Fukushima Accident, Assessment Example

Introduction

Managing any disaster requires an expert risk management strategy to determine how to address specific concerns and challenges that have emerged. This practice also demonstrates how experts evaluate different types of risks and the steps that required to ensure the safety of other persons. It is important for organizations to evaluate their risk and to be proactive in preventing risk through the activities that are conducted and the decisions that are made. In a disaster that involves the release of radioactive material from a damaged nuclear reactor, there is a significant level of risk that must be addressed to prevent widespread harm to the local community and the entire country. This process requires an understanding of the different areas that impact the health and welfare of the affected population and how to best overcome these conditions through risk management and timely decision-making.

When the Fukushima incident occurred in Japan in 2011, there was a strong need to develop a precedent to evaluate the risk and determine the best possible means of managing the issue effectively and to minimize the damage that was assessed to the local and national population. Most importantly, the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that damaged the reactors caused significant risk to the Japanese people because the radioactive material found in the reactors contaminated the community due to a loss of heating and water circulation within the reactors (World Nuclear Association, 2014). There was a series of events that required a detailed risk assessment, due in large part to the malfunctioning reactors and the time required to prevent further risk and harm to the surrounding communities; therefore, it was necessary for an immediate evaluation of the circumstances and a subsequent shutdown of the reactor system to prevent further damage to the area and to assess the situation more closely (World Nuclear Association, 2014).

Recommendations

Due to the challenging nature of events that surround a potential nuclear meltdown, the risk assessment must be comprehensive and timely in order to protect the surrounding community from a high level of risk that could impact their health, not only over the short-term, but also over the long term. The following section will provide the recommended steps, in order of priority, that are required to address this level of risk and to protect the population as best as possible from further harm:

After this incident, the immediate decision would be made to declare a nuclear emergency, as this would provide additional funding and resources to the area to ensure that the safety, security, and integrity of the surrounding communities and the country as a whole were protected as best as possible. This was an important and necessary step in order to minimize the level of risk to the local community because the resources would then be available to provide residents with temporary housing, food, clean water, and other resources that are required when individual residents and families are displaced from their homes during a disaster. Therefore, the decision to declare a state of emergency is the most important step towards the recovery effort and to support the local community during a serious situation that requires immediate attention, focus, and action. A declaration of emergency for this community was the only option in the very short term because of the widespread nature of the events that occurred and the resources that were required in the short term to accommodate this population. Although the aftermath of the incident could potentially be significant, this early term declaration was critical because it offers immediate resource-based support to those displaced by the disaster and who could experience short and long-term complications as a result of the disaster.

When this incident occurred, it was evident that protecting the surrounding community was a critical priority. Therefore, it was necessary to perform an evacuation of the area on an immediate basis so that there would be additional protection from the possible spread of radioactive materials through the atmosphere and in the surrounding physical areas. An evacuation would provide a higher level of protection for local residents and would capture their attention in order to ensure that they recognized the severity of the incident and how it might impact their health if they were to remain in the area. This was not an option for local residents because any long-term exposure to radioactive materials and gases could be detrimental on a very large scale; therefore, it was necessary to manage the risk to the local community through evacuation. In addition, an evacuation would also provide an important level of understanding and acknowledgement that the primary response effort was to aid local residents during a disaster and to protect their health and safety as best as possible.

Another critical priority for the risk management team is to develop a strategy to protect the security of the surrounding community in order to prevent unauthorized access to the nuclear plant and to the surrounding sites. This is critical because any unauthorized parties on or near the premises could create further challenges that are difficult to overcome and that could wreak additional havoc on the geographic area. Therefore, the nuclear plant and the surrounding perimeter must be protected by a security force, such as a National Guard organization or equivalent in conjunction with local law enforcement, in order to protect the area from further risk or damage by those who are unauthorized to be in the area or on the premises. This is a critical step because the safety and security of the local community must serve as a key priority for this group and in determining the best possible approach to manage the circumstances in a timely and efficient manner. The security of the community is also of critical importance in order to prevent possible threats of terrorism and other activities that could be derived from terrorist groups or even any other Japanese enemies or rivals with an intent and an agenda to attack and destroy. This is an important reminder of the challenges of protecting a community in the wake of a disaster in order to protect not only its residents, but also their interests in a comprehensive manner in the coming years.

Survival of local community members is of critical importance to the overall support and integrity of the risk assessment and recovery effort; therefore, it is important to create a realistic timeline for the recovery effort, including the determination of when it might be safe for residents to return to their homes after the disaster. Although there is a three-year plan of evaluation in place, this requires detail regarding the specific phases that will be required to perform and assess the recovery strategy, including when it will be possible for local residents to return to their homes in a timely manner, yet only when it is safe and they are out of harm’s way with respect to environmental exposure. This is important because all required testing methods must be explored before local residents are cleared to return home. This is of critical importance because all residents must be deemed safe from additional risk before the steps are taken to clear them to return to their homes, and this may require a significant period of time, depending upon the outcomes of the risk assessment and subsequent decisions that are made.

A risk assessment of possible contamination in different areas must also be determined, and this is best identified through routine testing, often frequent in nature, in order to accomplish the intended objectives in a timely manner, while also supporting an agenda that will satisfy the mandates set forth by the government to promote the safety and security of the local population. This is an important reminder of the need to support a comprehensive agenda that is also based upon the critical nature of the incident and the immediate needs of the surrounding community in light of the disaster. Therefore, testing for contamination is essential to restore a sense of calm and control over the community in the wake of this disaster and its repercussions to the community and to Japan as a whole.

The risk management team must also be able to communicate all decisions and evaluations clearly and concisely to local officials, the nuclear organization, and to local residents as necessary. This requires a strategic approach that will aim to be proactive in providing information in a timely manner and to keep all involved parties apprised of the situation on a continuous basis. This is an important step in the risk management process because routine and effective communication is critical in supporting an agenda that will accomplish the intended objectives and that will also support a long-term approach to protecting the safety, security, and health of the community and of the people of Japan. Therefore, it is necessary to provide community bulletins via social media, on television, and through in-person communication for displaced residents so that information is properly transmitted in a timely and effective manner.

Conclusion

The risk management process in the wake of a disaster requires a level of knowledge and professionalism that will accomplish the desired objectives in order to effectively evaluate the situation and to determine the best possible approach to manage the outcomes of the disaster with as little additional damage as possible. This requires the risk manager to exercise sound and reasonable judgment in all steps of the process and in supporting an agenda that will provide a positive response to difficult circumstances. It will also demonstrate a strong level of authority and oversight regarding the situation and the need for expertise in the event of a disaster of this magnitude.

References

World Nuclear Association (2014). Fukushima accident. Retrieved from http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Safety-and-Security/Safety-of-Plants/Fukushima-Accident/