The 104th Safety Caravan was conducted at JCO Co., Ltd. in Tokai-mura, Naka-gun, Ibaraki Prefecture on April 18, 2008.

Twenty four (24) employees of JCO Co., Ltd. attended the Safety Presentation.

The presentation began with a salutation from Mr. Yoshiki Miyajima, Representing Director and President.  "As of the end of March this year, eight and a half years have passed since the accident.  It is unfortunate that the local residents whose support and understanding the plant had enjoyed from the time operations began up until the time of the accident lost their trust in us as a result of the mishap.  As a result of our reflections upon the grave accident in which we not only lost two of our colleagues but also caused a disturbance to the neighborhood, we have established the action guidelines of 'absolutely safe and absolutely no accidents' and 'cherish the fundamentals and abide by the fundamentals.'  Since the accident up to the present, there are about 30 employees still assigned to tasks related to dealing with the after-effects of the accident.  In dealing with these after-effects, the work has been carried out keeping in mind the frankness of accepting responsibility while faithfully abiding by the fundamentals.  Under ordinary circumstances, we seldom have the opportunity for stimulus input from the outside, and so we welcome this opportunity for useful stimulus with the hope that it will be helpful in safety activities hereafter."
　After the salutation, Professor emeritus Dr. Masaharu Kitamura, Associate Member of the Tohoku University New Industry Creation Hatchery Center gave a lecture entitled "Considering the Relationship between Nuclear Power and Society -- Reviewing the Connections among the Individual, Business Enterprises, and Society."

Lecture highlights

●At the present time in Japan, there is a huge gap in perception between nuclear power organizations and the public.  The general population have a strong perception of the dangers of nuclear power technology, and harbor anxiety toward the occurrence of major disasters.  On the other hand, those who are actually engaged in the practical work of nuclear technology and engineers complain that the public have unreasonable concerns regarding the dangers.  We must think about how to close the gap of "public anxiety and industry complaints (dissatisfaction)" and how to solve the various problems arising from that gap.

●A practical action "interactive forum" is promoted with the aim of reviewing and forging a new relationship between technology and the public.  By facing the local residents in areas where power plants are actually located and through repeated dialogue regarding the various problems associated with nuclear energy, we must do our best through these forums to find solutions and attain understanding of the difficulties in the background that arise between the nuclear industry and the public.

●In the early stages of the endeavors the true intention of the plan was not necessarily understood, but as the forums continued to be held, the meaning of the dialogues gradually gained acceptance, and the number of participants who placed their trust in the specialists increased.  Tangible understanding of nuclear technology also began to change, and new discoveries and ways of thinking on the part of both the participants from localities where nuclear plants are situated and nuclear specialists materialized.  The issues are incalculable, but the significance of continuing these forums as a means of forging a new relationship between nuclear specialists and local societies can not be overstated.

●The fulfillment of obligations of the nuclear power industry toward society, and fulfillment of the obligations of individuals within those business enterprises, and the continuation of a safe operating track record of nuclear facilities are indispensable conditions for reducing suspicions about the industry.  Furthermore, even in the case of trivial troubles that do not have any direct bearing on safety, we must create a track record whose result does not end up increasing anxieties among the public, and we must do so without responding improperly.

Comments from the questionnaires conducted after the presentation:

●Since the accident right up through today, we live in the midst of constant criticism.  Today's lecture made me aware that there are people who think conscientiously somewhere even though I know not where.  Working for a company that does not actually produce anything but merely manages facilities makes me have something of an inferior complex.  However, I sincerely hope that people who understand the necessity of nuclear power will increase.
●If I could change anything about myself, I would like to be able to think more positively.  (To be able to think more positively in terms of consciousness of working for the company that caused the accident...)
●Today's lecture has made me feel more relieved and secure.  I feel confident in believing that if we continue the same efforts as we have made up to now, little by little the number of people who understand our position will increase.
●I was able to grasp awareness of the importance of those of us engaged in the field of nuclear engineering having dialogue with local residents and disclosing information.  In addition, for those people like ourselves who are devoted to "protection activities," we want the importance of our activities to be recognized, and this is an important stimulus.
●It renewed my feeling that if people do not talk (communicate) with each other, they can not understand each other.

Safety information exchange session

At the request of JCO Co., Ltd., Mr. Hirokazu Fukui, Senior Researcher on the Human Factor Research Project, Institute of Nuclear Safety System Incorporated and Mr. Ken-ichi Hamasaki, Assistant Researcher of the same institute, presented a detailed explanation of "Investigation of the Workplace Climate" to the safety information exchange session, which was followed by exchanges of opinions.