Posted on 10/08/2015 5:59:17 AM PDT by JoeProBono
WASHINGTON, - An audit of the U.S. Antarctic Program revealed alcohol-fueled "unpredictable behavior" by scientists including "fights" and "indecent exposure."
The health and safety audit, conducted by the National Science Foundation's Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Antarctic Program, said "alcohol consumption" on the part of scientists has been found to cause "unpredictable behavior" and "has led to fights, indecent exposure, and employees arriving to work under the influence."
The program bans alcohol consumption in work areas and during work hours, but one human resources manager interviewed for the report said about 75 percent of disciplinary actions taken by her company were related to alcohol use.
The auditors wrote they observed numerous violations in work areas -- including one researcher who was brewing his own beer in violation of the rules.
The report said scientists -- or "beakers" as they're commonly known -- often face fewer consequences than other contract workers in the program. The sentiment was echoed by Philip Broughton, who worked at the South Pole station in 2003.
"The beakers have a license to kill," Broughton told Wired. "There is little consequence for what they do down there."
The Office of the Inspector General recommended officials increase the use of breathalyzers in alcohol-related incidents.
"Since alcohol abuse does occur in the USAP program, workplace safety could be enhanced if breathalyzer tests were administered to all USAP participants endangering themselves or others due to the influence of alcohol. We recommend that NSF review the legality of a requirement for breathalyzer for all USAP participants and establish and enforce a requirement to the extent it is legal," the audit states.
A National Science Foundation spokesman said officials are seeking to decrease alcohol-related problems, but such issues are not as prevalent as the report indicates.
"Alcohol-related misconduct is not disproportionately represented at the Antarctic stations," spokesman Peter West said.
I hope it’s a diverse crew there.
indecent exposure in Antarctica. Very dangerous........you go first.
What else they gonna do down there?
Write their names in the snow.....
Just as long as they generated data to support global warming, nobody in the Federal government cared what they did.
I knew a bunch of Raytheon employees that were the primary contractors for the Antarctic teams. Extreme left-wing liberals would be an understatement. I expect childish behaviors from such people. It is a primary reason why I never joined the group. I never did trust them as people, and the Antarctic is no place to be with a bunch of childish liberals that can’t handle themselves. I hired one of their project coordinators. She was tired of their liberal ways and was at her wits end.
This is why they all strongly advocate gun control.
There's simply no way they could trust themselves with a gun, and they assume they are normal.
Therefore no one else should be trusted with a gun either!
“An audit of the U.S. Antarctic Program...”
“Since alcohol abuse does occur in the USAP program,...”
Since alcohol abuse does occur in the U.S. Antarctic Program program
Ha! SIGNIFICANT shrinkage! lol
If you can’t be with the one you love...
Simple solution, send some Muslim scientists over there who will demand that alcohol be banned, problem solved.
Yes - nothing like letting your wing-wang hang out in a -120 degree F wind chill.
What happens in Antarctica should stay in Antarctica
Saw Bear Grylls on an episode of “Man vs. Wild” take off all his clothes and jump into a hole in a frozen lake in Siberia, got out and dried himself off with powdered snow and got dressed........unbelievable.
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