Customer Reviews

Shouldering Risks: The Culture of Control in the Nuclear Power Industry

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I read this book in an effort to better understand the civilian nuclear industry (which I have worked in since 1986). Having held various technical and management positions in the US Navy nuclear program and civilian nuclear industry, my experience is broad enough to conclude that Constance Perin has done her homework. She brings a cultural anthropologist's view to the management of risk at nuclear power stations, which are often run by and for technocrats, so her perspective is refreshing. She takes a balanced approach and appears to have no personal agenda regarding nuclear power. Much of what she says rings true, although I found her writing style to be stilted and distracting. I do not recommend SHOULDERING RISKS for anyone looking for a casual read, but it is worth the effort for those seeking to learn more about humans perceive and manage risks in complex, high-stakes environments.

This is profoundly important work on the culture of safety, written from an anthropologists perspective which deconstructs the meaning of people in nuclear power plants who see extreme risk around them all the time and have created devices to identify threats and respond, sometimes more appropriately than others. I highly recommend this boo.