A worldwide pandemic should never be politicalized. Unfortunately, unmitigated media bias and unverified dissemination of “alternate facts” on Facebook has created a torrent of sensationalized misinformation surrounding COVID19. We live in a technology advanced age. Never before has information spread so far, so quickly. We can verify any information that is sent to us with just the click of a mouse. So, why has skewed facts about the virus created a second pandemic of misinformation? In times of uncertainty, the general public has sought out the quickest available medium for news. In lieu of awaiting precise and well-thought out report from trusted scientists, they turn to Billy Bob at the local hardware store for more fear mongering while espousing half-truths and stereotypes. Trusting unvetted sources can be as dangerous as ignoring the guidelines for proper chemical storage. At U.S Hazmat Rentals, we debunk the numerous myths surrounding the perils of chemical storage with expert guidance.
One of the more ubiquitous myths surrounding the spread of COVID19 was that it was bioengineered by a group of mad scientists in a Chinese laboratory. Tin-foil hat conspiracy theorists then posited the virus leaked from cultures on a Petri dish before escaping to the public. Other paranoid doomsayers and deluded bloggers posited the virus was bioengineered by some foreign intelligence agencies to undermine domestic markets. Of course, there’s no information to support either of these claims. Like with so many viruses before it, the origins of COVID19 remain a mystery. Despite the circumstances of the virus’s creation, we can agree that misinformation can be just as deadly. Refusal to adhere to proper safety guidelines, such as wearing a mask or washing one’s hands, can have dire consequences. The same is true for proper chemical storage. By ignoring the expert opinion of engineers and scientists, you could be in the early stages of a company-wide chemical epidemic that you won’t recover from.
Safeguard against paranoia and half-truths by only trusting expert advice when it comes to proper chemical storage
Between early January 2015 and June 2020, a high secured research biolab at UNC-Chapel Hill reported six chemical accidents that involved various types of lab-created coronaviruses. Most of these incidents involved mouse bites, rodent escapes and spills. As you may know, mice are the go-to guinea pig when studying new strains of viruses in the attempt to find out more about the organisms and develop potential vaccines. Other researchers were exposed to a “mouse adapted” virus that was created in the lab. It’s important to note that none of these incidents led to the creation of COVID19 or infected the general public. The lab is for research purposes only. UNC was lucky that these mishaps didn’t become the precursor to a worldwide pandemic. No organization, including an esteemed university could ever recover from such negative publicity. UNC’s escaped mice illustrate a very important message in chemical storage. Improper chemical storage will invariably result in accidental leaks, spills, fires or environmental contamination.
We aren’t saying that our fire-rated chemical storage lockers can prevent a worldwide pandemic, but they can prevent a chemical epidemic in your community with steel-gauge protection. Our lockers are also ideal for lab settings. While we would never recommend the storage of living organisms in our lockers, our hazmat warehouses are ideal for storing flammable and corrosive materials that are found in almost any laboratory. Proper chemical storage should never be an afterthought. By acting proactively in securing superiorly engineered protection from U.S. Hazmat Rentals, you can avoid costly chemical incidents and environmental contamination. Each U.S. Hazmat Rentals chemical storage container is equipped with an innovative steel grate spill sump containment system. If spills do occur, they will simply fall through the steel grated flooring and safely collected in the sump below. Optional fire suppression systems can also douse flames and prevent them spreading to vulnerable assets and employees. Don’t become yet another casualty of the modern society in falling victim to misinformation. Invest in proper chemical storage today!
