Criticality accident in uranium fuel processing plant. Progress and reflection of the criticality accident in the uranium fuel processing plant

As one year is already passing since forming of the JCO criticality accident, impact given by this accident was so large as to vibrate all of nuclear energy field. This accident was the first instantly forming criticality accident since beginning of peaceful use in nuclear energy in Japan, which formed some severe victims containing two dead and an experienced affair required for evacuation and shelter of the peripheral inhabitants. Direct cause of the instantly forming criticality accident in this accident is simple and clear, and is caused by failure in the most essential technology specific to nuclear energy called by criticality management. And that, it was caused not by instrument accident or human individual error but by recent exceptional blunder in and out of Japan at a point of direct reason on evil violation act due to management organization. And, for the response specific to the nuclear energy field, a drastic reinvestigation on safety filed, a drastic reinvestigation on safety regulation system is also required. On the other hand, in nuclear safety education requiring establishment of safety culture for its foundation, a reflection that it has remained only to moral action to bring a result to suppress power carrying out its practice inversely, was also recognized. And, it is necessary to carry out more efforts and devices for difficulty on management forecast in future in nuclear energy industry not so as to make a system of safety conservation weaker. (G.K.)