Applying ISO14001 to improve risk-crisis management

Nishida, Nobuho

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is constructing an Underground Research Laboratory in Mizunami in the vicinity of its Tono Geoscience Centre (TGC). Waste water from the construction including groundwater inflow into the shafts and drifts had been treated before released into the local drainage system. However in October 2005, it was found in the local river water that the concentration level of fluorine and boron was exceeding the environmental standard set by the law and the construction and drainage was immediately suspended. In order to conquer this incident, TGC had chosen the Environmental Management System (EMS) which is based on the ISO14001 standard to improve its Risk-Crisis management capabilities. As a result, such capabilities have been substantially improved by advancing temporary system to sustainable system.