Forcing companies to switch production methods angers some – especially those staunch defenders of pure capitalism – but not me.
Earlier this month, the Clorox Company announced that it would change its production methods for household bleach. The company wants to move in a safer direction. No one is forcing Clorox to do this, but the company is exhibiting a sense of urgency and intelligence.
The company’s efforts will focus on switching from the use of chlorine gas to liquid bleach. These changes will be made at all seven U.S. Clorox factories, including the one near the Houston Ship Channel.
So why is Clorox doing this? Why is the company taking on huge costs just to make things safer? For one, Clorox understands that chlorine gas is deadly, but it has known that. So what other reasons? Why now?
The Clorox Company may be very insightful and accurate with its prediction of the tides in government.
On Nov. 6, H.R. 2868 passed in the House of Representatives by a large margin and will soon go to the Senate for further deliberation and voting. If passed, this bill, which is comprised of reforms to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, could make the U.S. a much safer place.
Something tells me that the Clorox Company is more than just up-to-date with politics; the changes the company is making will take nearly a decade to pay off. Perhaps Clorox is concerned about the vulnerability of its factories.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the worst-case scenario for an attack on the Clorox chemical facility near the Houston Ship Channel would put 1.87 million Houstonians into the ‘vulnerable zone.’ This is just the Clorox plant; there are many more chemical plants using chlorine gas as well.
Last year, the Center for American Progress did a report on the most dangerous chemical facilities in America. Houston has 21 of them. Aside from the Clorox plant, Houston has two other bleach producing factories, which could put 3.4 million and 2.13 million Houstonians in danger respectively.
These factories should make the same changes Clorox is making, but in reality they won’t do it by themselves.
By making sure bills such as H.R. 2868 pass, we will make the U.S. – especially Houston – a safer place.
Andrew Taylor is an economics junior and may be reached at [email protected]
