NSnet: Pushing Nuclear Safety to New Heights

ON DECEMBER 9, 1999, the constituent members of Japan's nuclear industry joined hands to establish NSnet (Nuclear Safety Network). The network came about in the wake of the JCO criticality accident that occurred in Tokai Mura in Ibaraki Prefecture on September 30, 1999. Its aim is two-fold: to raise safety awareness within the industry and to promote and enhance an industry-wide Safety Culture.

Organization and Activities

NSnet HAS 35 members electric power companies, fuel processing firms, plant manufacturers and related companies, in addition to research institutes. Every member is given equal voice and status, and are required to engage in the following activities:

• Promoting Safety Culture. A variety of activities designed to further advance an industry-wide Safety Culture will be instituted, including the holding of seminars, publication of newsletters, launching of websites and organizing visits to members' facilities under the auspices of a "Safety Caravan" program.
• Peer Review. Review teams comprised of personnel from each member organization will visit other members' facilities to carry out mutual evaluations and exchange views on matters of common concern. Among the issues to be discussed and assessed will be those relating to the organization and management of nuclear facilities, the implementation of educational and training drills, and other safety standards as well as contingencies.
• Exchange and dissemination of safety information. NSnet establishes new information systems and expands existing systems for members to share and exchange information on nuclear safety problems and related issues that have occurred within the network. It also serves to improve upon the safety training and education programs now instituted by member facilities by analyzing human-related factors, and by enhancing the practical application of training manuals. In addition, a council made up of neutral, third-party members has been created. The seven-member committee, which includes scholars, journalists and critics, provides independent inspection and evaluation of all NSnet activities, while serving as an opinion forum.

Activities Already in Motion

A NUMBER OF NSnet activities have already commenced. On April 18-21, 2000, for instance, the first Peer Review was conducted at Tokai Mura in Ibaraki Prefecture at Mitsubishi Nuclear Fuel Co., Ltd., whose plant processes fuel for nuclear power stations. The review confirmed that the safety measures being implemented at the facility are fully adequate to meet serious contingencies; results of the review have been circulated to all NSnet members. The second, third and fourth Peer Reviews have subsequently been carried out, with the information accrued having been analyzed and fed back to enhance the safety programs of the network's membership. Current plans call for a Peer Review to be conducted monthly.