Photo gallery: TEPCO tries to make life bearable for workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant

We’ve had a number of disturbing reports about the treatment of workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Housed in conditions that can be described charitably as “Spartan”, thousands of workers have slept on mats in large common rooms. Workers who brave the high radiation fields inside the reactor buildings are in constant danger of being overwhelmed by high temperature and humidity.

Workers at the tsunami-damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant rest inside a gymnasium that serves as their temporary dormitory, 16 April 2011. AP / Takeshi Tanigawa

Workers examine puddles on the first floor, inside the reactor building of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Unit 2, 18 May 2011. TEPCO

TEPCO seems to have received the message and has posted photos of its efforts to improve the lot of workers. Although not explained on the Photos for Press page, it appears that the construction of “rest areas” has been central to this effort. Isolation from radiation exposure seems to be the main concern; each rest area has blowers installed to move air (and filter it?), as well as packaged water dispensing machines. There’s no surplus of luxury in the new arrangements; if these “rest areas” are an improvement, you can imagine what it was like for workers in previous months.

The Hitachi/GE rest area at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, June 2011. The rest area is constructed with modular buildings. TEPCO

Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant remove contaminated clothing before entering the Hitachi/GE rest area, June 2011. TEPCO

Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant are scanned for radiation before entering the Hitachi/GE rest area, June 2011. TEPCO

Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant take a break in the Hitachi/GE rest area, June 2011. TEPCO

Inside the rest area in front of the Main Anti-Earthquake Building, June 2011. Walls and floors have been covered with a pink fabric, presumably for quick disposal after contamination. TEPCO

Hallway and a local ‘exhauster’ (blower) in the rest area in front of Main Anti-Earthquake Building, June 2011. TEPCO

Inside the rest area on the 2nd floor of Unit5/6 Service Building at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, June 2011. TEPCO

Drinkable water machine inside the rest area on the 2nd floor of Unit5/6 Service Building at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, June 2011. TEPCO

A worker sits in the rest area in the Unit 5/6 Service Building’s 1st floor doorway, June 2011. TEPCO

Rest area for operators of the Water Treatment Facility at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Walls and floors have been covered with plastic sheets, presumably for quick disposal after contamination, June 2011. TEPCO

Local ‘exhausters’ (blowers) in the rest area for operators of the Water Treatment Facility at the Fukushima nuclear plant, June 2011. TEPCO

A water-soaked ‘necktie’ for cooling workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Heat stroke is an ever-present danger for workers inside the reactor buildings. TEPCO