Worker’s death forces Fukushima nuclear plant cleanup to be halted
30 March 2014 4:39 AM IST
Tokyo Electric Power Co said it was the first time a labourer had died as a direct result of an accident inside the plant since the nuclear disaster in March 2011, the world’s worst since Chernobyl in 1986. An earthquake and tsunami struck the plant, 220 km northeast of Tokyo, sparking triple nuclear meltdowns, forcing more than 160,000 residents to flee from nearby towns and contaminating water, food and air.
‘In the three years since the disaster, we had not had any worker deaths caused by work (inside the plant). The fact that such a serious accident has occurred is deeply regrettable,’ said Tepco spokesman Masayuki Ono. The utility will suspend cleanup operations for an immediate safety inspection, Kyodo newswire reported.
Most workers inside the plant are contract labourers hired by multiple layers of construction companies. An investigation last year found widespread labour abuses, where workers said their pay was skimmed and there was little scrutiny over working conditions inside the plant.
‘In the three years since the disaster, we had not had any worker deaths caused by work (inside the plant). The fact that such a serious accident has occurred is deeply regrettable,’ said Tepco spokesman Masayuki Ono. The utility will suspend cleanup operations for an immediate safety inspection, Kyodo newswire reported.
Most workers inside the plant are contract labourers hired by multiple layers of construction companies. An investigation last year found widespread labour abuses, where workers said their pay was skimmed and there was little scrutiny over working conditions inside the plant.
Next Story
