Engineering thinking in emergency situations: A new nuclear safety concept

Abstract

International audienceThe lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi accident have focused on preventive measures designed toprotect nuclear reactors, and crisis management plans. Although there is still no end in sight to the accident thatoccurred on March 11, 2011, how engineers have handled the aftermath offers new insight into the capacity oforganizations to adapt in situations that far exceed the scope of safety standards based on probabilistic riskassessment and on the comprehensive identification of disaster scenarios. Ongoing crises in which conventionalresources are lacking, but societal expectations are high, call for Òengineering thinking in emergencysituations.Ó This is a new concept that emphasizes adaptability and resilience within organizationsÑsuch asthe ability to create temporary new organizational structures; to quickly switch from a normal state to aninnovative mode; and to integrate a social dimension into engineering activities. In the future, nuclear safetyoversight authorities should assess the ability of plant operators to create and implement effective engineeringstrategies on the fly, and should require that operators demonstrate the capability for resilience in the aftermathof an accident