Overview

The events at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011 marked a turning point in terms of reviewing how nuclear safety is evaluated and ensured. It has triggered a closer examination of specific site locations and designs associated with those sites. It has also compelled nuclear safety experts to confirm that the principles upon which nuclear safety has been built remain valid, notably the defence-in-depth concept, but highlighted that more needs to be done to ensure their effective implementation.

A decade on from this event we are in the midst of a global pandemic which has immense health and economic costs. What can we learn from previous events to improve resilience both as organisations and a wider society?

This event, organised jointly by the Safety and Reliability Society, Hazards Forum and the Nuclear Institute Young Generation Network brings together a number of key experts to reflect on factors which lead to the Fukushima accident, the Nuclear Industry’s response and what we can learn to make our organisations and societies more resilient.

The material presented in this webinar has not been peer-reviewed by IChemE. Any opinions are the presenters' own and do not necessarily represent those of IChemE or the Safety and Loss Prevention SIG. The information is given in good faith but without any liability on the part of IChemE.

Chairman

Paul Thomas

Paul Thomas was a career naval officer reaching the rank of Rear Admiral. He was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct in 1980 and the US Legion of Merit in 1998. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 1998.

Upon retiring from the Royal Navy in 1998, Thomas joined AEA Technology, Nuclear Engineering where he held the positions of Director Engineering Projects and Director Strategic Development. He moved to British Nuclear Fuels plc in 2001 as Director Environment, Health, Safety and Quality. In 2005 he joined the Board of RSSB Ltd as a non-executive Director. Paul chaired the Hazards forum for seven years, is a past President of the Nuclear Institute and an Honorary Fellow of the Safety and Reliability Society.

Keynote presentation

Mike Weightman

Dr Weightman is a former HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations, and Chief Executive at the Office for Nuclear Regulation in the UK. Dr Weightman was invited to lead the IAEA International Expert Fact Finding Mission to Japan in May/June 2011 into the Fukushima Daichi event and subsequently reported on the implications for the UK nuclear industry.

Following retirement from the ONR Dr Weightman is now an independent Nuclear Consultant with MWA Ltd and also holds a posts as Visiting Professor, Engineering Department, Cambridge University; Non-executive Director, National Nuclear Laboratory; Independent Advisor to the Japanese NDF and NRA; independent consultant to UK NDA, Finish Government; OECD’s NEA, IAEA, international companies.

Time

12:00—13:30 GMT.