Radiation monitors not given to each worker

[ReturnoftheDjedi]

Radiation monitors not given to each worker

NHK has learned that Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, has not provided every worker at the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant with radiation monitors, breaking government rules.

High levels of contamination have been detected at the Daiichi power complex following a series of hydrogen explosions that have scattered radioactive substances.

TEPCO says the quake destroyed many radiation monitors, so in some work groups only leaders have them, leaving others struggling to manage exposure.

The government requires companies to provide each individual worker with a radiation monitor when working under such conditions.

One worker who helped restore electricity to the plant, says each man must have been exposed to different levels of radiation, and that he has no idea how much contamination he was exposed to.

TEPCO says that those without monitors are assigned to low-radiation work, and that safety measures are in place.

The health ministry says exposure to large amounts of radiation is always a possibility during a nuclear power plant accident. It adds if the claims are true it is a serious problem, and that it plans to investigate the company's safety management.
Thursday, March 31, 2011 19:37 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/31_31.html

They should be prosecuted for this type of negligence.
They are basically trying to put out a fire with people.

All rules are out the door.

[Throckmorton]

1. OK, Ill say it, if this is true, Jesus Tap Dancing Christ!

Even clunky old electroscope dosimeters would be better than nothing at all.

[crickets]

2. The lack of preparation and backup contingencies is appalling.

Can't they at least call around to other plants and borrow some radiation monitors? Order some more? Ask international sources to send some? Having someone also send over some decent FOOD and extra blankets might not be a bad idea. TEPCO's management is pegging the incompetence meter over and over again. My heart goes out to the workers.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4794533

Japanese Plant Had Barebones Risk Plan

TOKYO—Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s disaster plans greatly underestimated the scope of a potential accident at its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, calling for only one stretcher, one satellite phone and 50 protective suits in case of emergencies.

Disaster-response documents for Fukushima Daiichi, examined by The Wall Street Journal, also contain few guidelines for obtaining outside help, providing insight into why Japan struggled to cope with a nuclear crisis after an earthquake and tsunami devastated the facility.

[jimlup]

3. This is absolutely and incredibly stupid

[Dems to Win]

4. More evidence of incompetence and lack of urgency by TEPCO management

Over and over again, I have felt that the TEPCO management and Japanese/international governments are not acting with the urgency and level of effort required by this crisis.

From food and protective gear for the workers to adequate sized pumps to effective and safe evacuation boundaries for citizens, they are far too little and a day or a week too late.

Every spare radiation monitor in Japan should already be on site, from the 55 nuclear plants in Japan. And also medical labs, etc. It could have happened, if TEPCO had simply made the phone calls and paid the money to get them.

It fills me with dread and doom. whatever catastrophe yet possible at Fukushima will likely happen, in time. They are not applying the scale of effort required to avert further disaster, it appears to me.

I hope I'm wrong.

[Yo_Mama]

5. The worst is that I'm not even surprised!

Horrified, but not surprised.

[lostnfound]

6. Incompetent management is NEVER a problem at nuclear plants

This is a once in a brazil ion occurrence. It will NEVER happen again that operators are breaking rules because, you know, they are so cons Ken Ilya and such sticklers for the rules. You can't use this ONE situation and generalize.

Or something like that.

:sarcasm: