Very possibly, according to Lead Quality Assurance (QA) Auditor, Don Brown;
"it's peoples lives!"
The pictures below are actual photos of 15-welds at Los Alamos National Laboratory in just two buildings out of approximately 2,300-bad weld pictures taken before LANL stopped the audit in process and let Mr. Brown go. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) recommends that the tungsten inert-gas (TIG) process be used for the root pass on sections for nuclear power piping.
Though I no longer work in the welding industry due to an industrial accident, I have been a certified welder since 1967. I passed my 6G Certifications on Aluminum, Mild Steel and Stainless Steel, processes included Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), also known as "Stick" welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), also known as tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, and, oxy-acetylene welding, also know as "Gas" welding. As a certified welder with many years of experience, knowing what is acceptable or not as industry standards, I can say without reserve, these welds are an accident waiting to happen!
What IF
News Alert - Los Alamos National Laboratory Disaster: Today LANL suffered a catastrophic steam explosion due to a pin-hole in a weld of a transfer pipe, resulting in a nuclear meltdown which killed thousands instantly. The small pin-hole caused the pipe to split wide open from the internal pressure and inferior welding. That's the good news, the bad news is the radiation was not contained and radioactive particles were carried by wind across state and international borders, and, contaminated the ground water throughout the United States aquifers.
Comment: WE would have only ourselves to blame, WE have not made sure our leaders protect the interest of THE PEOPLE, instead of Big Business. You know who they are, the ones that contract to manage OUR nuclear industry with the blessings of OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. Will there be a tomorrow???
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