This can be avoided
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Story By: Andy McCaslin
Growing up in a small, rural community in Oklahoma it is commonplace to have a volunteer fire department that meets the communities fire and medical needs. When I came of age I wanted to contribute to my community by being a firefighter. I submitted my application and became a volunteer firefighter in my community. Being that it was Oklahoma and Oklahoma being the heart of oil country we were surrounded with oil wells, compressor facilities and in my community we had a small refinery. During thunderstorms lighting strikes become the main culprit tank battery fires. In 2010 we were called out on such a tank battery fire that was sparked by lighting, we actually had three before the day was over. One call in particular that day was a tank battery fire at the far reaches of our district along the North Canadian river. It took us some 15 minutes to reach the location. Upon arrival it was clear the fire was the least of the worries but rather stopping the liquids that should of been contained in the containment structure took prescedence. I had been in the containment business for some years at this point and had actually bid on this particular project and was beat out by a well known company that markets and installs these thin gauge systems solely. I was appalled at this site, so little care was taken and it was apparent that no liquids had been contained that day and it was also apparent that many gallons of harsh chemicals had made their way to the river. To this day those chemicals are still somewhere affecting someone, whether it be someone eating a fish from downstream or pouring themselves a glass of water out of their faucet you can rest assured that some of those chemicals have made their way in to someones body, kids and adults alike. To me the bad part in all of this is that it could of been avoided in the very beginning if this thin metal company was not pushing a cheap metal that is doomed to fail from day one. I don't recall exactly how much our company was beat by during the bid process but I do know it was less than what it costs for a new TV, it is gross negligence to put profits above the health and safety of people. Spills are going to occur and fires are going to happen but it does not mean that we cannot contain those fluids, thats what companies are that work in this field, we are containment companies and containment companies should contain in any environment or condition. Thicker gauge metals are available to all, we just have to choose to use it.
Growing up in a small, rural community in Oklahoma it is commonplace to have a volunteer fire department that meets the communities fire and medical needs. When I came of age I wanted to contribute to my community by being a firefighter. I submitted my application and became a volunteer firefighter in my community. Being that it was Oklahoma and Oklahoma being the heart of oil country we were surrounded with oil wells, compressor facilities and in my community we had a small refinery. During thunderstorms lighting strikes become the main culprit tank battery fires. In 2010 we were called out on such a tank battery fire that was sparked by lighting, we actually had three before the day was over. One call in particular that day was a tank battery fire at the far reaches of our district along the North Canadian river. It took us some 15 minutes to reach the location. Upon arrival it was clear the fire was the least of the worries but rather stopping the liquids that should of been contained in the containment structure took prescedence. I had been in the containment business for some years at this point and had actually bid on this particular project and was beat out by a well known company that markets and installs these thin gauge systems solely. I was appalled at this site, so little care was taken and it was apparent that no liquids had been contained that day and it was also apparent that many gallons of harsh chemicals had made their way to the river. To this day those chemicals are still somewhere affecting someone, whether it be someone eating a fish from downstream or pouring themselves a glass of water out of their faucet you can rest assured that some of those chemicals have made their way in to someones body, kids and adults alike. To me the bad part in all of this is that it could of been avoided in the very beginning if this thin metal company was not pushing a cheap metal that is doomed to fail from day one. I don't recall exactly how much our company was beat by during the bid process but I do know it was less than what it costs for a new TV, it is gross negligence to put profits above the health and safety of people. Spills are going to occur and fires are going to happen but it does not mean that we cannot contain those fluids, thats what companies are that work in this field, we are containment companies and containment companies should contain in any environment or condition. Thicker gauge metals are available to all, we just have to choose to use it.
