The East Palestine, OH train derailment in early February 2023 was an industrial incident of historic proportions. The catastrophe threatens the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people, puts precious drinking water resources at risk, and has spread pollution across vast stretches of the environment. The full consequences of the incident on the community may not be known for many more years.

As the root-cause behind the East Palestine tragedy remains under investigation, a seemingly recent outbreak of industrial incidents across the country is cause for grave concern. Disasters are always made worse when they involve hazardous materials and the use of hazardous materials in society is always increasing. According to the EPA , here are, nationwide, approximately 150 incidents each year involving chemical and industrial facilities.

Florida is no stranger to environmental catastrophe. The State has already experienced major environmental damage involving hazardous materials. There was the infamous Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 and the relatively recent release of 460 million gallons of toxic wastewater from Piney Point facility in Manatee County in 2021. While the threat of a looming natural disaster is always foremost in the minds of Floridians, the risk of a man-made  industrial catastrophe is ever present. Our responders, safety professionals, and industrial base must remain ever vigilant to prevent accidental and malicious events involving hazardous materials.

Florida’s transportation networks coupled with a burgeoning industrial manufacturing base, an increasing population, and a plethora of sensitive environmental resources make Florida a high risk for another future environmental calamity. The State is a major hub for the bulk transportation of flammable chemicals, corrosive liquids, gasses, oxidizers, explosives, toxic substances, and radioactive materials. Every day such hazardous materials are handled and transported across Florida’s ports, highways, railroads, and pipelines. Our economic livelihood thrives on that. Florida operates 10 major seaports including Port Tampa Bay, which handles large amounts of anhydrous ammonia for our agricultural and refrigeration industries. There are also 270,000 miles of roadway, over 30,000 miles of chemical pipeline and nearly 2,800 miles of rail line in the State, most of which carry freight. Shoreline communities know they are also vulnerable to offshore incidents.

I believe in the fundamentals of safety. My concern is that the environmental politics of climate change, ESG, sustainability, green initiatives, and DEI guide society’s attention away from the important  fundamentals of delivering day-to-day safety at the local level. Industrial safety departments and first responder communities remain understaffed, underfunded, and are increasingly ill-equipped to protect our communities from chemical hazards. As a result, everyday risks have the potential for grave consequences. Let the East Palestine, OH incident remind people, industry, and government that enduring day-to-day, operational safety is paramount to protecting our people, communities, and our environment from hazardous chemicals.