A Study on Social Responsibility of Engineers and Managers

Kiyoshi Sato

doi:10.20965/jdr.2013.p0730

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JDR Vol.8 No.sp pp. 730-736

(2013)

doi: 10.20965/jdr.2013.p0730

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A Study on Social Responsibility of Engineers and Managers

Kiyoshi Sato

The Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, 1-6-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8126, Japan

Received:

February 14, 2013

Accepted:

April 18, 2013

Published:

September 1, 2013

Keywords:

social responsibility, nuclear power generation, countermeasures against tsunami, scientific uncertainties, social decision making

Abstract

After the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the future promotion of nuclear power generation has been discussed from various points of view. Ensuring national security requires down-toearth policies on energy as well as on defense and food supplies, together with diplomatic efforts and technologies that realize these policies. In the author’s opinion, in view of Japan’s poor fossil fuel resources and a worldwide increase in energy demand, particularly among emerging countries, nuclear power generation should be maintained with all possible measures taken to ensure safety until alternative power generation methods are developed that provide excellent safety, stability, and economy. Therefore, in light of the lessons learned from the experience of the Fukushima accident, the problems identified should be carefully examined and improvements should be made to revitalize nuclear power generation in Japan. With this awareness in mind, this article discusses the concept of the social responsibility of engineers and managers, i.e., the meaning of a sense of responsibility and compliance with laws and norms for business personnel, through personnel at Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc., (Tohoku Electric) at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake and achievements by the late Yanosuke Hirai, a former vice president of the company, who greatly influenced decisions on the premise height of the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant. Nowadays, the statements of engineers, policymakers, and managers are viewed less reliable than before. In such circumstances, reviewing the words and deeds of Mr. Susumu Yoda, a former vice president of Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc., (Tepco) who was involved in promoting nuclear power generation, we discuss the concept of the social responsibility of those involved in megatechnology. Finally, the author highlights a current question involving a basic problem regarding the concept of decision making in relation to problems including scientific uncertainty, and discuss the direction in which to proceed.

Cite this article as:

K. Sato, “A Study on Social Responsibility of Engineers and Managers,” J. Disaster Res., Vol.8 No.sp, pp. 730-736, 2013.

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References

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This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationa License.

[1] [1] The Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, “For the national arguments on measurement of energy and environment,” DEN-CHU-KEN TOPICS, Vol.11, May 2012 (in Japanese),
http://criepi.denken.or.jp/research/topics/pdf/201205vol11.pdf [accessed August 24, 2013]

[2] [2] Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc., “The day March 11, 2011 for each one – Onagawa Nuclear Power Plants –,” BRIDGE (house magazine), Dec. 2011 (in Japanese).

[3] [3] The Tsunami Evaluation Subcommittee, The Nuclear Civil Engineering Committee, JSCE (Japan Society of Civil Engineers) “Tsunami Assessment Method for Nuclear Power Plants in Japan,” Feb. 2002, http://committees.jsce.or.jp/ceofnp/system/files/JSCE Tsunami 060519.pdf [accessed August 24, 2013]

[4] [4] Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc., “Survey report on the tsunami on Onagawa Nuclear Power Plants and its effect on the safety,” BRIDGE (house magazine), Aug. 2011 (in Japanese).

[5] [5] J. Tohma, “Lessons learnt from tsunami disaster – on the viewpoint from activities on academic society,” Transactions of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan, Feb. 2012 (in Japanese),
http://www.aesj.or.jp/atomos/tachiyomi/2012-02mokuji.pdf [accessed August 24, 2013]

[6] [6] Nuclear Emergency Response Headquaters, Government of Japan, “Report of the Japanese Government to the IAEA Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety – The Accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Nuclear Power Stations –,” June 2011,
http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/kan/topics/201106/pdf/chapter iii-3.pdf [accessed August 24, 2013]

[7] [7] T. Ohshima, “Free talk on technology: Business management taking responsibility for the result,” July 2011 (in Japanese).

[8] [8] T. Ohshima, “Free talk on technology: Man living in the past – blistering/loquacity tongue –,” Jan. 2003 (in Japanese).

[9] [9] H. Kelsen, “Nature and Value of Democracy,” Bokutaku-sha, 1977 (Japanese translation by Ryuichi Nagao).

[10] [10] A. de Tocqueville, “Democracy in America,” Koudansha, 1987 (Japanese translation by Gentaro Ii).

[11] [11] W. Shakespeare, “Coriolanus,” Shincho-sha, 1971 (Japanese translation by Tsuneari Fukuda).

[12] [12] J. S. Fishkin, “When the People Speak: Deliberative Democracy and Public Consultation,” Hayakawa Shobo, April, 2011 (Japanese edition: edited by Yashunori Sone).

[13] [13] G. F. Johnson, “Deliberative Democracy For The Future,” Shinsensha, August 2011 (Japanese edition: edited and translated by Harutoshi Funabashi and Hiromi Nishiyauchi).