Today in Hazmat History – July 12

Hazmat History

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.


July 12, 2012

Gasoline tanker truck exploded in Okogbe, Nigeria, where more than 121 people died. Attempting to avoid a collision with two cars and a bus, the tanker driver veered into a ditch, where it spilled its fuel. Hundreds of locals rushed to take some of the spilled hazardous material. Sadly, 40 minutes after the accident, the tanker exploded.

July 12, 1895

Buckminster Fuller, American architect, systems theorist, author, designer, inventor and futurist was born. He is best known for inventing the geodesic dome. “Bucky” Fuller’s motivation was to provide more efficient designs for buildings and transportation systems that could enhance long-term sustainability.

July 12, 1861

George Washington Carver, an African American educator, was born. He is best known as a scientist, chemist, inventor and botanist. Planting cotton year after year caused cotton yields to drop when the soil lost its fertility. The cotton crop was also devastated by the boll weevil. Carver discovered how to maintain soil fertility. He discovered two new crops that would grow well: peanuts and sweet potatoes. Carver created a market by inventing hundreds of new uses for these crops, from milk to printer’s ink.

July 12, 1853

The yellow fever epidemic, where 7,849 people died, began in New Orleans. Between 1817 and 1905, fatalities there rose to over 41,000. Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease that occurs in tropical and subtropical areas. The bad news is there is no specific treatment for yellow fever. People traveling to areas where yellow fever may exist should be immunized.

July 12, 1817

Henry David Thoreau, American author, philosopher, poet and naturalist, was born. He was known as the “Hermit of Walden” because he lived in the woods around Walden Pond for several years. Thoreau kept thorough journals of natural history. Many scholars consider Thoreau to be the father of American conservation movements.


Historical hazardous materials management events are posted 365 days a year at this LinkedIn discussion group.

Contributor
Do you like Phil Ambrose's articles? Follow on social!