U.K. Nuclear Power Plant Guards Compared to Homer Simpson

Imagine nuclear power plant workers asleep at the switch, mishandling firearms, and committing crimes while on the job. No, these aren’t the antics of Homer and his fellow Springfield Plant workers, but the actions of numerous real employees at 11 power stations across England, Scotland, and Wales.

“The Simpsons is supposed to be a comedy, not a fly-on-the-wall documentary,” said Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the Taxpayers Alliance, a British pressure group and think tank. “Taxpayers will be astounded to know that it isn’t just Homer who falls asleep at his desk.”

A total of 51 offenses took place since of beginning of 2013, with the aforementioned incidents occurring in addition to activities like “inappropriate eBay activity” and social media use, lying in regard to loss of equipment, and “unauthorized absence of duty.” (Ed. Note: I can’t even imagine what inappropriate eBay use consists of. Selling plutonium to Libyans à la Back to the Future?)

Of the perpetrators, six were given written warnings, two were dismissed, and five resigned. All incidents were tracked by the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC), a police force of 1,400 tasked with “contribut[ing] to the overall framework of national security.” Of course, it was the CNC’s own workers that were caught misbehaving and sleeping.

At least they didn’t use one of Homer’s past defenses: “Asleep at the switch?! I wasn’t asleep, I was drunk!”

[via Hartlepool Mail]