Re[2]: Japanese Accident -Reply

[Joyce Davis <JOYCED@DNFSB.GOV>]

RE the discussion of the newsworthiness of accidents at nuclear
facilities. 
  It seems that potential widespread effects, however improbable, is
much more newsworthy than actual worker death from non-radiation
causes.  Case in point: the Oak Ridge welder burned to death last month.
 It happened at a "nuclear" facility, but the story was only picked up in
the local papers.  It seems that death by fire must be such a common
workplace occurrence, or is so acceptable to the public, that even the
nuclear connection was not enough to raise it to national attention. 
(Imagine what would have happened if someone had been killed by
ionizing radiation at Oak Ridge!).   I don't know if this situation is good or
bad.  Good: Nuclear facilitiy event treated as No Big Deal.  Bad:  Probably
preventable death of someone working in a major governmental facility is
ignored .    Overall ??
Only ther opinion of
J P Davis
joyced@dnfsb.gov