prepare for potential mishaps could go a long way in determining future culpability. Hedging your bets against unforeseen circumstances can protect employees while preserving your company’s pristine reputation. Investing in compliant chemical storage can help minimize hazmat liability in every stage of production.
Chemical Leak Sends 54 Workers to the ER
Thousands of manufacturers have an emergency plan of action to protect against every accident imaginable. Learning from the mistakes of other industry leaders, manufacturers have an immediate course of action for fire, explosions, and silent chemical leaks. Despite constant vigilance and oversight, the chances of a violent chemical incident threatening the livelihood of workers are never zero. Last week, 54 people were sent to the hospital after a chemical leak was reported at a pharmaceutical packaging plant in Allenstown, Pa. Responding emergency personnel were immediately overpowered by the smell emanating from the facility. Fortunately, none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening.
Mass evacuations due to dangerous chemical releases create mayhem. Immediately, the admonishing public will be too quick to judge and immediately blame plant operators. Moreover, the results can linger for years as trust in the manufacturer within the community will never completely recover. In an abundance of caution, many of the affected employees from the pharmaceutical plant were kept at area hospitals for observation. Dozens reported nausea, vomiting, and headaches. Additionally, investigators are no closer to finding the cause of the menacing odor than at the start of the investigation.
How to Minimize Hazmat Liability
Besides the glaring publicity, the pharmaceutical company must also deal with a probing inquiry from federal investigators. OSHA and the EPA don’t take chemical incidents lightly. Vulnerable ecosystems and communities take years to recover from chemical accidents and spills. Moreover, it’s the taxpayers, more often than not, who must foot the bill for any lasting recovery to take place. Despite the lasting turmoil that comes from any hazardous material incident, there could be a silver lining to the Allentown, Pa chemical odor fiasco. Most importantly, the chemical incident didn’t kill or seriously maim anyone. Secondly, the extent of the company’s role could be mitigated if investigators find they acted in good faith to prevent the accident by following proper safety protocol and regulations. Finally, other companies in ancillary industries could learn from the incident to review their chemical storage practices to prevent similar accidents from occurring at their facility.
Preventing the Unexpected With U.S. Hazmat Storage
Minimizing hazmat liability in chemical incidents should never be the top priority for responsible parties. Your first responsibility as a manufacturer should be employee protection and environmental preservation. Instead, vigilant manufacturers should view reduced culpability from chemical incidents as a reward for doing everything possible to prevent the accident in the first place. Sure, there are no guarantees in life. Accidents will happen when we least expect it. Catastrophe can still occur, even while acting with an abundance of caution. What you can do is reduce the scope of potential disasters with reliable and proven steel protection from U.S. Hazmat Storage. Minimize hazmat liability by investing in proven chemical storage protection.
Relying on decades of experience in steel manufacturing, our chemical storage lockers can properly store a variety of dangerous chemicals while protecting their volatile composition. Manufactured from superior steel sheeting, reinforced by solid steel welds, our chemical storage lockers can accommodate any inventory size. Furthermore, our chemical storage lockers provide centralized and turnkey protection that engenders safety and vigilance within the workforce. Optional fire suppression and climate control adds an additional level of protection to satisfy the most stringent of federal regulations. Despite what conventional wisdom might suggest, there is such a thing as bad publicity. Keep your workplace compliant by contacting us today for a free quote and consultation.