No one really likes wearing a mask. Covering your face, especially during the summertime, makes a hot sticky mess for those doing their best to abide by mask mandates. As if we need yet another reminder of the dangerous world we live in, masking breaks down communication, concealing facial expressions and muffling voices crucial to understanding nuance in language. Masking can also lead to hostilities and a general distrust in human nature. We’ve all seen the countless Facebook reels of employees confronting renegade antivaxxers and COVID deniers who refuse to cover their face. Not everyone plays by the same set of rules for human decency. If the pandemic taught us anything, we learned that some people can be downright selfish and indignant toward their fellow human. But masking and social distancing, as well as vaccination, will always be the key to triumphing in any pandemic. Chemical storage is like masking during viral outbreaks. Dangerous toxins, or in the case of the Coronavirus, contagion, can easily spread if not protected by compliant chemical storage. Compliant chemical storage and masking will always keep your employees and customers safe during uncertain times.
Is Masking Making a Comeback?
With three new COVID-19 various spreading around the country, many people are once again wondering: Is mandatory masking making a comeback? Although the Centers for Disease Control has yet to make an official announcement, many companies and schools are reinstating mask protocols. Despite the inconvenience, masking makes sense. A large chunk of our population, especially the elderly and immunocompromised, remain susceptible to the dangerous COVID19 virus. Masking today could save lives tomorrow. There’s no reason to continue to politicize the pandemic and masking. Health officials, relying on a wealth of empirical data, continue to prove that masking works in preventing the spread of disease. With COVID hospitalizations increasing by more than 20 percent in August, virologists will continue to sound the alarm of infection until the variants can be neutralized. Proactive masking can also prevent further mutations of the virus, which could ultimately retire the trend of masking for good. As the summer turns to fall and winter during the coming months, COVID cases will likely surge, causing businesses to reevaluate the health and safety of customers.
Safety Precautions Should Never Be an Afterthought
With all the fallout over the consternation that came with forcing millions of Americans to ‘mask-up’ over the past few years, we can’t help but wonder if America, as a whole, simply doesn’t care about preventing the spread of dangerous toxins. Do the same people who refuse to wear a mask have a similar attitude about storing dangerous chemicals. Do they throw caution to the wind and decide that it’s someone else’s problem? While it’s a cynical approach to complicated matters with only superficial similarities, the continuous rise of both COVID19 cases and hazmat incidents might suggest otherwise. Every year, thousands of companies refuse to contain dangerous chemicals from spreading to the general public. Both dangerous disease and volatile chemicals will continue to threaten the public until preventive measures become common day practice for everyone. We admit that containing and properly storing hazardous materials is more labor intensive than donning a piece of fabric. Preventing toxic chemical exposure isn’t as simple as just putting a lid on a drum. Dangerous chemicals should always be stored behind reinforced steel-welded structures when not in use. Our fire-rated chemical storage lockers can protect both customers and employees from the next great health epidemic while also safeguarding the bottom line against fines and civil penalties.