Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Recognition of Transition Phases of Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Crisis Through Chronological Analysis of the Accident

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

F Mianji
M.R Kardan
J Karimi Diba
A Babakhani
Abstract
Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident in Japan seriously questioned the worldwide presumed trust about the safety of existing nuclear power plants. Neither the advanced facilities nor the existing emergency response preparedness could hamper the rapid expansion of the accident, resulting in the world's most severe nuclear crisis after the Chernobyl accident. This paper presents a chronologic study of the accident and the responses to it in order to recognize the main phases of the crisis management in Fukushima. The study reveals that out of the total five recognized phases, the three first ones have mainly gone through by inevitable reactions, situation assessments, and data gathering for a comprehensive response planning. Investigating the influence of each phase on expansion of the accident is indeed of vital importance for effective planning for responding to similar accidents. Deficiency of preventive measures leading to the occurrence of the accident and incompetence of the Japanese nuclear safety infrastructure in hindering the rapid expansion of the crisis, are also discussed. Following a root cause analysis, the paper concludes with proposals for preventing similar accidents and shortening the duration of the first phases of the aftermaths.
 

Highlights

  1. Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency report of Japanese government to the IAEA ministerial conference on nuclear safety- The Accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Nuclear Power Stations NISA Jun. 2011 http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/kan/topics/201106/iaea_houkokusho_e.html.

     

  2. Nuclear Installation Safety Net. Appendix VI- The International Nuclear Event Scale Tutorials– Regulatory control of nuclear power plants, IAEA (2001) http://www.iaea.org/ns/tutorials/regcontrol/chapters/appendix.pdf.

 

  1. T. Suzuki, Occupational Exposure in Fukushima Accident, IAEA regional meeting in occupational radiation protection in emergency exposure situations, Chiba, Japan, 23 Nov. (2011).

 

  1. Tokyo Power Electric Company evaluation status of internal exposure «over 20mSv and less or equal to 50mSv» in March and April– Attachment2 Aug. 2011, http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/ release/ betu11_e/images/110810e18.pdf.

 

  1. K. Sakai, Lessons Learnt from Fukushima Accident, IAEA regional meeting in occupational radiation protection in emergency exposure situations, Chiba, Japan, 23 Nov. (2011).

 

 

 

 

 

  1. H. Tatsuzaki, Medical Management of Emergency Workers, IAEA regional meeting in occupational radiation protection in emergency exposure situations, Chiba, Japan, 23 Nov. (2011).

 

  1. Reports of Iran Nuclear Regulatory Authority about the damaged NPPs of Japan, http://www.aeoi.org.ir/Portal/Home.

 

  1. The Fukushima Nuclear Accident and Crisis Management (Lessons for Japan-U.S. Alliance Cooperation), The Sasakawa Peace Foundation, (Sept. 2012).

 

  1. Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet additional report of the Japanese government to the IAEA- The Accidents at TEPCO's Fukushima Nuclear Power Stations (second report) (Sept. 2011) http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/kan/topics/201106/iaea_houkokusho_e.html.

 

  1. Status of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and Related Environmental Conditions, IAEA, Vienna, 26 (Sept. 2012).

 

  1. Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards, IAEA Safety Standards Series No GSR Part 3 (Interim), General Safety Requirements Part 3, IAEA, Vienna, (2011).

 

  1. http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/quake_tsunami/AJ201108257639.

     

Keywords

Transition Phases
Nuclear Crisis
Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant
Chronologic Study
Preventive Measures
Root Cause Analysis

  1. Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency report of Japanese government to the IAEA ministerial conference on nuclear safety- The Accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Nuclear Power Stations NISA Jun. 2011 http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/kan/topics/201106/iaea_houkokusho_e.html.

     

  2. Nuclear Installation Safety Net. Appendix VI- The International Nuclear Event Scale Tutorials– Regulatory control of nuclear power plants, IAEA (2001) http://www.iaea.org/ns/tutorials/regcontrol/chapters/appendix.pdf.

 

  1. T. Suzuki, Occupational Exposure in Fukushima Accident, IAEA regional meeting in occupational radiation protection in emergency exposure situations, Chiba, Japan, 23 Nov. (2011).

 

  1. Tokyo Power Electric Company evaluation status of internal exposure «over 20mSv and less or equal to 50mSv» in March and April– Attachment2 Aug. 2011, http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/ release/ betu11_e/images/110810e18.pdf.

 

  1. K. Sakai, Lessons Learnt from Fukushima Accident, IAEA regional meeting in occupational radiation protection in emergency exposure situations, Chiba, Japan, 23 Nov. (2011).

 

 

 

 

 

  1. H. Tatsuzaki, Medical Management of Emergency Workers, IAEA regional meeting in occupational radiation protection in emergency exposure situations, Chiba, Japan, 23 Nov. (2011).

 

  1. Reports of Iran Nuclear Regulatory Authority about the damaged NPPs of Japan, http://www.aeoi.org.ir/Portal/Home.

 

  1. The Fukushima Nuclear Accident and Crisis Management (Lessons for Japan-U.S. Alliance Cooperation), The Sasakawa Peace Foundation, (Sept. 2012).

 

  1. Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet additional report of the Japanese government to the IAEA- The Accidents at TEPCO's Fukushima Nuclear Power Stations (second report) (Sept. 2011) http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/kan/topics/201106/iaea_houkokusho_e.html.

 

  1. Status of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and Related Environmental Conditions, IAEA, Vienna, 26 (Sept. 2012).

 

  1. Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards, IAEA Safety Standards Series No GSR Part 3 (Interim), General Safety Requirements Part 3, IAEA, Vienna, (2011).

 

  1. http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/quake_tsunami/AJ201108257639.

     

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