shows similar symptom to it, although many people point out the importance of
comprehensive accident investigation and reflection from its result, and actually try
to carry out those processes. People often notice that we are taking wrong trajectory
again, but it is always difficult to breakthrough it. Why do we have to have such
frustrating, regrettable and disappointing experiences again and again in many
fields of modern technical enterprise? The author would try to explore the background of this aporia from the point of view of sociology of science and technology. This is not based on strict empirical analysis, but would rather be something
discursive illustration. The author, however, believes that it should still be suggestive to stimulate the interdisciplinary discussions to elaborate the concept of
“resilience.” This chapter will also touch upon the ethical issues and their strong
relation to the post-accident social learning process.
2 Post-Fukushima Accident Investigation and After
It is common understanding that deliberate, comprehensive and careful investigation for terrible technological accidents is essentially important and must be done
officially. This tradition had evolved especially well in Anglo-Saxon countries such
as the United Kigdom and the USA since nineteenth century. In the mid twentieth
century, the modern accident investigation paradigm was established in these
countries. These are well-known early cases that the Tacoma Narrows Bridge
collapse in 1940 and the Comet disasters in 1954. In the former case, the US
Government established the Board of Engineers consisted of the three experienced
engineers under the Federal Works Agency. They conducted a comprehensive
scientific survey on the cause of devastating shake that destroyed the just
four-months-old suspension bridge and provided the findings on important aerodynamic phenomenon–self-induced vibration. It opened our eyes on the importance
of aerodynamic considerations to design and construct safer suspension bridges and
the lesson encouraged the progress of research and development in the relevant
engineering fields.
Also, in the later case, a couple of in-flight disintegration accidents of the
world-first jet airliner called for the world-first modern, systematic and uncompromised airplane accident investigation by the RAE (Royal Aircraft
Establishment) with the strong commitment of then UK Prime Minister W.
Churchill. They let us know many things about both of the mechanism of metallic
fatigue and the methods of aviation accident investigation. All of those contributed
a conspicuous progress of aviation safety.
Such a great success in the early stage of modern technology strongly imprinted
us the effectiveness and necessity of post-accident investigation to have technological improvement (especially in terms of engineering safety) based on the lessons of tragic disaster. It meant the progress of our technology, and the society. It
meant the prevention of the next similar disaster. It did make amends for the victims
and their families of the accident. Especially, it is the most successful that accident
158
K. Juraku
comprehensive accident investigation and reflection from its result, and actually try
to carry out those processes. People often notice that we are taking wrong trajectory
again, but it is always difficult to breakthrough it. Why do we have to have such
frustrating, regrettable and disappointing experiences again and again in many
fields of modern technical enterprise? The author would try to explore the background of this aporia from the point of view of sociology of science and technology. This is not based on strict empirical analysis, but would rather be something
discursive illustration. The author, however, believes that it should still be suggestive to stimulate the interdisciplinary discussions to elaborate the concept of
“resilience.” This chapter will also touch upon the ethical issues and their strong
relation to the post-accident social learning process.
2 Post-Fukushima Accident Investigation and After
It is common understanding that deliberate, comprehensive and careful investigation for terrible technological accidents is essentially important and must be done
officially. This tradition had evolved especially well in Anglo-Saxon countries such
as the United Kigdom and the USA since nineteenth century. In the mid twentieth
century, the modern accident investigation paradigm was established in these
countries. These are well-known early cases that the Tacoma Narrows Bridge
collapse in 1940 and the Comet disasters in 1954. In the former case, the US
Government established the Board of Engineers consisted of the three experienced
engineers under the Federal Works Agency. They conducted a comprehensive
scientific survey on the cause of devastating shake that destroyed the just
four-months-old suspension bridge and provided the findings on important aerodynamic phenomenon–self-induced vibration. It opened our eyes on the importance
of aerodynamic considerations to design and construct safer suspension bridges and
the lesson encouraged the progress of research and development in the relevant
engineering fields.
Also, in the later case, a couple of in-flight disintegration accidents of the
world-first jet airliner called for the world-first modern, systematic and uncompromised airplane accident investigation by the RAE (Royal Aircraft
Establishment) with the strong commitment of then UK Prime Minister W.
Churchill. They let us know many things about both of the mechanism of metallic
fatigue and the methods of aviation accident investigation. All of those contributed
a conspicuous progress of aviation safety.
Such a great success in the early stage of modern technology strongly imprinted
us the effectiveness and necessity of post-accident investigation to have technological improvement (especially in terms of engineering safety) based on the lessons of tragic disaster. It meant the progress of our technology, and the society. It
meant the prevention of the next similar disaster. It did make amends for the victims
and their families of the accident. Especially, it is the most successful that accident
158
K. Juraku