[orbital-decay]

There were two high-level causes, basically:

1. The failure to scale the education quickly enough. Nation-scale nuclear energy was new when the RBMK line was introduced. The demand for nuclear engineers skyrocketed, and it was impossible to train the required amount of professionals to the same standards as nuclear scientists in just a few years. Meanwhile, the RBMK assumed deeper knowledge of its design than they had.

2. The system that made academicians (the official Academy of Sciences title) equivalent to mid-to-large caliber politicians within their area of expertise. As a result, Dollezhal's pride ran unchecked and prevented him from addressing well-known design flaws (that already caused the 1975 accident).

Both reasons are not unique to USSR at all and can be learned from. (something that is often ignored because "it can't happen here")

[dh2022]

Re: "The failure to scale the education quickly enough" - Midnight in Chernobyl makes the case that USSR actively fought to prohibit any sort of disclosures about Soviet nuclear reactors vulnerabilities, mitigations and accidents to the nuclear reactors operators.

The soviets did not fail to educate their workforce, the soviets intentionally left their workforce in the dark.

[orbital-decay]

> The soviets did not fail to educate their workforce, the soviets intentionally left their workforce in the dark.

Yes, and guess who was behind that? This it not either-or. I'm already talking about that in 2, which is a high-level cause. Dollezhal's NIKIET specifically refused to admit their problems and sign the document pointing out RBMK's flaws, and got away with things like this multiple times. This was a consequence of a very few selected engineers and scientists having full carte blanche and basically acting as limited-scale politicians within their sphere of influence. This was not the problem of the nuclear industry in particular, this also applied to all critical industries like aerospace where the "chosen ones" immediately started fighting for their place under the sun, stalling their field.

[dgfitz]

My BIL was a “nukie” when he enlisted. Dumb as a box of rocks, and they kept a sub running like clockwork.

You’re absolutely right, the issue was secrecy, not “years of education” or whatever GP claimed.

[1659447091]

> was a “nukie” when he enlisted. Dumb as a box of rocks

Not sure what time period this took place, but if you're referring to the US Navy Nukes, then about ~20 years ago Nukes needed a high ASVAB score 95+ (top 5% of test takers) I think it's a bit lower now--and there are other test they can combine scores with--since they all leave for high paying jobs after their enlistment ends. The standard now may not be what it was for simply being a Nuke; but to also be a Submariner (volunteer position), he would have also had to learn all of the submarine systems (mechanical, electrical, navigation, weapons, safety etc) and then a board of senior submariners decide if he was proficient enough to serve on a submarine. You may be being a little harsh calling your BIL "Dumb as a box of rocks", if he accomplished all that.