NASA/MSFC Director Speaks Out on Radiation Safety

TOTKChief writes "In reference to the /. story about radiation safety at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, MSFC Center Director Art Stephenson has replied to those safety allegations outlined by The Huntsville Times. It's funny to note that the actions that Stephenson has taken are exactly those recommended by Jim Bult, who was fired for whistle blowing by the NASA contractor that he worked for. Depressing."

Comments

Fav quote

[Signal 11]

I like the quote about the FedEx guy trying to walk through a linear accelerator. It makes me wonder two things:

a) Why is the linear accelerator near the reception desk where packages are dropped off?

b) It's generally a Bad Thing when you don't bother marking the doors where high radiation equipment is.

I mean, I don't know about you, but I question a place where they mark the bathroom doors appropriately, but not the doors where lethal radiation is...

The solution

[SlashGeek]

Having worked in manufacturing, I can relate to Jim Bult's cause. I have seen pregnant women operating injection molding machines, with PVC fumes smoking out of it, highly unsafe handeling, storage, and working practices around acids and other battery components, such as lithium. And yes, I can't think of anywhere that I havn't seen some sort of interlock defeated. One time I came into contact with a small drop if Thionl Chloride, and while not a dangerous amount, was shocked to see that there was no immediate supply of baking soda or similar neutralizer available in case of a more serious mishap. When I brought the issue up with the safty officer, I was told that Thionl Chloride is a "mild acid" and if something did happen just to "rince it off in the eyewash." Now, I'm not a chemist, but it is my understanding that it is NOT a "mild acid" by any means. Hell, any acid, particularly in high concentrations, should be handled with extreme care and with proper emergency training and equipment. To make it worse, it was being handled by untrained production workers who knew very little about the dangers of long term exposure, saftey procedures, and emergency procedures. This is just one example of the many blatent saftey violatons that I have come across and reported but still went ignored. To top it off, the places I have seen the worst violations are the ones who scream SAFETY!!! every five seconds, and consider you safe if you are breathing in toxic fumes as long as your safety glasses are on. The fact that I have refused to work at times because of conditions with no recourse from my employer just further cements in my mind that they knew they were wrong. But they wouldn't tell anyone else who didn't know better.

I support Jim Bult all the way, and I hope that he wins his case. This is just typical of how upper management in this country looks at nothing but numbers. Just because nobody has gotten injured yet doesn't mean that it's not just itching to happen. But they don't care, numbers don't lie. It must be safe if nobody has gotten hurt, yet. How much would it really cost to check interlocks every month? Not nearly as much as it would cost to settle a multi million dollar lawsuite with the family, I'm sure.

Radiation is a *good* thing

[Floyd Tante]

By exposing ourselves to high levels of radiation, we can rapidly increase the rate of genetic mutations in future generations. Sure most of them will be bad, and millions will die horrible deaths or lead lives as misshapen mutants, but those who survive will become an elite team of crime-fighting superheroes!

I saw it in X-Men, so it must be true.

-- Floyd

I think this guy worked for my boss...

[pheonix]

My greatest concern with this article is the allegation that communications relative to safety is discouraged. Nothing is further from the truth.

Nahh..we don't discourage it. We'll FIRE you for it, but we don't discourage it.

I simply do not know how I can be any clearer on this.

Try not firing people that point out safety problems.

Re:I think this guy worked for my boss...

[Detritus]

NASA managers have a great deal of influence over the personnel decisions of contractors. They can get someone fired or transferred by simply telling the contractor that they never want to see Joe Blow's face again. They can also express their deep unhappiness that Joe Blow is no longer around, and that fact might influence the performance rating, which translates into dollars, given to the contractor at the end of the current rating cycle.

Business Ethics and Reality

[Detritus]

While attending one of the periodic briefings on business ethics given by my employer, a Fortune 50 corporation, I was told that corporate policy protected whistleblowers from retaliation. Any manager found guilty of retaliating against a whistleblower would be reprimanded or terminated. When the presenter asked for questions, I asked him if he could name one manager that had been reprimanded or terminated on the grounds of retaliation against a whistleblower. He said that he would get back to me with an answer. I am still waiting, many months later.