Standing the watch...

[WilliamPitt]

I freely confess to having been utterly absorbed by the events that took place in my home town of Boston this week. Now that the matter has been resolved, it is time for me, and for all of us, to turn our eyes to West.

This is a member of the Bryan FD Honor Guard posted at the scene of the explosion in West. One of the sacred traditions of firefighters and other emergency service personnel is that they never leave a fallen member alone. This member, and others like him, will remain in place with each of the fallen until they have all been laid to rest.

It has been a terrible week, and not just for Boston. Not by a long chalk. To the people of West, I offer my solemn condolences, love and support.

[dems_rightnow]

1. Bump

Stark and beautiful.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. All the tragedies we've had in the U.S. in my lifetime and this is the first

I've heard of this tradition. Thank you Will.

[OneGrassRoot]

4. Same here. Thanks, Will. K&R n/t

[Mopar151]

3. "Look for the helpers"

Mr Roger's advice, posted here several times last week. In West, Texas last week, you did'nt have to look far at all.

[Cirque du So-What]

5. What happened in West is definitely worthy of our attention

As terrible as the bombings in Boston were, this explosion at a fertilizer plant was many orders of magnitude larger, as was the destruction it wrought. Who knows how many more of these plants are scattered across the country with communities in close proximity and just one OOPSIE! away from disaster? That's the thing; we just don't know! Due to lax enforcement of safety regulations, these facilities operate at the whim of management whose prime concern is maximizing profit - safety be damned. If a plant explodes, it's of little consequence to them; their property is insured and they have liability insurance for collateral damage, they can always find new workers and, after all, if the state or federal government gets involved, any fine levied will be no more than a slap on the wrist. For a relative pittance, companies can buy governments that provide nil oversight, strangle regulatory agencies, and serve up only token punishment when they flaunt the law.

Worthy of our attention indeed, but I hope that means more than just offering platitudes to the survivors. Unlike the Boston tragedy, which was perpetrated by terrorists who acted without providing much in the way of clues beforehand, these companies are like an open book to regulators and inspectors in comparison - if only they are given the authority and manpower to do their jobs effectively. I realize that I'm stretching the metaphor, but I go so far as to call corporations who ignore safety regulations ECONOMIC TERRORISTS who have 'bought off the cops' and hold communities as unwitting hostages - unwitting, that is, until disaster strikes. Are the results of either of these types of terrorism - the carnage and destruction - any different at all? We must pay attention and keep paying attention.

[snappyturtle]

8. +1 well said nt

[Cirque du So-What]

10. Rather than edit my post

I'll take the opportunity to expand upon it in this reply, and thank you for the compliment.

My use of the term 'economic terrorism' wasn't applied frivolously or for dramatic effect; I'm sincere in that statement. These companies use tactics that would make the mafia blush, going so far as to threaten closing up shop or moving to a more 'business-friendly' climate when the big, bad intrusive gummint occasionally tries to enforce laws to protect the public. I imagine a lot of the residents within the blast zone actually worked in that facility, so they had a vested interest in keeping quiet about safety violations...if they were aware of them at all, that is. That''s hardly a winning strategy, however, as their workplace is gone - along with friends, neighbors, coworkers & most of the town. It'll be interesting to see if management coerced their coworkers into remaining silent or if they bullied local government with threats of closing or moving out of town.

[snappyturtle]

11. I think we have a lot left to learn about this tragedy. As I understand,

the plant employed only a dozen or so. I am surprised that
the plant was allowed to operate so close to residential
property, a nursing home, school, etc. I also have to wonder
if the firemen realized the volative nature of the plant. Why
wouldn't they have spent their time setting up a perimeter
instead and evacuating people? Maybe they thought the fire
could be extinguished before it 'blew'????

You coined a great term: "economic terrorism" ! That's
exactly what it is and it's happening around all of us...
daily.

[Cirque du So-What]

14. Thanks again

but I can't take credit for the term 'economic terrorism,' although I do like to insert it into the discussion when appropriate and, when I see companies treating the law with contempt - as in this instance - I believe it is most definitely appropriate.

You're correct in stating that the plant employed a relative handful of people, but in a small town like West, even a small facility has an economic ripple effect that provided enough incentive to look the other way when regulations are flouted. Going by personal experience in firefighting and HAZMAT operations, I find it hard to believe that the fire department wouldn't have evacuated people or abandoned any hope of extinguishing the fire at all if they'd known about the immense quantity of ammonium nitrate at that site.

This incident is just one example of why I oppose the very notion of 'corporate personhood,' as it dilutes individual responsibility for tragedies like this. IMO, someone or many someones should be cooling their heels in the Graybar Hotel as we speak, awaiting trial for murder and a host of other crimes.

[snappyturtle]

16. We're on the same page. I, too, wonder if the firemen knew

what they were up against. It just doesn't make any
sense otherwise. imho

[Cirque du So-What]

17. Yep

I've known a significant number of firefighters over the years, and I'm certain that not one of them would suggest tackling a fire if they'd known the contents of that building. Sometimes the most prudent course of action is setting up command headquarters at 4th & Plum: 4th hollow away from the fire and plum out of sight.

[prairierose]

19. Thank you for bringing this into the discussion....

I believe that this economic terrorism is really a much larger problem for this country than the type of terrorists who left bombs in Boston this week. While what happened in Boston is certainly a tragedy, this economic terrorism is spread throughout the country and is largely invisible to most people.

So many people still believe that the government watchs out for our food, safe workplaces, safe pharmaceuticals and so on. What they do not know is that after 30 years of the rw preaching the gospel of greed and hatred of the government, all that regulatory mechanism has been hollowed out and captured by the areas meant to be regulated. The foxes are guarding the hen house. And growing numbers of deaths will be the result.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

20. Agreed.

This is one powerfully true and massively disturbing paragraph:

Due to lax enforcement of safety regulations, these facilities operate at the whim of management whose prime concern is maximizing profit - safety be damned. If a plant explodes, it's of little consequence to them; their property is insured and they have liability insurance for collateral damage, they can always find new workers and, after all, if the state or federal government gets involved, any fine levied will be no more than a slap on the wrist. For a relative pittance, companies can buy governments that provide nil oversight, strangle regulatory agencies, and serve up only token punishment when they flaunt the law.

[LiberalEsto]

13. Corporate execs should be rdequired by law to live next to their facilities nt

[Cirque du So-What]

15. Capitalistas will never put their own precious hides in harm's way

and, to their way of thinking, what's the significance of a town to the bottom line anyway? Once an insurance check is cut, they'll just build another facility in some other town with local government desperate for revenue.

[Mopar151]

32. Actually, that is how the DuPont family rose to the top of the gunpowder business

Building their own houses next to the plant to prove it "harmless".

[gademocrat7]

6. Thank you, Will.

[grantcart]

7. "Standing the Watch"

Kind of reminds me of what you do here, Will, for the vast number of us who don't have the time to follow all the minutiae.

I know that if I keep an eye out for WilliamPitt threads I can keep on top of the important stuff, even if we don't always agree on every point exactly.

Very, very classy of you to remember West, very classy to do it with this particular image.

Well done.

[Mopar151]

33. +1 n/t

[mountain grammy]

9. I'm ashamed to say, I didn't know this, and glad you shared it here. I posted it to fb.

The picture is haunting and heart wrenching.

[90-percent]

12. The magnitude of the West Tragedy

In historical terms, it should have a place in history in the same zone as:

THE TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST FACTORY FIRE of March 25, 1911, in which 146 workers lost their lives.

14 confirmed dead, 60 "missing", the West Tragedy may be "one of the worst industrial disasters since The Texas City disaster of April 16, 1947" Wikipedia states this was "the deadliest industrial accident in U.S. history, and one of the largest non-nuclear explosions" (in history) This blast killed at least 581 people and was also in Texas and also involved ammonium nitrate.

I suspect the root cause of the West Texas Tragedy will be similar to the root cause of the Triangle Fire; Utter management indifference to anything besides making the maximum amount of money possible and risking your employees lives to do it. They also risked the lives of the people living very nearby, come to think of it.

Does any rational person think the 60 "missing" will eventually be found? "Missing" is merely a polite term for "blown to smithereens".

My prediction is the owners of the West Factory will be fined at least $50,000 and not greater than $100,000 for their industrial negligence. Merely the cost of doing business. And if the owners are found to be Republican political donors, you can cut my estimates in half.

Here's a link to my DU post about West vs. Boston, FWIW

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2720693

-90% Jimmy

PS - Will, you were mentioned on Thom Hartman's show a few days ago and he was referring to one of your DU posts. You've hit the big time! (Although there may be multiple "Will Pitt"s on DU?)

[popsdenver]

18. As well as honoring those who perished

As well as honoring those who perished, most Fire Depts will post a fireperson 24/7 at a scene until the fire investigators are done. That protects the "chain of evidence"..........I've been there and done that many times..........

[hrmjustin]

25. Welcome to DU popsdenver!

[Fumesucker]

21. Wow, a Will Pitt post that brings us together rather than divides us with snark

More like the old Will Pitt I remember from back during the Cheney regency.

[WilliamPitt]

27. ...said the snarky post.

[Fumesucker]

31. Ah, but not an OP

My snark is usually saved for replies.

Has success changed Will Pitt?

I definitely prefer OPs that inform or bring us together, no matter who writes them.

I don't think I have congratulated you on the birth of your child yet so from grandpa to dad, congratulations.

[MOTRDemocrat]

22. I learned something new today. K&R. nt

[popsdenver]

23. Extremely large number of manufacturers

An extremely large number of manufacturers of really really really nasty stuff are located in Texas.

The safety/regulatory agencies in Texas are seemingly a joke, that's why all these horrific manufacturers locate there!

If anyone read Upton Sinclair's THE JUNGLE about working conditions in America in the early 1900's, and you thought that was bad, just check out a set of articles in the New York Times about a company that produces cast iron pipe in Texas.......And believe me, there are countless other corporations in Texas, and the south, who operate like this with total disregard for the environment, the employees, or the people living near their plants!

Below is the first of several articles the NYT did on Tyler Pipe. The NYT's continuing story of Tyler Pipe is divided into several more parts iand is available at the NYT archives......The site below is just their first article in the series.....

Check it out !!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/08/us/at-a-texas-foundry-an-indifference-to-life.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

[BlancheSplanchnik]

41. wow, that's a pretty sobering article.

Thanks.

[Skittles]

24. William, thank you

I absolutely understand the Boston coverage (I offer the same: solemn condolences, love and support back to you) but it kind of broke my heart for the people of West to be overlooked - I will say I went to my regular platelet appointment Thursday at the blood center and it was a mob scene of volunteers.

[MissDeeds]

26. OMG!!

If there is a heaven, there has to be a special place for first responders. Incredibly moving...



K&R

[democrank]

29. K & R

Brought tears to my eyes

[heaven05]

30. lest we forget

man, what a week.

[northoftheborder]

34. There was a video posted somewhere this week, can't remember where, made by persons....

.....who lived in West. They were driving toward the billowing smoke and fire, wondering aloud what could have happened. Was there a train derailment, a plane crash, they asked each other; they were driving toward and nearly to the plant. They never even mentioned it as being a possible cause, perhaps they didn't even know it was there, or what it contained. They knew someone who lived at the devastated apartments and darted out of the car to try to find her, so obviously lived there, or nearby. I thought it very odd that they never thought to mention that the fertilizer plant might have exploded. Very strange. There was an article about the owner, also, who is a local resident. It's been there a long time, probably before the houses and school. Why they were allowed to be built there is criminal. Small towns seldom have strict zoning.

[Mopar151]

35. I used to service industrial equipment used all over the world

Mostly related to various processes of spraying metal - the technology & equipment is related to welding, but the process is much dirtier, louder, and generally nasty. Operator safety depends on gale-force ventilation, and the dust collectors work hard (deposit efficencies run about 50%)and catch fire if they are not set up just right (we burned up a couple ourselves). Metal fume is nothing to mess with, and aerospace work uses lots of chrome and nickel. The American South was where 90 % of the horror stories came from. One of our road techs found a new operator set up in a plywood booth with a kitchen exhaust fan and no PPE at all - sick as a dog. Our tech told him " Buddy, I know you need this job - but you can't feed your kids if you're dead." I heard this from the tech during the usual round of epic drinking at the Chinese joint down the street from work. I seem to remember the town being (sp?) Sylacauga, Alabama..

[Logical]

36. Thanks for this! Nice story!! n-t

[kalli007]

37. Bryan is my hometown

They recently lost 2 firefighters as well, about a month ago.

[leanforward]

38. Thanks for this Posting

I was not aware of this tradition. I would imagine the list of Honor Guards is long and from all over the country.

Thank you for honoring the fallen.

Tom

[leanforward]

39. Thanks Cirque

Ditto what you posted. It seems to me the management team needs to go away for manslaughter. Sock it to the whole XXXX company.

[midnight]

40. Sending peace to all of us...