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List of Tables | |
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List of Figures | |
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Preface | |
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Invitation to Our Readers | |
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Acknowledgments | |
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Introduction | |
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Technological Disasters: An Overview | |
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Dangerous Technologies | |
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Selected Examples of Technological Disasters | |
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Causes of Technological Disasters | |
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Strategies for Prevention | |
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Who Should be Concerned? | |
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Conclusion | |
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References | |
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Natural and Human-Made Disasters | |
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Natural Disasters | |
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Human-Made Disasters | |
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Comparison of Natural and Human-Made Disasters | |
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Conclusion | |
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References | |
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Endnote | |
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The Prevalence of Technological Disasters | |
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The Year 2000 (Y2K) Debacle: An Ironic Failure of Information Technology | |
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The Overall Impact of Y2K | |
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Anticipation of the Problem | |
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The Causes of the Problem | |
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The Scope of Y2K | |
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The Costs of Y2K | |
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Conclusion | |
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References | |
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Theories of Technological Disasters | |
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A Systems Approach to Technological Disasters | |
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Feedback Mechanisms and the Design of Engineering Systems | |
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Perrow's Theory of "Normal Accidents" (NAT) | |
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High Reliability Theory (HRT) | |
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A Sociotechnical Systems Analysis of Technological Disasters | |
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Conclusion | |
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References | |
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The Root Causes of Technological Disasters | |
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Technical Design Factors | |
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Human Factors | |
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Organizational Systems Factors | |
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Socio-Cultural Factors | |
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Terrorism in the Nuclear-Information Age | |
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Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism | |
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Conclusion | |
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References | |
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Technological Disasters Since the Industrial Revolution | |
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Three Industrial Revolutions and Beyond | |
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Three Technological Revolutions | |
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The First Industrial Revolution | |
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The Second Industrial Revolution | |
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The Third Industrial Revolution | |
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A Fourth Industrial Revolution? | |
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Conclusion | |
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References | |
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Endnotes | |
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A Matrix of Technological Disasters | |
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Testing Three Hypotheses about the History of Technological Disasters | |
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Conclusion | |
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References | |
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Endnotes | |
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Analysis of Case Studies of Technological Disasters | |
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Twelve Exemplary Case Studies of Technological Disasters | |
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USS Princeton Explosion | |
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Titanic Sinking | |
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Aisgill Train Wreck | |
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Johnstown Flood | |
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DC-10 Crash | |
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Tenerife Runway Collision | |
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Santa Barbara Oil Spill | |
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Love Canal Toxic Waste Contamination | |
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Apollo I Fire | |
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Three Mile Island | |
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Challenger Disaster | |
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Bhopal Poison Gas Release | |
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Lessons Learned From the Case Studies of Technological Disasters | |
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Specific Lessons Learned | |
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General Lessons Learned | |
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Conclusion | |
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References | |
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Strategic Responses to Technological Disasters | |
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The Responsibilities of Engineers and Scientists | |
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The Role of Engineering Schools | |
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The Role of Engineering Societies | |
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The Role of Science and Scientists | |
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Conclusion | |
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References | |
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The Role of Corporations in the Management of Technological Disasters | |
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Corporate Management versus Mismanagement | |
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Case Studies in Crisis Management | |
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Crisis Management Theory | |
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Conclusion | |
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References | |
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Endnote | |
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The Role of the Legal System in Technology Policy Decisions | |
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The Executive Branch | |
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The Legislative Branch | |
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The Administrative Branch | |
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The Judicial Branch | |
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The Legal Profession | |
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Relative Effectiveness of U.S. Legal Subsystems in Technology Policy Decisions | |
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Conclusion | |
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References | |
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Assessing the Risks of Technology | |
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Probabilistic Risk Assessment | |
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Risk-Cost-Benefit Analysis | |
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Technology Assessment | |
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Conclusion | |
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References | |
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Technology Decisions and the Democratic Process | |
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Technocratic versus Democratic Assessments of Risk | |
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Participatory Technology | |
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Mechanisms for Citizen Participation | |
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Toward an Alliance of Citizens' Organizations | |
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Conclusion | |
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References | |
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Name Index | |
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Subject Index | |