SpaceX, one of the highly publicised companies owned by Elon Musk, famous for his Tesla cars, has been testing their new “escape capsule” technology for their latest rockets. SpaceX, who are now likely to be certified by NASA for a contract to carry astronauts to the International Space Station, had to perform this test to fulfil safety requirements. The “escape capsule” is a unit at the top of a rocket which, in the event of a malfunction in the rocket’s booster (propulsion) unit, will detach and fire rockets to escape the vicinity of the rocket and enable it to return to earth, clear of any explosion or other danger. The tests were particularly important following the explosion of one of SpaceX’s previous rockets and also with the tragic memory of the Challenger Space Shuttle still clear in people’s minds. 

 

This is a prime example of proper testing, planning and systems being put into place to protect the wellbeing of those being placed into that environment. The astronauts are, whilst accustomed to danger, still entitled to be afforded every reasonable safety measure that can be provided. 

 

Whilst the vast majority of us won’t be heading into space any time soon, this is an example of how safety in the workplace, or in public, should be managed. Whenever we set foot in our workplace, we are owed a duty of care by our employer not to place us in an unsafe or high-risk working environment without taking all viable safety precautions. This does not mean that an employer should make your workplace risk-free, but that any foreseeable risks should be minimised, whether by proper training, systems of inspection or reporting, providing Personal Protective Equipment or ensuring management or supervisory staff implement safety policies and do not give improper instruction to staff under their control.