Three workers exposed to radiation at Nebraska nuclear plant

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: msnbc.com

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced Monday afternoon that it was investigating the "unplanned radiation exposures" of three workers on April 3, a week earlier, at the Cooper Nuclear Station near Brownville, Neb.

The NRC said it did not believe the exposure exceeded its limits.

"Workers removed a long tube contaminated with highly radioactive material through the bottom of the reactor vessel, rather than through the top as is usually done, triggering radiation alarms," the NRC reported. "The workers set the tube down and immediately left the area."

The Cooper plant has a single boiling-water reactor of General Electric design. (GE is a part owner of NBCUniversal, which owns half of msnbc.com.)

Read more: http://openchannel.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/04/11/6452465-three-workers-exposed-to-radiation-at-nebraska-nuclear-plant

[_ed_]

1. Was there a Tsunami?

You know, it's almost like nuclear energy advocates have been completely full of shit for years.

[SpiralHawk]

3. Yep - A tsunami of Genetically Mutant seeds and the toxic chemicals used

to make the GM crap grow...

[AdHocSolver]

5. We don't need any tsunami to create a nuclear disaster.

Just let the MBA's who manage these plants and the low tech people they hire to operate these plants do their "thing" and give it enough time and you will get "incidents"..

I worked for many years doing technical work, and a majority of the time, the decision makers, my "bosses", hadn't a clue about the technical aspects of the work that I did.

This is the corporate model of leadership. It works well for "profits" because the people at the bottom of the pecking order have no ability to tell the executives when the executives make really stupid (or dangerous) decisions.

The "mantra" down the chain of command is "you will not question our decisions, and you will do whatever it takes to implement them".

When the screw ups happen, the bosses cover up their mistakes, and if word gets out, they blame some patsy at the bottom of the pecking order.

The only important factor is that the executives get their bonuses, and the stock price stays up until the executives can exercise their stock options. If a disaster occurs, well, that is just part of the cost of doing business.

[Poll_Blind]

2. Because when you're young at heart, improvisation extends to handling nuclear materials.

PB

[tnlefty]

4. Do they have planned radiation exposures for workers?

Jeeze.

[Javaman]

6. My first thought as well..

Supervisor: Blinkly! Get in here!

A meekish worker slinks into office with head down.

Blinkly: (quivering voice) Yes...sir...

Supervisor: We have a little test going on today and out of all the workers on your team, you were picked to test...er, observe our newest reactor!

Blinkly: Yes...sir...(looks down at feet)

Supervisor: Now, get out of my sight...

Blinkly: Sir?

Supervisor: You still here?

Blinkly: Yes, sir...I...er...

Supervisor: Spit it out, man!

Blinkly: Won't Observing the reactor...um, er...expose me to radiation?

Supervisor looks exasperated.

Supervisor: Sigh. Look Blinkly, this is a Planned Radiation Exposure. Do you honestly think we would subject you to an Unplanned Radiation Exposure? (feigns sympathetic gaze)

Blinkly: I guess not sir...

Supervisor: Fine. Now go take one for the team!

[tnlefty]

8. That was too funny...

I may have to stop listening to Mike Malloy and go watch Dr. Strangelove.

I'm just glad that you picked up on my strange sense of humor. Well done. :hi:

[RedCloud]

7. If they got too much, the gummint will research them for decades.