In a recent incident that has sparked controversy and raised questions about privacy and public safety, the CEO (Phil Carson) of Libra Chemicals Ltd, Manchester made headlines after confronting a member of the public (DJ Audits) for flying a drone over the company's site.
The incident occurred when DJ Audits flew his drone over the site of Libra Chemicals Ltd. Concerned about the potential implications for safety and security, the Carson took matters into his own hands and confronted DJ Audits.
Eyewitnesses reported a heated exchange between Carson and DJ Audits, with Carson expressing strong objections to the presence of the drone above the chemical facility and whacking the remote control to knock it from DJ Audits hand. According to reports, Carson accused the operator of endangering the safety of the site and its employees by flying the drone in close proximity to the premises and chemicals stored there.
The confrontation quickly gained attention on social media platforms, with opinions divided on the actions of both parties involved. While some praised Phil Carson for taking a proactive stance to protect the company's interests and ensure safety measures were upheld, others criticised his extremely dangerous approach as overly aggressive and potentially infringing on the rights of the photographers and drone pilots. Not only that, if the drone controller was damaged or had fallen face down, the emergency cut-off could have been applied to the drone motors, causing it to fall from the sky onto the plant below.
This incident has reignited discussions about the use of drones in proximity to sensitive locations such as industrial sites and raised questions about the boundaries between individual freedoms and corporate interests. Some say it highlights the need for clear regulations and guidelines regarding the operation of drones in public spaces, particularly in areas where safety and security are paramount concerns. However, many companies will use incidents like this to push for more privacy over their site in order to hide their activities - including illegal activities that are not visible from the kerbside. Take Saint Gobain as an example; the company was found to be illegally disposing of highly dangerous silica on-site by the same auditor involved in the Libra Chemicals incident. This would not have been exposed if the drone overflight didn't occur, risking the health of staff and those living nearby.
Libra Chemicals Ltd has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident, but it is expected that they will address the matter soon. Meanwhile, DJ Audits has remained silent on the matter, leaving room for speculation about his motivations and perspective on the confrontation.
