Last month’s chocolate factory explosion in West Reading, Pa., sounds like a devious plot twist from an M. Night Shyamalan film if he was given creative control of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Unfortunately, the confectionary nightmare was all too real for afflicted factory workers and residents. Seven workers were killed and almost a dozen…
After decades of legal wrangling, the federal government will finally pass down legislation regulating PFAS or forever chemicals. What are PFAS? Known as forever chemicals due to their length of degradation, PFAS can be found in everything from nonstick pans and food packaging to fire-fighting foam. While common in modern manufacturing, forever chemicals can pose…
University campuses and educational laboratories lead the way in research. Major corporations and industries rely on these scientific incubators to keep them abreast of recent breakthroughs and innovations. Universities also teach and train the future leaders of tomorrow while guiding public policy, including the effects on climate change. What makes university research labs so unique…
Ohio can’t seem to catch a break as a second violent chemical incident has rocked the state in a span of less than three weeks. On Monday, an explosion at a metals plant near Cleveland killed one person and injured a dozen more, as community leaders press the company for answers and more accountability from…
Ever feel like you’re living in a simulation? Do you have times in your life when sudden intrusive thoughts become real life manifestations the next day? For one Ohio community, silver screen theatrics became a startling reality following the forced evacuation of a local town following a train derailment that eerily follows the plot of…
We all could use a stiff drink after a hard day at the office. It’s the perfect way to unwind and engage in small talk with coworkers. We won’t get into the health perils of consuming alcohol – after all there are more dangerous chemicals deserving of our attention – but a drink here and…
Rules. Rules. Rules. OSHA has rules and regulations for every industry. Failure to abide by stringent regulations will result in an unexpected visit from a compliance officer. But why is this federal agency so obsessed with regulations and basic safety standards that even a neanderthal could make sense of? Increases in worker compensation claims from…
Oil drilling is just as complex as rocket science, but instead of exploring alien worlds, engineers explore what’s lurking below the earth’s surface. In this case, we’re of course talking about oil and how to get it out of the ground. And just like guiding a rocket ship deep into the oblivion of space, guiding…
Accidents will continue to haunt the workplace until necessary precautions can reel in negligent behavior. We live in a precarious world with limits of physics and gravity weighing us down, and sometimes – our common sense with it. Rules of the natural world don’t care about your quarterly profits or brand recognition. Fires and flashpoints…