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RE: Accident in Japan: -- Lack of Safety Culture?

J.J. Rozental wrote:

"17 - Among the unanswered questions is why the Tokio-based JCO Co. had no
contingency plans   to deal with an accident. In a document given to
government regulators in 1983, the company maintained that "critical fission
chain reactions could not occur" at the plant, according to the Japanese
daily Yomiuri Shmbun"


Although it is not clear WHY the company believed (or at least SAID they 
believed) that "critical fission chain reactions could not occur", the fact
that this mindset existed is certainly one of the key root causes of this
tragic accident.  This may be stating the obvious, but any time you base
safety precautions on wishful thinking, fuzzy logic or incomplete technical
analysis, you are asking for trouble.  The Challenger space shuttle blew
up because the integrity of the booster rocket o-rings at low temperatures
was treated with the same wishful thinking, despite clear evidence of problems
at low temperatures.  Richard Feynman, who was part of the investigation team,
did a simple demonstration with o-ring material and ice water, and said
basically "Sorry folks, but you can't fool mother nature."


John Laferriere, CHP
DuPont Pharmaceuticals Co.
Medical Imaging Division
john.r.laferriere@dupontpharma.com
Standard disclaimers.




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