FIRST DOWN: LEARNING FROM PAST MISTAKES

When the National Research Universal reactor in Chalk River was shut down in late 2007 there was a significant impact to medical procedures internationally. The reactor provides about half the global supply of isotopes used in medical imaging. The shutdown lead to a barrage of finger-pointing involving its operator Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL) and a variety of government officials. Through all of that, little attention was paid to some of the more immediate concerns — safety, repairs, impact on the people needing the isotopes, next steps and what solutions would be put in place. So when a leak was discovered at the reactor recently, AECL was quick to issue statements about worker safety and the impact on patients (in Canada and globally). Further, AECL along with Industry Minister Tony Clement quickly outlined a contingency plan specific to the use and acquisition of medical isotopes. A lesson learned ensured that at least some of the critical questions were addressed early on, a key factor in crisis communications. Another key part of it is about making good on promises to fix things, and to let people know when any milestones are reached. Now with comments surfacing that the reactor may have to be shut down for good, I say AECL fell short by not presenting any indication that longer term solutions — both pertaining to the reactor itself and longer-term plans for isotope supplies — were being investigated.