Originally Posted by 777 geek

Those of us who work in real heavy industry know we have to put up with a lot of crap regarding H&S rules. It's well intentioned to be sure, but the paperwork is damned annoying. There's risk assessments to do, permits to raise. You never see Geordi ticking off the permit before reversing the polarity. However, there are obvious cases of them failing to demonstrate a basic safety culture.

The example I just have is in 'The Mind's Eye' [TNG]. Data and Geordi were testing an apparent Starfleet issue phaser rifle that was illicitely given to Klingon rebels. The think that immedatiely comes to mind is that they were doing this test in Main Engineering. Aside from the fact that we wonder where all their science labs and workshops are, the major safety implication is them testing live directed energy weapons in the prescence of the friggin warp core. Lets just be thankful they pointed the gun away from the warp core.

There was no-one else in Main Engineering at the time, which could be used as evidence that announcements were made and barriers erected warning unauthorised personnel to keep out of this danger area though of course, we never saw any on screen so must assume they are around the corner. It's still a shame they don't put more effort into set dressing. Seeing a safety barrier erected at the entrance is the kind of little details that add depth to the production. Of course, assuming that barriers were there (which we must take as a leap of faith given there is no other precedent for this practice), it means no-one else has access to Main Engineering for engineering work.

Between firing tests, Geordi moves to chat with data and rest on the unit that receives the phaser pulse. In other words, he was standing in the direct line of fire of this live fire arm. Not sensible.

(Those suggesting that using Main Engineering to save on sets doesn't wash. Cargo bays are large blank slates for sets. Just add a bit of dressing from stock set pieces and you have a workshop for this testing.)