By Richard T. Cartwright, PE, CHMM, (IHMM, AHMP and APICS) Fellow
The saying, “Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it” is more than a cliché. It is a reminder that we must constantly be learning from the past. Here’s a look back at major historical events that happened today in the world of hazardous materials.
December 13, 1968
“Tragedy of the Commons” by Garrett Hardin, an American ecologist, was published in the Journal of Science. His classic essay presents ecological issues and social ethics in the form of a parable about farmers who, when allowed to graze their cattle in one field as much as they wanted to, each acted in their own self-interest, and the field was destroyed. The idea of self-interest extends beyond individuals to households, villages, companies, industries, or nations. Hardin’s concept of the commons includes ecosystems, rivers, oceans, organisms, or mineral resources with actions such as over-fishing, deforestation, resource depletion and greenhouse gas emissions. Note: Elinor Ostrom won a Nobel Prize for her economic evaluations evaluating Garrett Hardin’s “Tragedy of the Commons”.
December 13, 1913
The first section of the improved coast-to-coast highway in America (Lincoln Highway) was opened in New Jersey, between Jersey City and Newark. What had been known as Jersey City Plank Road for over 100 years was reconstructed as a boulevard 100-feet wide overall at a cost of $1.25 million. It was bordered by streetlights and 10-foot wide sidewalks on each side. Traffic surfaces were brick and concrete.
December 13, 1838
Pierre-Marie-Alexis Millardet, the French botanist, was born. He developed the first successful fungicide. He saw chemicals being used by farmers for other reasons (mixture of copper sulfate, lime and water). Millardet found that it acted as suitable fungicide. Known as the Bordeaux mixture, it was the first fungicide to receive large-scale use.
December 13, 1816
Werner von Siemens, the German scientist and electrical engineer, was born. He played an important role in the development of the telegraph industry. His firm, Siemens & Halske, built Germany’s first important telegraph line and went on to build lines elsewhere in Europe and Asia. He was instrumental in creating conditions to advance electrical technology from the experimental stage into the modern electrical industry. Siemens combined his engineering brilliance with entrepreneurial skills to develop a multinational business.
Historical hazardous materials management events are posted 365 days a year at this LinkedIn discussion group.
