Stakeholders 20 years after Ibaraki Criticality Accidents Lessons Learned How to Tell September 30 5:08

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It has been 20 years since 30 days after the criticality accident in Tokai Village, Ibaraki Prefecture, where two workers died due to exposure. Residents were evacuated and were said to be the worst nuclear accident in the country at the time. However, the number of residents and people concerned who know the accident has decreased, and the issue is how to communicate lessons.

The criticality accident occurred on September 30, 1999 at "JC O", a nuclear fuel processing company located in Tokai Village, Ibaraki Prefecture.

Illegal work such as mixing nuclear fuel raw materials in a bucket, a “criticality” occurs in which fission continues, and three male workers were exposed to radiation in large quantities and two died.

The company was revoked from the nuclear fuel processing business license and was sentenced to a guilty punishment with a probation on six executives and employees at the time who were asked to manage safety.

The accident also revealed deficiencies in the nuclear disaster prevention system.

The cooperation between the national government, local governments, and business operators was not successful, and it took one day for the criticality to converge, and there was confusion regarding who made judgments and instructions for evacuation.

In addition to establishing the Special Measures Law after the accident and taking the initiative of the government, the national government reviewed the nuclear disaster prevention system by creating disaster prevention bases called “offsite centers” nationwide.

On the other hand, at the Tokai Village Office over 20 years, the number of staff who experienced accidents has dropped to less than 30%, and the number of residents who know the time has decreased.

Mr. Osamu Yamada, head of Tokai Village, says, “There are still troubles and accidents, and it is the mission of the village to pass on,” and how to communicate the experiences and lessons of critical accidents.

Convicted man "thin industry consciousness is thin from top to bottom"

One of six people who were found guilty in a trial that asks the responsibility of a company executive or employee for a criticality accident responded to NHK's interview after 20 years. From low to high, the consciousness is low. The individual consciousness must be high. "

Regarding the critical accident of “JC O”, six executives and employees at the time were convicted of imprisonment and were convicted with imprisonment.

After 20 years since the accident, one of these men responded to NHK coverage.

When asked about the date of 20 years, the man said, “Because it was 20 years, there was no big change in me, and the bereaved family was not far from my head. "I told my thoughts to the two workers who died."

In addition, as to the circumstances leading to the accident, “We had extensive education on uranium and the structure of the nuclear power plant,” while “Education from the top did not reach the field. I realized that, ”he said, reflecting on the lack of education.

And after that, Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accidents and troubles at business establishments, etc. “Non-consciousness of the nuclear industry as a whole is thin from the top to the bottom. We expressed a sense of crisis about the safety awareness of the people concerned.