Warp core can have shielding around it but typically doesn’t. There have been threats in the past from people firing at the warp core. A containment field can be raised (and iirc there was one raised in this scene) but it’s not always on. Would no need to be in an area as critical as main engineering. Only people with access to the area are people who wouldn’t typically fuck with it. Having a continuous forcefield would be a drain on ship energy systems and might even impact crew morale to an extent.
Warp core has shield around it (multiple, I think), while I disagree with testing it in main engineering, it’s still probably fine.
The humans being out in the open though?
Warp core can have shielding around it but typically doesn’t. There have been threats in the past from people firing at the warp core. A containment field can be raised (and iirc there was one raised in this scene) but it’s not always on. Would no need to be in an area as critical as main engineering. Only people with access to the area are people who wouldn’t typically fuck with it. Having a continuous forcefield would be a drain on ship energy systems and might even impact crew morale to an extent.
Morale??? You bet my ass is feeling safer if there is a extra safety net around a miniature SUN next to my head!!! 🤣🤣