By Richard T. Cartwright, PE, CHMM, (IHMM, AHMP and APICS) Fellow. Richard died April 21, 2025; honoring the work he did with hazmat history is one small way to keep his memory alive.
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.
June 20, 1990
An earthquake (of 7.4-magnitude) struck Iran near the Caspian Sea where 40,000 to 50,000 people died. Along one 80-mile stretch, every single building was reduced to rubble and every single resident was killed.
June 20, 1977
Crude oil from Prudhoe Bay (America’s largest oil field) began flowing south down the 48-inch Trans-Alaska pipeline. The crude oil reached the ice-free port of Valdez, Alaska 38 days later. The annual flow accounted for about 20% of U.S. oil production. Environmentalists fought to prevent its construction, saying it would destroy a pristine ecosystem. The worst fears of environmentalists were later realized in 1989 when the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound and 10 million gallons of oil spilled.
June 20, 1963
A direct phone “hotline” connection between the White House and the Russian Kremlin was established. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, it took nearly 12 hours to receive and decode messages between the two superpowers. Afterwards, it was decided that the crisis could have been resolved much more quickly with faster communication.
June 20, 1861
Frederick Hopkins, British biochemist, was born. He discovered the amino acid, tryptophan, and showed that it and certain other amino acids (known as essential amino acids) cannot be manufactured by certain animals from other nutrients and must be supplied in their diet. Hopkins realized that no animal could live on a mixture of pure protein, fat and carbohydrate, even when mineral salts are added. He termed missing factors, later called vitamins, as “accessory substances.”
Historical hazardous materials management events are posted 365 days a year at this LinkedIn discussion group.
