On March 18, 1937, an explosion in New London, Texas would change the small Texas town and the energy industry forever. The Consolidated School of New London, Texas was built in the 1930's as a state-of-the-art facility sitting in the mist of 11 oil derricks on the school property. As a means of meeting the school's energy needs, the Consolidated School of New London tapped into the wet-gas lines that ran near the school to receive natural gas, which was a common practice of the time for consumers living near oil fields.

Since natural gas has no odor, no one realized that the basement of the school was filling with natural gas due to a leak in the gas line. At roughly 3:17 p.m. on March 18, 1937, the shop instructor turned on a sanding machine, which sparked and ignited the pooled natural gas. The ignition caused the Consolidated School of New London to explode claiming the lives of almost 300 students and teachers.

Today, the survivors of this tragedy have created The New London Museum to memorialize their friends and loved ones. Since the New London Consolidated School explosion, mercaptan has been added to natural gas giving it a rotten egg sulfur smell forever changing and improving the safety of the natural gas industry.

New London Museum

Prevent Blindness was founded in 1908 and is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization. Prevent Blindness' mission is "to fight blindness and preserve sight". To bring attention to this mission, Prevent Blindness has declared March Workplace Eye Wellness Month and provides free information on topics to promote eye health at work.

Prevent Blindness Best Practice Guidelines for good eye health:

1. Visit an eye doctor for a dilated eye exam

2. Place digital screens 20-26 inches away from your eyes and a little lower than eye level

3. Use a document holder next to your computer screen, close enough to prevent the need to swing your head or constantly refocus eyes when moving from the document and the computer screen

4. Adjust the text size to a comfortable reading level

5. Change screen lighting to a lower glare setting

6. Use workplace ergonomics - adjustable chair, tilt and swivel screen, and adjustable or ergonomic keyboard

7. Practice the 20-20-20 break recommendation - every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds

For workers in industries where eye accidents and/or injuries can occur, Prevent Blindness strongly recommends the use of personal protective eyewear.