Posted
1/17/2008 05:38:00 PM
by Douglas
Hey buddy! Can you cover my nuclear warhead for a couple of minutes? I need to go grab a
smoke.Three Pantex employees remain on paid administrative leave for violating nuclear safety procedures after workers failed to keep a close lookout on a nuclear warhead for a few minutes last week, a top Pantex official said Wednesday.
The incident violated longstanding "buddy system" rules aimed at preventing unauthorized access to nuclear weapons.
The Buddy System??? How comforting. The world's largest repository of nuclear weapons uses the same safety procedures as Cub Scouts in the swimmin' hole at summer camp.
B & W Pantex President and General Manager Dan Swaim said workers failed to keep proper visual surveillance of the warhead for less than eight minutes on Jan. 10.
fourth employee entered the area and discovered the violation, which was promptly corrected. The warhead remained under protective cover during the incident in the Material Access Area, a secure and well-guarded area of the plant.
Well which was it, flapjack? Either it was well-guarded, or it was left unattended for "less than eight minutes." Is eight minutes enough time for someone to steal it? It is if you're Ah-nold or
any Bond villain I've ever seen.
Sleep tight, suckers!