Undersea cable breaks “happen every other day, about 200 times a year. The reason websites continue to load...is because of the thousand or so people living aboard 20-some ships stationed around the world, who race to fix each cable as soon as it breaks.” www.theverge.com/c/24070570/i...
Yup. Similar problem in healthcare. All x-ray, MRI, CT, and ultrasound repair in all the hospitals, doctor's offices, and imaging centers in my midsized US state is handled by fewer than 50 people total. Everything in the center of our state is handled by **6 people**. And they're all 50+ years old.
Absolutely, if you love being worked to death for less than what a high school principal makes. Field engineer ranks with LEOs and military on the "most stressful jobs" list. We know FEs who've suffered heart attacks, strokes, massive bone breaks, and lacerations requiring double-digit-stitches.
To be fair, it *is* bada$$ to know how to repair over 2k different machines + carry a letter from CDC and DHS giving you permission to go through EMG roadblocks. And God knows GE Healthcare is desperate for new hires. But it's not cool to be talked down to because you turn wrenches for a living.
“Unsustainable” is how this work is described for the future; costs are one factor, but the brain trust of experienced workers which will be lost to attrition as those workers age into retirement is far more concerning
This is the current crew of the KDDI Ocean Link
@garius.bsky.social this seemed a neat introductory article about a niche thing, framed around a historical disaster & aftermath. i feel it self-explanatory why i thought of you. though let me know if tag-ins such as this are unwelcome. have a good day!
Huh. Didn't realize there was that much entropy in the system as is. One of those little pillars maintained by specialists that is conveniently out of sight.
