Tragedy Strikes Beirut

A Reminder For Us All

As many of us are likely aware of by now, the recent explosion in Beirut which injured thousands and killed over 135 people and counting, should act as reminder of the importance of proper storage of hazardous materials. The blast that was felt over 9KM away, was magnified by the improper storage of 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate and other “highly explosive materials which had been confiscated years earlier and stored in the warehouse near where the ammonium nitrate was left,” according to Prime Minister Hassan Diab.

While this is a much larger amount of improperly stored and likely improperly segregated hazardous materials, this awful tragedy reminds us of the importance of proper segregation and storage of our own hazardous materials. It also acts as a reminder of why security in the transportation industry is of such high importance. The agricultural fertilizer (ammonium nitrate) that magnified the destruction in Beirut, was also used in deadly bombing of the Oklahoma Federal building in 1995.

This reminds us to continue to remain vigilant and steadfast in our duties to remain trained, properly store and segregate hazardous materials, and securely offer for transport hazardous materials. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and victims of this unneeded disaster.

For more on security and awareness and proper segregation for all modes of transportation, visit us at learnhazmat.com or give us a call for a FREE consultation at (724) 899-4100, and one of our knowledgeable team members will help you decide what industry leading training and compliance program best suits your needs. And don’t forget to opt-in to our newsletter where you can stay up-to-date on reg. changes, industry news like this, and exclusive training offers.