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    Causality

    Chain of Events. Cause and Effect. We analyse what went right and what went wrong as we discover that many outcomes can be predicted, planned for and even prevented.
    en-usThe Engineered Network53 Episodes

    Episodes (53)

    52: Colonial Pipeline

    52: Colonial Pipeline
    In 2021 many of Colonial Pipelines IT systems were locked by malware and out of caution they shutdown the fuel pipelines feeding nearly half of the Eastern US leading to chaos at the gas pump and a state of emergency being declared. We look at how poor off-boarding hygiene led to an easily preventable cyber-attack.
    With John Chidgey.

    Hearing:

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    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Lesley, Jared Roman, Joel Maher, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Dave Jones, Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto and Ian Gallagher.

    51: I35 West

    51: I35 West
    The I35W bridge over the Mississippi River carried 140,000 cars every day. Inspections in 1999 and 2003 showed damage to support plates that was dismissed as unimportant at the time. We look into how poor design checking and assumptions led to the bridge collapsing in 2007, costing the lives of 13 people.
    With John Chidgey.

    This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced

    Only a Handful of T-Shirts Left!

    Reports:

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    Articles:

    Videos:

    Litigation:


    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Lesley, Jared Roman, Joel Maher, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Dave Jones and Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto.

    With thanks to Joe Stariha for the topic suggestion.

    50: 737 MAX Ethiopian Air

    50: 737 MAX Ethiopian Air
    Five months after Lion Air 610 crashed, another 737-MAX went down with a similar cause. However the official report was at odds with two other internationally respected investigative organisations. We dig into the detail of how the AOA Sensor was claimed to have failed, and review checklist discrepancies to extract fact from opinion as to what most likely triggered this horrible chain of events.
    With John Chidgey.

    This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced

    Celebrating Causality’s 50th Episode!!

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    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Lesley, Jared Roman, Joel Maher, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Dave Jones and Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto.

    49: Carmel Fireworks Explosion

    49: Carmel Fireworks Explosion
    A fireworks company in Western Australia that had been in business for nearly a century, were preparing for a fireworks display in their packing shed when one ignited and set off a fire and an explosion. Onlookers were shocked when there was a subsequent explosion that was so big it was heard 30 kilometers away leaving the facility in ruins.
    With John Chidgey.

    This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced

    Celebrating Causality’s 50th Episode!!

    Reports:

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    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Kevin Koch, Shane O'Neill, Lesley, Jared, Joel Maher, Katharina Will, Dave Jones and Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto.

    With thanks to Heather Shaw for the topic suggestion.

    48: Instituto Goiano de Radioterapia

    48: Instituto Goiano de Radioterapia
    When a radiation therapy machine was left behind during a move between buildings in central Brazil, it set in motion a series of events that would lead to one of the worst radiological incidents in history. We look into how bureaucracy and misdiagnosis cost four people their lives and how the actions of a concerned mother with no medical experience, saved the lives of countless more.
    With John Chidgey.

    This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced

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    Other Reports and Articles:

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    Related Incidents:


    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Kevin Koch, Shane O'Neill, Lesley, Jared, Joel Maher, Katharina Will, Dave Jones and Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto.

    With thanks to Shane O'Neill for the topic suggestion.

    47: Hyatt Regency Kansas City

    47: Hyatt Regency Kansas City
    The tallest building in Missouri with a large atrium perfect for big bands and dancing, hosted a regular Tea Dance in the summer of 1981. When two walkways collapsed killing over a hundred people, the investigators found multiple fundamental design errors. We look at how assumptions, redrafting conventions and negligence led to an incident that has become the case study in how not to do civil structural design.
    With John Chidgey.

    This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced

    Create your own Credited Soundbite

    Links of Interest:

    Engineering Analysis:

    News Articles:


    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Kevin Koch, Shane O'Neill, Lesley, Hafthor, Jared, Bill, Joel Maher, Katharina Will and Dave Jones.

    46: Mindbender

    46: Mindbender
    The longest, tallest, fastest indoor rollercoaster in the world was only open six months when the last carriage of a train came loose, killing three people and all that the day following an inspection that the ride was safe to operate. We look at how a design choice made maintenance more critical and then how wishing for a ride to be safe, doesn't really help.
    With John Chidgey.

    This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced

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    Legislature Assembly Minutes:


    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Kevin Koch, Shane O'Neill, Lesley Law Chan, Hafthor, Jared, Bill, Joel Maher and Katharina Will.

    With thanks to Quinton Zaborski for the topic suggestion.

    45: Granville

    45: Granville
    In 1977, a commuter train from the Blue Mountains, destined for Sydney central station would derail just before Granville Station, causing a bridge to collapse and crush many aboard. It remains Australia's worst ever rail disaster that was predicted by 11 engineering department heads just a year earlier. We look at how management decisions led to a completely avoidable disaster.
    With John Chidgey.

    This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced

    Links of Interest:

    Formal Investigation Extracts:

    Informal Investigations:

    Video:


    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, John Whitlow, Kevin Koch, Shane O'Neill, Oliver Steele, Lesley Law Chan, Hafthor, Jared, Bill, Joel Maher and Katharina Will.

    44: Beirut Warehouse 12

    44: Beirut Warehouse 12
    In Beirut in August of 2020, an explosion at the Port of Beirut destroyed a huge part of the city. We look into how an oxidising agent, improperly handled can become an explosive and attempt to comprehend how something so dangerous was ignored repeatedly by key people, despite many warnings of an imminent disaster.
    With John Chidgey.

    This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced

    Links of Interest:

    Reports into the incident:

    Video and Images:

    Documentary:

    Ammonium Nitrate Information:


    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, John Whitlow, Kevin Koch, Shane O'Neill, Oliver Steele, Lesley Law Chan, Hafthor, Jared, Bill, Joel Maher and Katharina Will.

    43: Triangle Shirtwaist Factory

    43: Triangle Shirtwaist Factory
    In 1911 in Manhattan, New York, a clothing factory went up in flames just before closing time. We look at how faulty equipment, poor design and a fear of theft contributed to a wholly preventable incident that had such terrible consequences, but would trigger reforms that still impact the United States, a century later.
    With John Chidgey.

    This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced

    Links of Interest:

    Cornell University’s Excellent Resource on the Incident:


    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, John Whitlow, Shane O'Neill, Kevin Koch, Oliver Steele, Lesley Law Chan, Hafthor, Jared, Bill and Joel Maher.

    42: Royal Canberra Hospital

    42: Royal Canberra Hospital
    The original Royal Canberra Hospital was flagged to be demolished in 1997 to make way for the new National Museum. A demolition via implosion was selected, but the implosion resulted in an explosion instead, and debris showered the huge crowd of onlookers with fatal consequences.
    With John Chidgey.

    This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced

    Report into the Incident:

    Video Footage of the Demolition:

    Video of Interest:

    Links of Interest:

    Explosives Used In Demolition:


    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, John Whitlow, Shane O'Neill, Kevin Koch, Oliver Steele, Lesley Law Chan, Hafthor, Jared and Bill.

    With thanks to Infamous Sphere for the topic suggestion.

    41: Florida International University

    41: Florida International University
    The university wanted a bridge for its students over a busy roadway that would appear intriguing from afar. Instead it collapsed before it was even finished. We look into how design errors, poor peer review and denial led to a collapse that claimed six peoples lives.
    With John Chidgey.

    This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced

    Report into the Incidents:

    Design Criteria and Bid:

    Civil Structural References:

    Companies Involved:

    Links of Potential Interest:

    Riverside Expressway:


    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, John Whitlow, Shane O'Neill, Kevin Koch, Oliver Steele, Lesley Law Chan, Hafthor and Bill.

    40: Ocean Ranger

    40: Ocean Ranger
    The largest semi-submersible Offshore Drilling Rig of its day, sank in a storm in 1982 whilst two smaller nearby rigs survived with minimal damage. We dive into how not closing a portlight cover, triggered a series of events that cost 84 people their lives.
    With John Chidgey.

    This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced

    Report into the Incidents:

    Links of Potential Interest:


    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Chip Salzenberg.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, John Whitlow, Kevin Koch, Oliver Steele, Lesley Law Chan, Hafthor, Shane O'Neill and Bill.

    With thanks to Gregory Hess for the topic suggestion.

    39: Therac-25

    39: Therac-25
    The successor to the Therac-6 and Therac-20 RadioTherapy machines would integrate the powerful DEC PDP-11 mini-computer to control all of the Therac-25s functions, including the safety interlocks, for the first time. In two years the 11 machines in service would overdose six people across two countries, killing three of them before they figured out why.
    With John Chidgey.

    This show is Podcasting 2.0 Enhanced

    Reports into the Incidents:

    Links of Potential Interest:


    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Chip Salzenberg.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, John Whitlow, Kevin Koch, Oliver Steele, Lesley Law Chan, Hafthor and Shane O'Neill.

    38: Thunder River Rapids

    38: Thunder River Rapids
    A popular family-friendly ride at DreamWorld would claim the lives of four people in 2016. In nearly thirty years of operation the ride had several similar but non-fatal incidents with blame placed on the operator every time, when a three thousand dollar modification could have prevented a horrific incident.
    With John Chidgey.

    Investigation Report:

    Links of Potential Interest:


    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producer: 'r'.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, John Whitlow, Kevin Koch, Oliver Steele, Lesley Law Chan, Hafthor and Shane O'Neill.

    37: Variola Birmingham

    37: Variola Birmingham
    In 1978 on the cusp of the eradication of SmallPox a Medical Photographer became infected and would ultimately die from the Variola virus. We look at how admiration, promotion and delegation led to a wholly avoidable outcome.
    With John Chidgey.

    Investigation Report:

    Medical Analyses:

    Links of Potential Interest:


    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producer: 'r'.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, John Whitlow, Kevin Koch, Oliver Steele, Lesley Law Chan, Hafthor and Shane O'Neill.

    36: Big Dig

    36: Big Dig
    A series of concrete ceiling tiles in a tunnel portal collapsed on a moving car killing the passenger in downtown Boston in 2006. The selection of the epoxy used in the ceiling tile anchors was unusual and a failure to heed the warning signs were at odds on a huge project under pressure to deliver when already twice over time and five times over budget.
    With John Chidgey.

    Investigation Report:

    Technical Links:

    Links of Potential Interest:


    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producer: 'r'.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, John Whitlow, Kevin Koch, Oliver Steele, Hafthor and Shane O'Neill.

    With thanks to Sean for the topic suggestion.

    35: San Bruno

    35: San Bruno
    A modification made in 1956 to a pipeline built in the 1940s would ultimately fail costing 8 people their lives in 2010. We look at what went wrong with PG&Es gas pipeline in San Bruno, California.
    With John Chidgey.

    Investigation and Reports:

    Technical Links:

    Links of Potential Interest:

    Legal Links:


    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producer: 'r'.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, John Whitlow, Joseph Antonio, Kevin Koch, Oliver Steele and Shane O'Neill.

    With thanks to John for the topic suggestion.

    34: Aberfan

    34: Aberfan
    One Friday morning in 1966 in a small town in Wales a mining spoils waste tip let go with a river of liquified rubble destroying buildings and a school. Killing 144 people, mostly children in their classrooms. The mechanics of how this happened are simple. The ignorance and economics of why this happened boggles the mind.
    With John Chidgey.

    Related episodes:

    Investigation and Reports:


    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producer: 'r'.
    Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, John Whitlow, Joseph Antonio, Kevin Koch and Oliver Steele.

    33: 737 MAX

    33: 737 MAX
    With two crashes in five months of the new 737 4th Generation a design flaw seemed likely. We look at how Boeings focus on cost-avoidance, grandfathering and bending probabilities during design would ultimately cost 346 people their lives.
    With John Chidgey.

    Related episodes:

    Investigation and Reports:

    History of Boeing:

    Technical Information:

    Standards and Bulletins:

    Fallout:

    Forum Articles:

    Links of potential interest:


    Support Causality on Patreon

    Episode Gold Producer: 'r'.
    Episode Silver Producers: John Whitlow, Joseph Antonio, Kevin Koch and Shane O'Neill.