Archive for March 30th, 2011
Nuclear Disaster: Worst case scenario. “Systemic degradation of work ethics in nuclear power plants”?
Posted March 30, 2011
on:Brace for worst case nuclear scenario. What is “Systemic degradation of work ethics in nuclear power plants”?
You are warned: Brace for worst case nuclear scenario. The next catastrophe is within a year!
Japan has uncovered other problems, in yet another series of nuclear power plants; not the Fukushima plants that are no longer under control. This is the tip of the iceberg: Not the worst case scenario that is setting the world community in turmoil. It is not also that earthquakes are spreading westward to Myanmar, India, Pakistan, Iran…countries with many nuclear power plants and not very well maintained.
What is hiding beneath the iceberg of catastrophe is the “Systemic degradation of work ethics in nuclear power plants”. Four decades ago, most of the civilian nuclear power plants were built, maintained, and controlled by governments. Each plant had its own trained and professional personnel and experts. The operators knew exactly the problems of the plants and kept accurate and frank diagnostic procedures.
The operators were taught to immediately bring up the problems, however minors they were, to the attentions of their superiors. Frank discussions ensued. Engineers and scientists were not as confident as they are sounding nowadays: They were on a mission to learn as they progressed on the danger and modeling of nuclear power. The operators were dedicated and stable in their jobs.
Two decades ago, hell broke loose: Government owned nuclear power plants were “privatized”. The owners were supposed to infuse fresh investment into upgrading the plants. It didn’t work that way.
The owner quickly started to give troubles to the dedicated professional operators and licensed them as soon as they insisted on the existence of a problem in the functioning of the plants. The owner purpose was to make profit out of the existing life of a plant: So long that electricity was produced, the less money spent on repairs and maintenance the better.
Incidents judged minors were ignored. Accidents that had the potential of deteriorating were hushed. Divulging of the exact number of incident and minor accidents were not reported. Maintenance of nuclear plants were subcontracted, and maintenance periods were spaced out and shortened to saving money.
The contracting companies hired low-waged operators, constantly on the road, and not of the professional operators kinds. These subcontracted operators did what they were told to do and left the premises without knowing exactly what were the real problems. Many of them received heavy radiation and didn’t know their medium-term health conditions.
The owners of the plants subcontracted in order not bear any financial or legal liabilities. As if any catastrophe hits, anyone will be left off the hook. Most of the nuclear power plants in France have experienced many accidents; a few of them over 30 accidents each without being formally disseminated to public attentions. Most nuclear plants in France, over 55 nuclear plants, are owned by private electrical companies that have degraded work ethics: A chain reaction of nuclear catastrophes are expected to spread in France.
It is urgent that all government re-nationalize their nuclear power plants and pay off those rascals of private owners with profit generated.
It is urgent that several independent panels of expert, at the sold of the government, review the conditions of the plants and closing degraded and ol plants immediately.
It is urgent that each plant has its own dedicated and stable operators, at the sold of the government.