Wednesday, August 31, 2011

#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: 2 Workers Got Wet with Highly Contaminated Water

The workers were working on the "equipment" - I think they mean either Kurion's or Toshiba's cesium absorption vessels - that has absorbed radioactive cesium from the highly contaminated water. From the word used in the article below (かぶった), it seems the workers may have been "drenched", not just "splashed" with the water. One of them was wearing the Tyvek suits only.

From Asahi Shinbun (8/31/2011):

東京電力は31日、福島第一原発で高濃度の放射能汚染水を処理した機器の管理作業をしていた協力会社の作業員2人が、誤って放射能汚染水をかぶったと発表した。拭き取って汚染は取り除き、被曝(ひばく)線量は0.14~0.16ミリシーベルトだったという。

TEPCO announced on August 31 that two workers from TEPCO's affiliate company [could be two separate companies] got covered with contaminated water as they were conducting the control work of equipment used to process the highly contaminated water at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant. The contamination was wiped off, and the workers' radiation exposure was 0.14 to 0.16 millisievert.

 東電によると、作業員は高濃度汚染水から放射性セシウムを吸着させた機器を保管する場所で、一人がはしごの上で機器の水抜き作業をし、もう一人がはしごを支えていた。31日午前9時35分ごろ、ホースを外したところ水が漏れ出たという。

According to TEPCO, the accident happened in the facility where the equipment that absorbed radioactive cesium from the highly contaminated water was stored. One worker was standing on the ladder draining water from the equipment and the other worker was holding the ladder secure. When the worker on the ladder removed the hose [for draining water] at about 9:35AM on August 31, the water leaked.

 作業をしていた一人はかっぱを着用していたが、はしごを支えていた一人は不織布の防護服で、染みこんだ水が体に直接付着した。放射線測定器で、基準の10倍近い値を計測した。口や鼻などから体内へ放射性物質を取り込んだ可能性はないという。

The worker [on the ladder] was wearing the water-proof jacket, but the worker who was holding the ladder was wearing the Tyvek suits only. The contaminated water penetrated the Tyvek suits and came in direct contact with the skin. The radiation survey meter showed 10 times the standard level. According to TEPCO, there is no possibility that the worker ingested radioactive materials through the nose or the mouth.

"かぶる" in Japanese means one gets covered with a substance falling from above. TEPCO hasn't tested what nuclides are there in the contaminated water during or after the treatment, and has said it has no plans to do so unless it is necessary (meaning when they are ordered to test by the regulatory agency NISA).

TEPCO's people who appear regularly on the press conferences often seem genuinely puzzled why they have to do certain things (like analyzing the treated water for beta radiation or analyzing the filter) without being specifically ordered by the government.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The workers finally got that shower TEPCO has been promising now they can have glow in the dark wet T-shirt contests every time the treatment plant goes down. You'd think they would be using divers dry suits if there was a chance of inundation during the servicing process. A water proof jacket is only as good as the wrist and neck seals.

Anonymous said...

"TEPCO's people who appear regularly on the press conferences often seem genuinely puzzled why they have to do certain things (like analyzing the treated water for beta radiation or analyzing the filter) without being specifically ordered by the government."

The antics of feigned stupidity.

Anonymous said...

NHK just reported that another guy got drenched today servicing the water treatment plant. TEPCO has promised to be more careful with workers safety for the millionth time.

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