Running head: CHERNOBYL DISASTER 1

Chernobyl disaster
Name of student
Institutional affiliation
CHERNOBYL DISASTER 2

Chernobyl disaster
Introduction
This paper focuses on the Chernobyl disaster and the effect that it had on the lives of the
people in the society. It takes an in-depth look at the issues that caused the accident and the
effects that the people had as they live in the society. It also looks at the problems that the
accident has caused to the people in the society. The disaster began with the systems test that
was conducted on 26th April 1986 at the fourth reactor of the Chernobyl plant that is located
near Pripyat on the proximity of Dnieper River and Belarus. The problem came up as a result
of a power surge that was not expected by the engineers in charge of putting up the plant and
the government as a whole. There was a major power spike on the power output when the
operators attempted an emergency shutdown of the systems in the society. The second spike
led to a series of explosions that led to the granite moderator to go into the air making it
ignite. Radioactive materials then went up into the air which affected most of the people in the
society as well as causing several casualties. The incident is associated with the challenges
that the people are still facing today in the country. This paper has several limitations that can
be linked to the current study. For instance, it is not easy to link the accident with the
problems that are affecting the people currently. It is also not easy to use the incident as a
response point for addressing the future incidences because the issues faced in the future date
are much more complicated than those that took place in the past. However, it is important for
the people to take some lessons from the Chernobyl disaster and understands how they can
keep themselves safe in the midst of the challenges that they face in the society. It is better to
understand the mistakes that were done before and during the accident so that various safety
experts can understand how to deal with such issues in the future for the safety of the citizens
(Beehler et al., 2008).

Background
Chernobyl disaster is also referred to as the Chernobyl accident which was a catastrophic
nuclear accident that led to the loss of lives and property. The incident occurred on 25th and
26th April of the year 1986 in one of the reactors in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in
Papiyat which is now an abandoned town in northern Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, the
Soviet Union near the city of Kiev. The nuclear plant was important in the society, and its
maintenance was key to better functionality. The accident occurred during the light safety test
that was conducted during the night to see if the systems could be fully functional.

On an eventful night, the technicians were conducting a late night safety test that was
used to simulate power failure at the station. All the safety systems were switched off
intentionally, and that is what caused the accident. There was nothing to mitigate the
explosions or the negative effects of the explosions. Lack of the safety measures, the flaws in
the designation of the reactor and the arrangement of the core in a manner that was contrary to
the checklist are believed to have caused the accident and led to the dire situation that
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followed. A steam explosion occurred as a result of water flushing into steam subsequently
the open air graphite fire. The fire then caused the updrafts that lasted for nine days. The
fission products, as well as the plumes, were then released into the atmosphere. Fission led to
the movement of the radioactive materials in the larger part of the USSR. The accident had
steam-blast effects that caused the death of two people within the premises of the company;
one that occurred immediately after the blast and the other one that took place after a dose of
radiation from the radioactivity that follows. The accident also caused many injuries whereby
134 servicemen were admitted in the hospital having suffered from the acute radiation
sickness. 28 firemen succumbed to their injuries afterward as a result of the radiation effects.
In addition to the cases that are named above, 14 patients died of radiation-induced cancer
among the hospital survivors. The radiation that leaked to the people had major effects that
are still visible in the society today. The effects of the accidents are therefore a reason why the
accident is historical all around the world. It has also helped the other people to take
precautions as they come up with the companies that use radioactive radiation. Research is
going on with regards to the best methods that can be used in coming up with the safest
nuclear reactor plants with accident evasion in mind. One of the biggest problems that the
people face in the workplace is the cases where the companies ignore some of the health
issues and end up causing the deaths of the people in the workplace. In most parts of the
world, the Chernobyl accident is considered to be one of the worst accidents that included a
nuclear plant in the history, and it has shown the people the fact the extent of damage that can
occur in case a nuclear reactor blew up in flames. The incident received the highest level
possible of the on the international nuclear event scale which the highest it has ever been in
the world so far. It is even greater than the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster that took
place in Japan in the year 2011 after an earthquake that left a trail of damages. The
government had to work at their best to rescue the people from the effects of the accident by
taking up the decontamination efforts in the surrounding of the plant which cost 18 billion
rubles. The nuclear accident shows how the systems may be vulnerable to the point that it
causes irredeemable problems that the people in the society will take a long time before they
finally heal (Beehler et al., 2008).

The remains of the number 4 reactor had to be enclosed in a cover that was referred to as the
"Object Shelter" that was designed to prevent the further spread of the radioactive materials to
the people and at the same time preventing the reactor from further weathering that could be
caused by its access to the environmental factors. The enclosure was not intended to be
radiation shied but was made to protect the workers that were working in the plants. The
Chernobyl disaster informs the world that they should do their best to ensure that they have all
the information about an issue before they finally embark on the investment. A study has to be
conducted on how the society that lives around the establishment stands to suffer in case an
accident occurs within the plant that may cause a leakage. They should also take part in
research and development to find ways in which they can make the working areas safe for all
the people and prevent the cases of accidents (Beehler et al., 2008).
CHERNOBYL DISASTER 4

Nuclear is still one of the most efficient sources of energy that has been fronted as a
solution that will help in solving the energy crisis that is experienced in several areas in the
world. The problems associated with nuclear power as a source of energy is the risks that are
associated with it. In the cases where the nuclear plants have been built, there is a need to
ensure that the people are protected by placing the efficiency measures that will protect them
in the environment. Nuclear power comes with radiations that can affect the genetic
constitution of the affected individuals in the society hence there is a need to ensure that the
people are protected from its harmful effects in the society. The Chernobyl disaster shows an
example of how a useful source of energy can become dangerous if not well handled and if
the important safety measures are overlooked. The biggest lesson from the accident is the fact
that removing of the safety measures in any nuclear plant has the capability of causing
casualties among the people in the society hence more care should be taken to ensure that the
people are safe in the society. Accidents do occur at times, but it is important for the
stakeholders to ensure that they do their best to prevent any occurrence that could harm the
people. The incident should however not make the people dread the nuclear energy, but rather
it should encourage the stakeholders to take precautionary measures.

How Chernobyl disaster can be used as a lesson in the coming up with any development
in the society
Establishments are important, but there are cases where they may be detrimental to the
lives of the people in the society. All the companies that are established in the society have the
potential of causing harm to the employees and the general public (Jaworowski, 2010). One of
the issues that are associated with the development of the companies in the cases of
environmental degradation in the society. The poisonous chemicals that are released into the
environment by the companies are harmful to the lives of the individuals in the society and
may at times lead to diseases that are associated with the presence of the chemicals in the lives
of the people. Some of the people who suffer the direct impacts of the chemical wastes
released by the companies are the employees of the organization who are always ready to do
their best to the benefit of the company. The company that uses nuclear power can release the
radioactive rays that will, in turn, affect the lives of the people in the society. The company,
therefore, needs to reward the loyalty of the employees by creating a safe working
environment for them for the benefit of the society in general. Companies also have the role of
ensuring that they provide a good environment for the people living in the vicinity. Some of
the organizations have overlooked the issues of the occupational safety and health of the
employees which makes them lose their best staff most of the times as a result of their
exposure to the dangerous chemicals or accidents that occur in the workplace. The Chernobyl
disaster is a wakeup call to all the nuclear energy establishment that the work that they do is
potentially dangerous hence securing the people inside and outside the company is key to
ensuring the success of the company in the society. It also shows the importance of having all
the safety measures in place with the intention of protecting the people in the society. Some of
CHERNOBYL DISASTER 5

the accidents are not easy to avoid, but others are avoidable if the members of the society
decide to take the best precautions that will protect both the employees and the people who
live near the company. A safe distance should be set to ensure that the people are protected
from the radioactive waves that come from different companies (Bromet, Havenaar, & Guey,
2011).

The Chernobyl disaster is also a wakeup call that there are some industries and
establishments that can only be tested when maximum security and safety measures have been
met. It is not a wise decision to test the vulnerability of a risky situation by making it more
risky. It can be equated to testing the security situation in the country where the security
details have been removed to test the extent of damage that can be caused in their absence. It
should be noted that the vulnerability of a system should not be tested by removing the
security and safety features. Chernobyl disaster should, therefore, be blamed on the
individuals who removed all the safety measures, and they also failed to use the checklist
when conducting the maintenance of the company. It is a case of negligence, and the
perpetrators were supposed to be charged in case they came out of the situation alive. It is not
a wise decision for the people to gamble with the lives of the others since the former is
precious and should be protected at all costs.

The other lesson that people can learn from the incident is the fact that it is necessary
for the companies to employ the best employees who can creatively come with ways in which
they can solve the issue that they face in the course of their jobs. Good employees will look
for a safer method to assess the vulnerability of a system as opposed to using the methods that
put the lives of the people in the society at risk. A company also needs to train the employees
on the best methods to be used in testing the systems and addressing the faults. The nuclear
plants are dangerous if not well handled hence it is not good for the technicians to use the trial
and error methods in fixing the problems. Chernobyl disaster was a case where the employees
were using guesswork in what they were doing.
The other lesson learned is the fact that the truth should always be told in case there is
an incident that can cause the death of many people. The authorities failed to tell the people
about the incident over a period of 3 days, and in so doing they put the lives of the people in
danger. There is a need for total transparency when dealing with the nuclear accidents since
saying the truth may save the lives of many people in the society. Any attempt to hide the
truth in case of a nuclear accident may lead to a tragedy hence there is a need to put it into
consideration.

It is always important to evacuate the people every time it is clear that their lives are in
danger. The government of the Soviet Union failed to acknowledge the extent of the situation
hence did not evacuate the people living close to the reactor on time. Speedy evacuations
could have saved the lives of many people who had gone through the incident. They would
have saved countless lives if the people could be evacuated on time during the incident. It was
CHERNOBYL DISASTER 6

also important for the government to monitor the radiation levels that had leaked into the
environment as a result of the incident. The children consumed lots of contaminated milk that
led to the cancer of the throat causing a problem to the people both at present and in the
future. If the government had closely monitored the radiation levels, they would have given
directions on what should be consumed and what should not hence save the lives of many
people in the society.

Chernobyl disaster also teaches the importance of adhering to the rules and regulations
of each workplace. Failure to follow the checklist of requirements led to the death of many
people as a result of the Chernobyl disaster. The nuclear reactors are very dangerous working
environments hence the employees need to follow the directions that include the safety tips to
ensure that they are safe in the working environment. There are safety guidelines that have
been put in place in all the working environments. The accident illustrates the importance of
complying with basic safety principles for nuclear power plants.
The other lesson from the incident is the fact that the authorities should always plan
especially in the cases of emergencies. The companies need to come up with the ambitious
plans that will enable them to deal with the emergencies. The plan should clearly outline the
directions to be followed in the process to ensure that the working environment is safer for the
employees. In the case of the Chernobyl disaster, no comprehensive emergency plan could
protect the lives of the people. Planning also involves coming up with the guidelines for
carrying out activities in the organization.

Conclusion
Nuclear energy is one of the best sources of energy because it produces enough energy to
support the needs of the public. However, the investment comes with a lot of risks that the
investors need to know before they decide that it is the way to go. The people need energy,
but they need to be alive so that they make good use of the energy. The companies should not
produce energy and other products at the expense of the lives of the people. A company that
adheres to the environmental conservation guidelines is likely to make more money in profits
than an organization that does not. One of the issues that are associated with the development
of the companies in the cases of environmental degradation in the society. The poisonous
chemicals that are released into the environment by the companies are harmful to the lives of
the individuals in the society and may at times lead to diseases that are associated with the
presence of the chemicals in the lives of the people. The nuclear plant was not functioning as
planned hence the technicians decided to work on it so that it could achieve full functionality.
An individual organization will have to prove to the stakeholders that they can be able to
provide solutions to various tasks that an individual is supposed to conduct in the
organization. Companies should ensure that the people are safe when they use the goods and
services that are offered by the company.
CHERNOBYL DISASTER 7

References
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Bromet, E., Havenaar, J., & Guey, L. (2011). A 25 Year Retrospective Review of the
Psychological Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident. Clinical Oncology, 23(4),
297-305. doi:10.1016/j.clon.2011.01.501
Jaworowski, Z. (2010). Observations on the Chernobyl Disaster and LNT. Dose-
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