SAFETY REGULATION - Political? Commercial? Both?

[hflong@postoffice.pacbell.net]

Dear Radsafers,

Indeed, "-we need regulators to ensure safe operations, and not just in

the nuclear industry -" Jacobus.



Howaever, the new Nobel Prize winner in Economics, I understand,

enlarged on Nash ("A Beautiful Mind") theory in showing that individual

choices, regardless of managerial pronouncements and directives, gave

the best (most economical? safest? most satisfying?) results.



Certainly, in health care, when Golden Rule Ins Co employees (c1200)

chose self-managed care (medical savings accounts with c$3,000

deductible before catastrophic insurance kicked in), the cost of the

catastrophic insurance went down 30%! Presumably there were fewer

catastrophies - greater safety from incentives for personal

responsibility than from insurer or governmental regulation.

Incidentally, this is the health care emphasis Bush promoted in his '00

campaign, earning a place on my waiting room wall.



How can greater personal responsibility be applied to nuclear reactor

safety? Political stick? Commercial carrot? Both?



Howard Long



"Jacobus, John (NIH/OD/ORS)" wrote:

> 

> As an observation, does anyone know of any industry where one of the mission

> statements is "we will ensure the safety of our workers and the public?"

> Businesses are supposed to make make money for their investors.  This is

> whye I have believed that we need regulators to ensure safe operations, and

> not just in the nuclear industry.

> 

> -- John

> John P. Jacobus, MS

> Certified Health Physicist

> 3050 Traymore Lane

> Bowie, MD 20715-2024

> 

> e-mail:  jenday1@msn.com

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Norman Cohen [mailto:ncohen12@comcast.net]

> Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2002 5:51 PM

> To: Know_Nukes@yahoogroups.com; radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu; UNPLUG

> Salem Campaign; JerseyShoreNuclearWatch@yahoogroups.com

> Subject: NY Times - Safety Lapse at Ohio Reactor Cited as Potential

> Peril for Others

> 

> >

> ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

> ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

> ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))0

> >

> > November 20, 2002

> > Safety Lapse at Ohio Reactor Is Cited as Potential Peril for Others

> > By MATTHEW L. WALD

> >

> >

> > WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 - In a confidential report, the nuclear industry's

> internal oversight group has warned utilities that a focus on production

> over safety had endangered an Ohio reactor and could be a broader problem

> around the nation.

> >

> ...

> ************************************************************************

> You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To unsubscribe,

> send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu  Put the text "unsubscribe

> radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail, with no subject line.

> You can view the Radsafe archives at http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/

************************************************************************

You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To unsubscribe,

send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu  Put the text "unsubscribe

radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail, with no subject line.

You can view the Radsafe archives at http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/