It can't happen here!

[Hawkmoon]

It wasn't very long ago that I mentioned engineering hubris in connection with something. Here's an example of just plain, outright, unadulterated engineering idiocy. It relates to the crash of an Italian sightseeing gondola/cable car on May 23:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/23/europe/italy-cable-car-accident-intl/index.html

Some of you, I believe, know of a Canadian who posts on YouTube using the name AvE. He just posted a video on the incident:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCB1xbkn1Ps

So why is this related to engineering hubris/idiocy? Because this tramway, like all such tramways, was equipped with an emergency braking system so that, if the pulling cable should break, the brakes would be applied and the cars would be locked in position. Apparently on this tramway the emergency brakes had been dragging so the maintenance "technician" in his infinite wisdom disconnected them -- because he had worked there for thirty years and they had never been needed, therefore they weren't necessary.

The geniuses have now been arrested and charged with manslaughter.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/26/europe/italy-cable-car-accident-intl/index.html

The *%()**&^% ought'a be charged with murder. It wasn't an "accident" -- it was premeditated.

[Nick1911]

That's very sad.  My heart goes out to the family and friends of those who died.   

It's well known that humans are notoriously bad at assessing risk, especially of low probability, high impact events.  Coupled with complacency and outside pressures... sometimes folks make poor decisions that harm not just them, but also others.

[Hawkmoon]

I found an article with photos taken by a Swiss guy showing that they've been operating this lift with the emergency brakes locked out for several YEARS.

Apparently the "technician" thought it was okay to eliminate the emergency brakes because he didn't know the haul rope could break.