Toward Post-Fukushima No. 1

1. It Happened to MeEdward R. Frederick
Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Exelon, USA

It happened to me, too. It happened to all of us, aLife was different after the accident. It is as if mylong time ago. We felt the same way that you dolife is divided into two parts. What happened

today. It is difficult. It is a deep emotional wound.

before the accident, and what happened after theAnd it lasts a long time. I know because I was oneaccident. The date of the accident marks both anof the Control Room Operators during the Threeend and a beginning.

Mile Island Accident in 1979.
In the first few months after the accident, it wasWhen I speak to people about the accident, as I

difficult to understand the scope, the impact, andhave in meetings all over the world, it still stirs mythe repercussions that were echoing around theemotions. I stammer, and sweat and it is like it isworld. After a year, the turmoil was still controlling

happening again, even 32 years later.

my life. After two years, we were focused onclean-up. After three years we were beginning toThe accident resulted in damage to the plant,

understand the scope of the clean-up. After 6 years,

evacuations from the nearby towns, other nuclear

our other unit was able meet all of the newplants were shutdown and construction of new

requirements to re-start. After 10 years theplants was cancelled. I felt as though I had failed

clean-up was complete. After 12 years the unit wasand caused the public to fear the technology that I

placed in long term storage, and now it is a grim

had trusted.

reminder of the accident.

We had to learn how to deal with highly

Sometimes I get the opportunity to take people

contaminated water in the basements of ourto the TMI2 to show them the empty turbine hallbuildings. We had to install new pumps, tanks,

and the stripped control room. I show it tofilters and piping to transport and store theoperators, managers, government and oversightaccident waste.

organizations; all those who need to be reminded;
all those who could influence an event that might

Every new day brought more bad news, media

become another accident. I remind them of why itattention, criticism and a new investigation from aisgovernment or environmental group. I spent six

assumptions, to demand good procedures and toyears in various interrogations, interviews, court

maintain equipment in best condition.

importanttobevigilant,

tochallenge

appearances and depositions. There were inquiries
and demands from dozens of investigations.
1

I also remind them that this accident was caused
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Toward Post-Fukushima No. 1

by human error. Not just operator error, not justThat’s what we learned. It is never good enough.

mechanical failures and instrument failures. It

There is no “good enough”, there is only excellence.

was also caused by errors in decisions made many

To be strived for. To be sought after, knowing at theyears before the accident. Decisions about what

outset that it is unreachable. Excellence is needed.

limits would be needed; what safety barriers would

In every corner and crevice. In every action andbe needed. How big. How long. How high. Howword. No hiding. No deception. Full disclosure.

strong.

Complete cooperation. Natural accountability.

Somebody made those decisions and came up

In the following months and years, that is whatshort. They assumed that if an accident happened

we all need to do. That is what we all need to see

it would be within certain bounds. They were

our leaders doing. That is what we need to bewrong.

involved in. Do the work. Answer the questions.
Disclose the results. Fix it.

And so, what enables me to survive each day
without being overwhelmed by guilt, sadness,

It is difficult. Almost unbearably difficult. But

regret and mourning is that it was not all my fault.

we face the problem, we learn from it and we move

Iton. We get better.

wasnottheoperators,

mechanics

andtechnicians who could have faced the dragon alone
and turned it away. It was an entire industry thatassumed they understood the limits of failure. ItI assure you. We get better.
August 2011

was complacency. It was an attitude that said, “thisis good enough.”2Copyright © JAPAN NUS CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved