(UPDATED) Just In: Steel Frame Dropped into #Fukushima Reactor 3 Spent Fuel Pool by Accident

(UPDATE 9/24/2012) TEPCO released the video from the crane. See my latest post.

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(UPDATE) TEPCO has done the analysis of water in the Reactor 3 SFP, and the amount of cesium was pretty much the same as before the incident. From TEPCO Direct (9/22/2012):

Cesium 134: 2.2 x 10^3 Bq/cubic centimeter
Cesium 137: 3.6 x 10^3 Bq/cubic centimeter

Measurement done on September 21, 2012 (reference):

Cesium 134: 2.4 x 10^3 Bq/cubic centimeter
Cesium 137: 4.0 x 10^3 Bq/cubic centimeter

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Removal of debris on the operation floor of Reactor 3 at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant is being done by remote-controlled heavy equipment on the platforms built outside the reactor building. The system was devised by one of TEPCO's main subcontractor Kajima.

From Jiji Tsushin (9/22/2012, 4:54PM):

３号機プールに鉄骨落下＝重さ４７０キロ、福島第１－東電

Steel frame weighing 470 kilograms dropped into Reactor 3 Spent Fuel Pool at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, TEPCO says

東京電力は２２日、水素爆発した福島第１原発３号機原子炉建屋のがれき撤去作業中に、重さ約４７０キロの鉄骨が使用済み燃料プールに落下したと発表した。これまでのところ、周辺で放射線量に大きな変動はないという。

TEPCO announced on September 22 that a steel frame weighing about 470 kilograms dropped into the Spent Fuel Pool of Reactor 3 during the debris removal operation of the Reactor 3 building of Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant which had a hydrogen explosion. So far, there is no major increase in radiation levels nearby, TEPCO says.

東電によると、２２日午前１１時５分すぎ、３号機原子炉建屋５階の使用済み燃料プール脇にあるがれきのＨ鋼をクレーンでつかもうとしたところ、失敗。プールに滑落したという。

According to TEPCO, the accident happened at 11:05AM on September 22 when [the crane operator] tried to grab a piece of debris, an H steel lying next to the Spent Fuel Pool on the 5th floor of Reactor 3 building and failed. The H steel slid into the Spent Fuel Pool.

A steel beam weighing 470 kilograms shouldn't be very big. But according to this person who called TEPCO's Public Relations to ask about the incident, TEPCO is investigating, because the steel beam could damage the fuel assemblies.

Well, it's easy for TEPCO to say. The question is how they are going to do it. Debris removal of Reactor 3 is done by remote control for very good reasons. First, it's such a mess on the operating floor that the workers can't even go there. Second, radiation levels are just too high for the workers to go there. So, how is TEPCO going to investigate?

But since it is Saturday in Japan, TEPCO is not scheduling a press conference.

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