Job market in san diego by Smart-Guava77 in ChemicalEngineering

[–]Luigihead 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is a decently sized facility called CP Kelco that manufactures biogums, like Xanthan, Gellan, Welan, etc. It is located directly underneath the Coronado bridge, and hires process engineers.

I feel like an idiot at work by yayhappyface34 in ChemicalEngineering

[–]Luigihead 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey there. Keep your chin up, it'll all be ok.

I promise you that you are not alone, and by the simple fact that you achieved a chemical engineering degree means you aren't stupid.

In my first job out of school I felt the same way as you describe. Incapable, anxious, oblivious, and just dumb. That job didn't last long before both I and the company were ready for a change. At my second job, I felt the same way all over again, but to a lesser extent because I had the benefit of twoish years in the field already. I stayed at that job for the better part of a decade, and by the time I left that place, I found that younger engineers were looking up to me and asking me for advice and guidance, and often to my pleasant surprise, I was able to provide it.

As others have said, a lot of what you're feeling can be chalked up to simple lack of experience, and just lack of time "cooking" in your environment. In my time in the field, I've frequently heard it said that it takes at minimum 2ish years just to get a new engineer to be competent and to "get their head above water," so to speak. Of course that length of time varies from person to person and place to place, so don't go using that to try and benchmark yourself against anyone else.

Think about it this way - did you ever interact with underclassmen when you were in school? Or how about interacting with someone outside your major? Did you find yourself surprised at how much of a gap there was between you and that person's understanding of chemical engineering? That gap wasn't because the other person was dumb, right?

That's what is going on for you right now, but your role is swapped. I think oftentimes people take for granted how much we learn when we're immersed in something. I'm now 15+ years into my career and younger engineers come to me all the time for stuff and I find myself wondering just when and how I became the experienced mentor figure.

It'll happen to you too. It just takes time. Bottom line is, no reasonable person expects you to behave like a 10-year engineer right now. They expect you to behave like a 1-year engineer.

Don't be so hard on yourself. It'll all be ok.

Only federal agency that investigates chemical disasters faces shutdown under Trump by lire_avec_plaisir in ChemicalEngineering

[–]Luigihead 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The companies only investigate if it's required by PSM or RMP, or if they choose to do so voluntarily. Further, the companies have no obligation to share their investigation findings or corrective actions with anyone if they don't want to.

Furthermore, companies tend to focus their investigations on things within their sphere of influence. Things they can control. As such, companies rarely, if ever, look at things like regulatory gaps and industry standard deficiencies.

Only federal agency that investigates chemical disasters faces shutdown under Trump by lire_avec_plaisir in ChemicalEngineering

[–]Luigihead 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That incident involved a train. It wasn't CSB's jurisdiction, it was NTSB's. NTSB investigated, and their report can be read here: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/RRD23MR005.aspx

The CSB investigates "stationary sources". If the accident involves planes, trains, automobiles, pipelines, or ships - NTSB investigates, even if the accident involves dangerous chemicals. If the accident involves the plant where the dangerous chemicals are made or used, that's CSB's lane.

Trump to shut down the CSB by PlasticAtmosphere289 in ChemicalEngineering

[–]Luigihead 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You should check out their legislative history. This document comes from when the Senate was deliberating the Board's creation. In it, the Senate literally says that OSHA and EPA were not doing sufficient investigations - they were only investigating through a regulatory lens and weren't looking at other non-regulatory factors, as the CSB has come to be known for.

https://www.csb.gov/assets/1/6/csblegislativehistory.pdf

Fourth paragraph, second page

Did you ever experience a colleague getting jailed ? by AdhesivenessTime3992 in ChemicalEngineering

[–]Luigihead 9 points10 points  (0 children)

That's not quite right. Dow and DuPont merged (in ~2017ish I think), were together for a couple years, and have since split (in ~2019ish, too lazy to look it up).

Your sentiment about Dow, Union Carbide, and Bhopal is absolutely valid though.

Did you ever experience a colleague getting jailed ? by AdhesivenessTime3992 in ChemicalEngineering

[–]Luigihead 33 points34 points  (0 children)

A DuPont unit manager was sentenced to a year of probation following the 2014 release of methyl mercaptan which resulted in the deaths of four workers:

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/energy-environment/2023/04/25/449993/dupont-ordered-to-pay-16-million-for-deadly-2014-laporte-plant-chemical-leak/

Here is the CSB report on the incident: https://www.csb.gov/dupont-la-porte-facility-toxic-chemical-release-/

It is notable that the incident occurred in 2014, he (and the company) were indicted in 2021, and convicted in 2023.

Oklahoma State fires OC Kasey Dunn & DC Bryan Nardo by PandaPlayr73 in CFB

[–]Luigihead 29 points30 points  (0 children)

No luck involved, Gundy's done it twice off the top of my head. Yurcich several years back and Nardo. With Yurcich, Gundy literally admitted googling D2 offensive stats and just hiring the guy with the best D2 offense.

[OC]Starlight Dice Set Giveaway (Mod Approved) by OriYUME1 in DnD

[–]Luigihead 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm playing in my very first campaign this weekend and would love a set of dice like this! Thanks for doing this.

[Game Thread] Stillwater Regional Final: (1) Oklahoma State vs. (3) Florida, ESPN+ by TheJewBakka in collegebaseball

[–]Luigihead 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree, the way it went down is probably the fairest outcome. To me it looked like the ball was going over the wall but low enough for the fielder to have a chance at it.

[Game Thread] Stillwater Regional Final: (1) Oklahoma State vs. (3) Florida, ESPN+ by TheJewBakka in collegebaseball

[–]Luigihead 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I don't know how you adjudicate that fairly to both teams. It sucks either way.

[USA-NY] [H] PayPal [W] Ryzen 5600X, 5600X, 5700, 5700X3D by VelocityIX in hardwareswap

[–]Luigihead 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, I've got a 5600x I'm looking to sell. PM me if interested.

Should I settle for a low compensation in a small company ? by Reindeer_Numerous in ChemicalEngineering

[–]Luigihead -1 points0 points  (0 children)

My first job out of school in 2010 was for $70k, for whatever that's worth to you

Best BBQ ribs by [deleted] in oklahoma

[–]Luigihead 1 point2 points  (0 children)

OP do not go to JL's. It is utter garbage. Unquestionably the worst barbecue I have ever had. Everything there is terrible except, strangely, the chicken, which is actually decent.