No business owner wants a visit from OSHA safety inspector. More often than not, a surprise visit from these incredulous hardhat inspectors indicates that trouble is at foot. As with any other bureaucracy, OSHA inspectors are fairly straightlaced and matter of fact. They don’t enjoy chitchat or workplace banner. If an OSHA agent is making…
Compartmentalization can be a great defense mechanism. We use this cognitive process to handle adverse circumstances that elicit complex and powerful emotions which can be difficult to handle. Acting in crisis mode, our psyche takes the troubling thoughts and emotions and prioritize which information should be examined first and how to gradually broach the more…
Inflation is the ‘boogey man’ of a thriving economy. You only hear about it in hushed tones and dulled whispers when the economy is humming along and trending in the right direction. But just like the laws of physics dictate, what goes up must come down eventually. Just as business was returning to usual following…
Hazmat accident areas are treated like nuclear waste dump sites, regardless of size and scope of the incident, and for good reason. Such disaster areas remain as forever scars on an otherwise unblemished community. Bright yellow caution tape seals off the perimeter from curious bystanders like a crime scene. You would think someone got hacked…
Do you remember the first time you saw a tornado? It was probably in your eighth grade science class during a lazy afternoon when a substitute teacher decided to pop in a video from National Geographic rather than teach a drawn-out lesson plan on the mysteries of how vortexes formed. Or maybe you survived such…
Summer came early to the Midwest as record setting temperatures continue to bake that nation’s heartland. As millions retreat indoors to the cool reprieve of climate controlled homes, the region’s industrial workforce braced itself for hazardous conditions brought on by the sudden upswing in temperatures. Warehouses and factory floors become real life sweatshops as poor…
What’s worse than improper chemical storage causing a hazmat fire that threatens the lives of firefighters? How about a tornado ripping simultaneously ripping through that same area? Well, this perfect storm of fire and wind became a chilling reality in Wadena, Minnesota last week. Just as authorities arrived on the scene of a surging blaze…
Most shoppers flock to Walmart for the extra low prices and the wide variety of one-stop shopping. While it’s not as simple as point-and-click online shopping and delivery, it’s convenience is unmatched when you’re on-the-go. Long store hours and central locations have made big box stores the modern bazars for most communities that have turned…
At U.S. Hazmat Rentals, we don’t measure progress in leaps or bounds, but instead by the number of clients we help meet governmental compliance. Each year, thousands of companies are fined millions of dollars for a multitude of violations. Such citations run the gamut from simple oversight in safety to the more egregious infractions such…
Chemical fires are unlike any other conflagration. They start quickly, have ample supply of ammunition and can burn for hours. Fires of these magnitudes can affect entire communities as the emitting fumes and toxins will poison the surrounding environment. Large scale evacuations become standard procedure when dealing with these massive flames. Once a flame comes…