OceanGate could face FEDERAL probe of ‘negligent homicide’ https://mol.im/a/12222851 via https://dailym.ai/android

The Titan Submersible implosion was not an “accident.” It was a predictable surprise. It was a perfect storm of arrogance, disregard for safety and missed warning signs. Titan’s operator gambled with the lives of innocent people.

This is a teaching moment for all safety sensitive operations. Consider the following:
• Leadership Arrogance and Disregard for Safety: The CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, Stockton Rush, who was on-board the Titan, once said: “You know, there’s a limit. At some point safety just is pure waste. I mean if you just want to be safe, don’t get out of bed. Don’t get in your car. Don’t do anything…..I think I can do this just as safely by breaking the rules.”

• Shortcuts: When interviewed about the Titan submersible by CBS last year, Mr. Rush boasted about the Titan being built with “off-the-shelf components” like from Camping World. “We run the whole thing with this game controller,” Mr. Rush added, picking up the device. Moreover, OceanGate declined to participate in rigorous independent testing of the submersible. Such a process is considered a best practice in the industry, and the decision to forego testing should have been a clear red flag.
• Failing to learn from the past. On a voyage last summer, Titan went missing for five hours. 
• Putting the blinders on. OceanGate was the target of complaints in 2018 made by a former employee over the safety of the vessel’s hull. OceanGate fired employee David Lochridge after he correctly expressed concern about the submersible’s safety.  
• Confusing difference between risk and chance: Mr. Rush said: “At some point, you’re going to take some risk, and it really is a risk/reward question.” Mr. Rush was not managing risk. He was gambling and taking unnecessary chances. Risk is present in all high hazard endeavors. The safest and most profitable companies make risk management a core competency. In contrast, chance is all about luck – Things might work, and they might not. It’s clear from the available facts that Mr. Rush and his company were taking chances. And the outcome was both awful and foreseeable.
• While there is no solace in what could have been, I hope one of the potential positive takeaways from this tragedy is more dedicated innovators and engineers committed to building even more robust vehicles and innovations furthering the exploration and betterment of our oceans.