Re: [Phys-l] Nuclear Power and the Grid

[curtis osterhoudt <flutzpah@yahoo.com>]

I'm at LANL. The safety "training" isn't TOO oppressive, though it's quite ineffective (in my humble opinion; it might get some to think a bit more about what they're doing, which is sometimes the best one can hope for). 


However, measures like having to bar-code superglue and NaCl (not even nano-dust; just regular table salt) is taking things to an extreme. The only argument I've heard for this that makes sense is that in case of a fire, people need to know what's around and what measures need to be taken for emergency workers' safety. That's somewhat plausible, until you realize that things which are in offices, common areas, etc., don't have to be labeled (thank goodness). 

 
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"The four points of the compass be logic, knowledge, wisdom and the unknown. Some do bow in that final direction. Others advance upon it. To bow before the one is to lose sight of the three. I may submit to the unknown, but never to the unknowable." ~~Roger Zelazny, in "Lord of Light"
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> ________________________________
> From: David Marx <marx@phy.ilstu.edu>
> To: Forum for Physics Educators <phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu>
> Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2011 3:31 PM
> Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Nuclear Power and the Grid
>
>
>
> On 11 Sep 2011 at 14:15, Bernard Cleyet wrote:
>
> > > Ask any scientist at a government lab whether they can do their jobs in today's over-regulated 
> > > environment, where safety has been taken to the extreme.  
> >
> > I was one (scientist, if a state University's instructional and research labs are govt.) and didn't notice any over regulation -- never heard a complaint.  I'd receive them, as I was the instructional lab's RSO.
>
> No, I am talking about the workers at the national labs, Argonne, Sandia, Lawrence-Livermore, etc.
>
> > > When I visit Argonne National Lab, all I 
> > > hear from people is that its very difficult to work in the current environment.  It wasn't like this at all 20 
> > > years ago, when people could do science vitually inhindered and accidents were rare.  Yes, there was 
> > > safety training, but now it is beyond ridiculous.
> >
> > Did ANL have an accident that precipitated a change?
>
> No, the accident that triggered a major surge in safety inspections and regulation occurred at another 
> national lab around 1990 when a graduate student was blinded by a laser on her(?) first day on the 
> job.  The story goes that the superviser of that student went to Washington to demand massive new 
> safety inspections, training, etc.  Subsequently, safety inspections took place at all of the national labs 
> and many things were found and subsequently fixed, but it didn't stop there.  People have simply gone 
> crazy over the years pointing at things in labs and saying they are unsafe to the point that no one can 
> do anythng.
>
>
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