Monday Accident & Lessons Learned: TVA Ash Spill Accident Still Progressing?

In TapRooT®, we define the incident as the worst thing that happened as a result of the sequence of events. That assumes that there is an end to the sequence of events. But this article in the Knoxville News Sentinel says that the accident is still producing victims nine years after the spill happened. That’s because many of the cleanup workers were exposed to ash dust. Here is a video of some them talking about their experience…

Have you thought out how you will keep people responding to or cleaning up from an accident safe? Sounds like some investment before an accident happens could save a lot of grief after an accident happens.

Here is another video…

and another …

Probably the worst part of this story (besides the deaths and sickness) is that people who brought their own dust masks were told they could not wear them. The story also says:

“One TVA manager has admitted he fired worker Kevin Thompson because Thompson’s doctor insisted he be given a mask to protect his lungs from the ash. Thompson now has a chronic breathing disorder.”

The story says:

“Chief U.S. District Judge Tom Varlan has set a January status hearing in the workers’ federal lawsuit.”