How did companies and occupational health cope with the Great East Japan Earthquake? : Prompt report from questionnaire and discussion at a multidisciplinary occupational health staff society

Introduction
The Great East Japan Earthquake on 3.11, one of the most powerful earthquakes in the Japanese history, is well-known in the world and has caused serious tragedies including lots of victims and destruction of houses and buildings. Whether a company is located in the disaster area or not, this earthquake disaster has a serious effect on business continuation and occupational health activities. However, there are few reports about these topics yet.

Methods
To discuss this topic, we’ll present the fact of this disaster and results of a questionnaire survey in SANPO Society (A study group of multidisciplinary OH experts) at the early part of April, 2011. We’ll also report a case study of the company correspondence of the earthquake in the disaster area including how to initiate leadership when a disaster occurred, routine risk management, making an earthquake countermeasure manual.

Results
The death toll was 15,188, those injured were 5,337, and the number of missing reported to the police was 8,742 at May 23, 2011. According to the 150 valid responses, many companies took emergency actions that should be done, including establishment of an earthquake countermeasure headquarter, confirming safety of their employees and their families, investigating and restoring damage conditions of their branch offices. Actions commonly seen were rolling blackouts and electricity saving, followed by collecting donation money for the affected area. Almost a half of the respondent companies required care for their employees who claimed illness. Fairly not seen included periodical information dissemination to their employees, consumers, shareholders and the community.

Discussion
Because of compounding of the earthquake, the tsunami and the accident of the nuclear power plant, this earthquake disaster shows aspect of the prolongation more and more. To confront this great disaster, the long-term interdisciplinary action with the government, the industry and experts is considered to be extremely necessary.