Friday, July 20, 2007

EZ Nuclear Power Plant checklist and guide

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070719a1.html

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070721a1.html

Two interesting articles about the earthquake in Japan that whacked one of their nuclear power plants. After reading these articles I prepared a quick checklist for nuclear plant operators:

1. Don't build a plant right on top of an earthquake fault. Actually check if one exists before building.
2. Earthquake proof the entire power plant, not just parts of it.
3. How about actually having fire extinguishing equipment on site? What a concept. Did people think there might never be a fire?
4. Teach employees to actually follow the safety manuals. When the emergency instructions say "Turn off" it means to actually turn it off.

This could have been Godzilla bad... I'm sincerely glad to see that it wasn't and that the government seems really serious about ensuring all the power plants are inventoried and secured. I'm a nuclear power plant advocate, but not if people are being irresponsible dummies.

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