Another Decon Worker Dies in Hirono-Machi, Fukushima in a Government Decon Project

No effect of radiation at all, says the government agency in charge of "decontaminating" the former "planned evacuation zone" in which Hirono-machi is located, between 20 and 30 kilometer radius from Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant.

The 59-year-old worker from Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture started to work in the decon project in December, and his cumulative radiation exposure until January 16, 2012 was 102 microsieverts.

Decontamination work in Hirono-machi officially started in mid December. The annual radiation exposure limit for decontamination workers is 50 millisieverts under the new law on decontamination effective as of January 1, 2012.

Ms. Emiko Numauchi of Minami Soma City, Fukushima, aka "Numayu", has commented in her blog that she sees and hears about people living in the temporary housing after the earthquake/tsunami/nuke accident in cities and towns in Fukushima being recruited for the decontamination work, as there aren't many jobs available for the displaced people. I suspect this 59-year-old worker from Iwaki City may be one of those people.

From Sankei Shinbun (1/17/2012):

　日本原子力研究開発機構などは１７日、東京電力福島第１原発事故を受け福島県広野町で実施している国の除染モデル実証事業で、同県いわき市の男性作業員（５９）が除染作業中に倒れ、搬送先の病院で死亡したと発表した。死因は調査中。

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency announced on January 17 that a 59-year-old worker from Iwaki City, Fukushima collapsed during the decontamination model work being carried out in Hirono-machi and died at the hospital. The cause of death is under examination.

　原子力機構によると、男性は同日午前９時から広野町下北迫地区で６人の作業員と土の表面を削り取る作業をしていた。同１１時５０分過ぎ、男性がいびきをかいて倒れているのを別の作業員が発見した。

According to the JAEA, the worker was scraping the surface soil with 6 other workers in Shimokitaba District of Hirono-machi since 9AM on January 17. He was found collapsed, snoring heavily, by the co-worker at 11:50AM.

　男性は昨年１２月から同町での除染活動に参加。今月１６日までの積算線量は１０２マイクロシーベルトで、本人から持病の申告はなかったという。

The worker had been doing the decontamination work in Hirono-machi since December last year. His cumulative radiation exposure till January 16, 2012 was 102 microsieverts, and there was no declaration from the worker of any existing illness, says JAEA.

From Jiji Tsushin (1/17/2011):

日本原子力研究開発機構福島技術本部などは１７日、福島県広野町周辺で実施している除染モデル事業で働いていた男性（５９）が同日の作業中に死亡したと発表した。放射線被ばくが影響した可能性は極めて低いという。同機構の除染事業での死亡は２人目。

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency Fukushima Headquarters announced on January 17 that a worker, age 59, died during work that day. According to the Agency, the possibility is extremely low that the radiation exposure played a role in any way. It is the 2nd death in the decontamination work operated by the Agency.

A worker died in the decon work in Date City in December last year. The death had "nothing to do with radiation", because he died in a car during the lunch break. This second worker may have collapsed during the decon work, but he died at the hospital. Therefore, the death has "nothing to do with radiation".

That's the "Newspeak" a la the Japanese government and TEPCO. You would have to die on the spot. But then, as TEPCO did for the worker at Fukushima I Nuke Plant who clearly died at the plant on January 12, you would still get transported to the hospital, only to be pronounced dead on arrival; technically you still die at the hospital, not at Fuku I, so radiation has nothing to do with it...

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