Description
An indictment of the U.S. military's safety and accident investigation procedures by a former safety scientist for the U.S. Air Force. He argues that the military leadership has, at best, a cavalier attitude towards safety and often engage in cover-ups when serious problems are exposed. He recounts a number of incidents in which sailors or soldiers were killed in accidents and discusses the problems that led to their deaths. Finally recommendations for legislative remedies are discussed. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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Since the end of the Vietnam War, more than 15,000 members of the U.S. armed forces have died in mishaps. The vast majority of these deaths were preventable.The sad fact is that safety is rarely a top priority for military leaders. When accidents occur, the investigations are often bungled, finding a scapegoat is all too common, and cover-ups abound because the final Safety Investigation Board reports are classified. This dysfunctional process almost guarantees that the mishap victims themselves are found to be at fault. Overlooked, and therefore uncorrected, problems soon lead to additional tragedies.From an expert who observed the system from the inside, Silent Knights reveals some of the military's most unsettling secrets. Dr. Alan E. Diehl explains the complex causes of military accidents in layman's terms and helps readers understand the dangers of undervaluing safety, health, ergonomics, and training in the military.
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