nuclear-news

Falsified radiation doses for Fukushima workers

the executive instructed about four workers to make the [lead shield] covers… 

Radiation dosages ‘falsified’ The Yomiuri Shimbun/Asia News Network Asia One News, Jul 23, 2012 The health ministry is investigating allegations that a construction company ordered its workers at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant to cover their dosimeters with lead to indicate lower exposure levels, according to sources. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry searched several sites in Fukushima Prefecture on Saturday and confirmed working conditions at the nuclear plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co.

According to the ministry, the construction company that issued the illegal instruction is Build-up, which is based in Namie, Fukushima Prefecture.

Build-up was a subcontractor of Tokyo Energy & Systems Inc., a
Tokyo-based group firm of TEPCO entrusted with restoring the plant,
according to sources.

In December, a Build-up executive allegedly instructed nine onsite
workers to place lead covers over their dosimeters so they would
record lower radiation exposure levels.

Under the Industrial Safety and Health Law, such workers are permitted
to receive a maximum exposure of 50 millisieverts a year. Employers
are required to accurately measure workers’ exposure levels.

If the executive ordered the workers to cover their meters to
manipulate exposure readings, it would constitute a violation of the
law that is punishable by up to six months in prison or a fine of up
500,000 yen……
Later Saturday, Build-up President Takashi Wada admitted to The
Yomiuri Shimbun that the executive had ordered nine workers to work
for about three hours while covering their dosimeters with lead.

Wada said he spoke with the executive who supervised the on-site work
over the telephone Saturday.

The executive reportedly told the president: “When I went to the site
in advance, I was surprised that the alarm on my active personal
dosimeter started ringing so quickly. To reduce radiation exposure
readings, I came up with the idea of using a lead shield.”

Wada said the executive admitted workers at the plant had used lead covers.

Wada, 57, said the workers told him the executive instructed about
four workers to make the covers…
http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20120723-360707.html

July 23, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Fukushima 2012, secrets,lies and civil liberties