Transition of Occupational Health Issues Associated With Stabilization and Decommissioning of the Nuclear Reactors in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Through 2013

Kubo

et al. 2018

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Background: Numerous workers have participated in recovery efforts following the accident that occurred at the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant after the Great East Japan Earthquake. These workers, belonging to various companies, have been engaged in various tasks since the accident. Given the hazards and stress involved in these tasks and the relatively long time required to transport sick or injured workers to medical institutions, it became necessary to quickly implement a more stringent management program for fitness for duty than in ordinary work environments. Case: It took considerable time to introduce and improve a fitness-for-duty program because of several concerns. Various efforts were conducted, sometimes triggered by guidance from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), but the implementation of the program was insufficient. In April 2016, a new program was initiated in which all primary contractors confirmed that their subcontractors had achieved five conditions for workers' fitness for duty on the basis of guidance from the MHLW and occupational health experts. TEPCO confirmed that all primary contractors had implemented the program successfully as of the end of November 2016. Conclusion: Following a disaster, even though the parties concerned understand the necessity of fitness-for-duty programs and that companies in high positions have responsibilities beyond their legal requirements, it is highly possible that they may hesitate to introduce such programs without guidance from the government. It is necessary to prepare a governmental framework and professional resources that introduce these stringent management programs quickly.

Section: ) Clarification Of Achievement Targets For All Workers and mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Continuous improvement of fitness‐for‐duty management programs for workers engaging in stabilizing and decommissioning work at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

Kubo

et al. 2018

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“…Mori et al 1) reported the process of establishing an OH management system for the actions at the NPP. On June 10, 2011, the Japanese government issued a guidance paper explaining that TEPCO and the primary contractors were expected to play broader roles in this regard: they thus began developing an OH management system according to the guidance on preventing heat stress.…”

Section: Reports Of Governmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mori et al 1) reported efforts to prevent heat illness. The program established in summer 2011 was enhanced and implemented in 2012 and 2013.…”

Section: Reports Of Governmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Actions at the NPP shifted from emergency response to cooling of fuel rods, stabilization of the reactors by establishing cooling systems, and decommissioning of the reactors. A large number of employees of TEPCO, manufacturers of the nuclear reactors, construction companies, and their contractors were engaged in those actions 1) . Members of the Self-Defense Forces 2) , firefighters, police, and medical personnel 3,4) were dispatched to the disaster area, including inside the NPP; they were engaged in various operations, such as cooling nuclear reactors, rescue work, and evacuating residents, at the early stage of the disaster.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Review of health issues of workers engaged in operations related to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

Hiraoka

2015

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Review of health issues of workers engaged in operations related to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant: Koh Hiraoka, et al. Occupational Health Training Center, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan Objective The aim of this review was to summarize the lessons learned from the experience in protecting the health of workers engaged in operations following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Methods We reviewed all types of scientific papers examining workers’ health found in Medline and Web of Sciences as well as some official reports published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan and other governmental institutes. Results The papers and reports were classified into those investigating workers at the Fukushima Daiichi and Daini NPPs, workers engaged in decontamination operations in designated areas, and other workers. Regarding workers at the NPPs, many efforts were made to establish an emergency‐care and occupational health system. Risk management efforts were undertaken for radiation exposure, heat stress, psychological stress, outbreak of infectious diseases, and fitness for work. Only a few reports dealt with decontamination workers and others; however, the health management of these workers was clearly weaker than that for workers at the NPPs. Conclusions Many lessons can be learned from what occurred. That knowledge can be applied to ongoing decommissioning work and to future disasters. In addition, it is necessary to study the long‐term health effects of radiation exposure and to accumulate data about the health of workers engaged in decontamination work and other areas.

Assessing the effect of mandatory progress reporting on treatment requirements identified during health examinations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant: A time series analysis

Kubo

et al. 2020

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