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The Camelford Poisoning
🕑 Added 2022-06-28 10:16:00 +0000 UTCThere's a lot of material out there about the Camelford Poisoning, much of it conflicting. The accident is held up both as an example of how local authorities can bodge the handling of public health disasters, and of the results of mass hysteria.
One article that I found particularly interesting was this one. It's full of little details that help to illuminate the story. For example, that some people were told to boil water before drinking it... even though doing so would only increase the concentration of aluminium in the water.
And then there's this gem, which feels like it sums up the whole incident:
"The following month, an official from the Department of Health (DoH), Michael Waring, wrote to every doctor in Cornwall saying that, although he had no detailed information on what exactly was in the water or how much people might have drunk, he could assure them that no lasting ill effects would result."
I, for one, would be very interested to see the outcome of any further inquiry into the accident... I'll be keeping an eye out in case one ever comes to pass!
Comments
Fascinating Horror
Communication is always more difficult than people anticipate. You can be as clear and direct as you think is possible... but someone will still misunderstand. Sometimes catastrophically.
Milo OJ
I feel like most human errors in this kind of accidents are mainly from communication issue. Now I appreciate all the safety signs and symbols even more. By the way, the "boil water before drinking it" part reminds me of my country's prime minister (the country's, not mine) who suggested that the people should "boil water before drinking it" during the time when our public tap water contain high concentration of sodium due to intrusion of seawater into main pumping station. A good reminder that people in high power roles can be dead stupid and we must do our own research.
Fascinating Horror
That's one I'm hoping to cover soon. I've done some of the background reading already. Horrifying that they were so close to being rescued... back on the ground, even, but that nonetheless so many people died.
Michael Rutherford
How about a video on Saudia Flight 163? It was a plane that caught fire shortly after takeoff in 1980. It was able to safely land, but because rescuers were unable to get into the plane, everyone onboard died in the inferno that engulfed the plane right there on the runway. It's considered the deadliest aviation accident ever in Saudi Arabia
