Prepare yourself for a tale of unfortunate events that all hinged on a stomach.
Picture this: a fateful day at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. A valve that should have been closed was left open, causing a “loss of coolant accident” in one of the reactors. The water that was supposed to cool the reactor core was released, leaving it exposed and overheated. In a confusing turn of events, the plant operators made the ill-fated decision to switch off the emergency water that could have cooled it down. Without coolant, the core started to cook, reaching scorching temperatures of 2,371°C (4,300°F), as explained by Atomic Archive.
Now, you may be familiar with the term “nuclear meltdown” thanks to the infamous Chernobyl disaster. Well, Three Mile Island came dangerously close to experiencing a similar catastrophe. Thankfully, a meltdown was avoided, but there was a radiation leak caused by a rupture in the plant’s auxiliary building, as detailed by Natasha Zaretsky in her book “Atomic Nightmares And Biological Citizens At Three Mile Island“.
Initially, it was believed that few people were harmed by this near-critical incident. However, recent research into epidemiological data on cancer, heart disease, and early mortality among local residents suggests otherwise.
According to an article from the Washington Post, published six weeks after the nuclear accident, the open valve situation may have gone unnoticed due to… visibility issues. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission special task force reported that:
“An operator inadvertently blocked with his body the view of indicators that would have told him two crucial feedwater pump valves were closed. NRC sources explained after the meeting that the operator was ‘a big man with a large belly that hung over the instrument panel.’
Without those crucial indicators in view, the plant operators were unaware of the unfolding situation in reactor two. They believed there was coolant at the core due to “gurgles and thumps” within the steam generator. As if things couldn’t get worse, they were asked to wear face masks and respirators, hindering their communication. An evacuation request fell flat as only half of the operators left, leaving the door open behind them.
To top it all off, the computer meant to record the sequence of events during the accident got jammed for an hour and a half at the peak of the disaster. This meant they were two hours behind what was actually happening and were completely lost.
So, the next time you make a mistake at work, remember this chaotic day at Three Mile Island and gain a little perspective.
