Chernobyl Accident – How It Happened

Until I traveled to Chernobyl I never questioned the cause of the accident.  I imagined some critical component malfunction, and I remember the bad jokes that quoted, “What’s this button for?”.  Sadly, the latter is closer to the truth. An article written by Boris Gorbachev in 2003, reviewing causes of the accident, quotes a plant manager describing the lack of care among employees, saying:

“Can you imagine – it was possible to see an operator sitting on the control board. The one with buttons, tumblers….

– How can it be?…

– That`s how it was. He just sat down. Sat down on the control board. No kidding”. Continue reading “Chernobyl 25 Years Revisited – Chapter 2 Accidents Happen” →