The lessons of proper chemical storage are truly timeless. While hazardous materials response teams must contend with recent spills and leaks daily, it’s not uncommon for these same brave men and women to clean up the messes left from previous generations.
Even the “Greatest Generation” had their shares of pitfalls when it came to handling dangerous materials. While the temporary lapse in judgment is understandable for inert substances that only pose a threat when combined with catalysts, we can’t help but raise an eyebrow when we discover the complete disregard some people once had for more dangerous substances… namely explosives.
WWI redux?
Unfortunately, we discovered a real head-scratcher while searching for such incredulous tales. In North Suffolk, Va., rescue crews were scrambled to the scene of a construction zone next to a defunct WWI and WWII ordinance disposal area. Apparently, wartime officials had overlooked basic protocol in burying or storing ordnances, which led to the discovery of a wartime explosive recently by construction workers. A bomb squad was quickly dispatched to the area to disarm the ordinance and the “all clear” was given a short time later.
Fortunately, this harried anecdote didn’t end in similar fashion to the last world war we saw. But as the saying goes, ‘where there is one, there’s sure to be more.” The wartime ordinance storage facility saw millions of rounds of live ammunition and bombs pass through its grounds and it’s unfathomable to think more shells could be lurking just beneath the surface. We can only hope that the next one crews find will also be a dud.
Fatalities associated with encounters with live ordnance is surprisingly common. According to the United Nations, 78 countries are littered with land mines and bombs. Up to 20,000 people are killed every year from these forgotten wartime relics and thousands more are injured.
Don’t let history repeat itself…
While we can’t judge the previous generation too harshly – they did save the world from the Nazis, after all – we should collectively learn from their mistakes. There’s no reason to ignore proper protocol in storing dangerous materials. We live in the information age. With the technological capabilities at our fingertips, we can no longer feign ignorance when it comes to researching proper disposal methods. After all, you are reading this blog on the Internet, right?
U.S. Hazmat Explosive Storage Rentals
In addition to a proven line of fire-rated chemical storage protection, U.S. Hazmat Rentals also provides a quality engineered line of explosive storage magazines.
Our explosive storage is built to the highest quality standard. When you rent explosive storage from us, you are getting a magazine, locker or building that meets or exceeds ATF standards. These units are available in small, medium, and large sizes, as well as mobile magazines. Uses for this type of unit include:
- high and low explosives
- detonators
- blasting caps
- pyrotechnics (fireworks)
- ammunition and other ordnance
It is our goal to bring you fully compliant storage units, so that your explosive materials are stored with safety and convenience. Utilize our explosive storage magazines for the highest protection in hazmat storage. Our magazines are built with the highest quality components to ensure the highest safety rating for your explosive materials.
