Coping with risk has always been part of the challenge of human existence through the ages and the level of fear provoked by any specific threat is usually exaggerated by lack of knowledge.
As recently as 2009 the threat of a ‘swine flu’ epidemic resulted in the widespread disruption of international travel until a proper understanding of the virus, the severity of infection it could cause, and its ability to spread, quelled most of the fear.
Even relatively well informed post-modern society is seen to react with fearful vengeance, when any event whether caused through accident, negligence, terrorism, vengeance or simple natural disaster, cannot be attributed to a known cause.
Industrial gases are a class of hazard that is perceived as a threat to people today and a brief recount of past events quickly reminds us why.
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