In The West today, a surgeon has been banned from surgery because he "poses a serious risk to his patients" (Surgeon 'a serious risk to patients', 24 Sep 2012).
The State Administrative Tribunal would not allow him to act as a specialist, even under strict conditions. Audits of his clinical notes were not suitable protection for his patients. Why not? "Because the events creating the risk will already have occurred by the time of the audit."
A sensible decision!
How many industries are operating under licences which depend on post-disaster audits? Oh, we're sorry about that toxic plume heading towards the groundwater... Too late. The disaster has occurred.
When an essential operating condition has been breached, how often is the culprit forced out of business? Never? The damage is done, the company provides a public apology... then back to risky business as usual.
Perhaps there will be a fine -- a small cost to the company. Accountants will have measured the cost of prevention against the cost of the fine. Varanus, anyone?!
Setting a licence condition does not prevent a disaster. Closing the business -- post-disaster -- at least will prevent a second disaster. Confiscation of all of a company's assets to remediate the disaster... is worth doing. But the disaster has still happened.
The State Administrative Tribunal has shown us what to do: If there is a severe risk -- prevent it.
It's too late -- after a disaster -- to wring our hands and hope it won't happen again.
We need to act before the disaster has happened.
We need to prevent activities which pose a major risk. Not allow the risk then act sorry afterwards.
Insist on one hundred percent prevention. Rather than a post-disaster measure of how bad it really is.
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Problems ? Solved
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