The ‘Wild West’ remains the final frontier in proper chemical storage. Years after a deadly chemical explosion at a West, Texas fertilizer plant, several other local businesses were found to be in non-compliance for improperly storing ammonium nitrate. An undercover investigation by a public radio station found that these fertilizer companies continued to store the…
Details
College campuses are the apexes of high learning. Esteemed institutions from the upper echelons of academia bestow upon us the benefit of rigorous training and experimentation. Many of the technological breakthroughs we enjoy in modern society and IT began as a discrete experimentation in a college lab. Universities are also the proving grounds for the…
Details
What is the cost of doing business? For many corporations, this commonly used phrase refers to overhead, operating expenses, and employees’ salaries in providing goods or services. But for some other manufacturers, fees and civil penalties due to improper storage can erode profit margins. Since the 1940s, a Minnesota company has been on the receiving…
Details
It was once said that the sun never sets on the British empire, but today, a preeminent force is changing the battlefield. While political hegemony remains a prevailing theme worldwide, the rules of engagement have changed. Colonialism and imperialism have given away to modern governance and order. New players emerged in the aftermath of WWII.…
Details
Swimming pools are the oases of summer. Many of our most fondest childhood memories include basking in the rejuvenating sunshine before taking a enticing dip of the effervescent waters of the neighborhood swimming pools. They felt as natural and refreshing as church on a Sunday morning. Many of our “firsts” came from these modern watering…
Details
Construction can be temporary by nature. It seems as soon as crews break ground on a new facility, they are juggling at least three more deadlines. And as one project wraps up, job foremen are already eyeing logistical issues as they prepare for the next job. With the arrival of spring, their backlog of work…
Details
Did you know that your company could be facing thousands of dollars in fines daily for simply mislabeling hazardous materials for transport? Logistics are a nightmare for most manufacturing operations. Complications from incoming and outgoing orders arise daily. Inventory procurement and making sure finished products are shipped on time can complicate already overstressed project managers.…
Details
Fertilizers are nature’s steroids. Without these natural and synthetic supplements, farms and agroindustry wouldn’t enjoy plentiful crop yields to satisfy America’s growing appetite. These potentially volatile, but necessary grow stimulants help replenish denuded farmland, so it can produce fresh nutrients. Fertilizers are an essential component to any large-scale farming or landscaping operation. But there’s such…
Details
We all remember the 2011 tornado season. Twisters ripped through the Midwest like a toddler on a tantrum. More than 1,700 tornadoes touched down in the United States, resulting in 553 deaths. That’s compared to 564 deaths in the prior 10 years combined! April was particularly devastating for the southeast. The three-day Alabama Super Outbreak left…
Details
Running a successful business is strenuous work. You have to manage an entire workforce, raw materials and a rotating list of projects. Your to-do list is seemingly never-ending. As soon as one task or obstacle is overcome, you’re quickly staring down the barrel of another hurdle to clear. All the while, recurring costs and overly…
Details