I thought I would make a new end of year CHOOSE YOUR OWN RADIATION ADVENTURE, except I realized I kept running face first into "All Of The Above".

So instead, I want to discuss archetypical accidents to try to encourage you to not be the cause/victim in one.

As we approach NYE 2020 with restrictions in place and limited staffing, on top of the usual ghost towns that institutions become during the holidays as the older staff members take use-it-or-lose-it vacations, we are particularly vulnerable to the first archetype: Work Alone

As a general rule, when you are doing particularly nasty things, high power laser alignment, critical lifts, easily dispersible radioactive materials, high voltage, etc. you don't do it by yourself.

The counterpoint is "I always do this by myself to minimize the number of people exposed to $HAZARD" is valid, but more you're the hands up close and personal. But you aren't alone. Someone's in shouting distance.

This time of year, you may be the only person in the building.

For better or worse, the holidays are when people try to do some of the most hazardous work or long delayed maintenance that makes everything else more dangerous, like repairing fume hood motors, because the number of other people whose work they could impact is reduced.