Stricken nuclear plant faces staffing difficulties – ‘The work environment is becoming more and more risky’
By Kenichi Iwasaki and Tsuyoshi Shimoji, Asahi Shimbun
30 March 2011 The prolonged crisis at the quake-stricken nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture is increasingly wearing down front-line workers, as the exhausting and dangerous work shows no signs of letting up. Companies supplying the workers say safety fears have grown, particularly since three workers were exposed to high levels of radiation last Thursday from leaked water at the No. 3 reactor of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. Although some workers continue to return to the plant to avert a catastrophe, others willing to help cool down the reactors acknowledge they are more concerned about their next paycheck. … Those who need to stay within the compound sleep on the floor of a tightly sealed room. They are given emergency rations twice a day. … The company has gradually increased the number of workers in an effort to reduce their burden. Another company with ties to TEPCO has set a radiation limit lower than the government’s standard of 250 millisieverts to make frequent replacements. Some of the workers have already reached the company-set limit. “The work environment is becoming more and more risky, so it seems not many employees are willing to go,” said a senior official. “We cannot force them to go. It’s been such a headache.” …
