Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

In Focus: Radiation Protection at Works Relating to TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident

Press release

1 May 2015
Office for Radiation Protection of Workers
Industrial Health Division
Occupational Safety and Health Department
Labour Standards Bureau
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

A Report Has Been Compiled on Methods etc. for Providing Health care and Exposure Dose Control During Emergency Works in Nuclear Facilities.

Here, the "Committee on the Long-term Healthcare of Workers, etc. at the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant" (chaired by Koji Mori, Professor of University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan) established by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare compiled a report.

The experts in the committee have investigated healthcare, exposure dose control, and medical care systems concerning workers during emergency works to be provided to emergency workers in nuclear facilities including the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

In the report, the items that should be provided to workers were compiled regarding the following items:

  1. Long-term health care including the period after unemployment, such as a medical examination of emergency workers
  2. Healthcare during emergency works
  3. Ensuring a medical care system in nuclear facilities during emergency works
  4. Mid- to long-term exposure dose control to be provided to the workers whose exposure doses are beyond the dose limit for regular radiation works
  5. Exposure dose control during emergency works
  6. Special educations to the emergency workers who will be engaged in exceptional emergency works

In response to this report, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will revise the Ordinance on Prevention of Ionizing Radiation Hazards (Ionizing Radiation Ordinance) and the ministerial guideline (see the note below), etc. by the autumn in 2015. It should be noted that public comments are due to be invited in advance of revision of the Ionizing Radiation Ordinance etc.

(Note) Guidelines on Maintaining and Improving Health of Emergency Workers at the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (11 October 2011; Public Notice No. 5)

Attachment
  1. Overview of the Report PDF 117KB
  2. Report PDF 653KB
  3. Annex 1 PDF 172KB
  4. Annex 2 PDF 51KB
  5. Annex 3 PDF 254KB
  6. Annex 4 PDF 65KB
  7. Annex 5 PDF 93KB