Fukushima crisis: radiation fears grow for low-paid heroes battling disaster

[Liberal_in_LA]

The nerve centre of the operations to contain the crisis is a heavily shielded building on the reactor site, manned by about 50 top engineers. But the rest of the workforce, from firefighters to welders to electricians, are drawn from a pool of semi-skilled labour who work for low wages. Many work for associated companies such as Hitachi, Watanabe's employer, Toshiba, and Toden Kogyo. Between shifts they are housed in a football stadium, J-Village, within the expanded 30km evacuation zone and brought in by bus.

A number were seasonal workers, using a job at the plant to supplement livelihoods as small farmers. Some, like Watanabe, have been hopping between jobs at nuclear plants for years.

Like much of Japan, Watanabe is in awe of their bravery. "Of course, someone has to go and do the job and maybe the people who went wanted to do the right thing," he said.

He does not want to be asked to make the same sacrifice. The 35-year-old had been working as a caretaker at an old people's home when he got his first job at another nuclear plant three years ago. Since then, he has bounced from job to job in the industry, working for below the average monthly wage.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/27/fukushima-crisis-workers-radiation-fears

[Teaser]

1. Low paid? Fuck...

they better drop some serious cash on these people. Drop some cash, and whatever the fuck else they want.

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. agreed! Hazard pay is warranted.

[ebayfool]

3. Rec'd! Crossposting to the energy forum ...

w/link & credit to yours - this explains alot @ those workers that got burned.

Makes me wanna kick someone's ass. A buncha someones high up the TEPCO food chain.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x283716

[PA Democrat]

4. The three workers who stepped in the highly radioactive water all worked for a subcontractor.

The guys were sent in with inadequate protection and you have to wonder if they were fully aware of the risks.

Furthermore, there is apparently an unspoken pressure on these workers not to turn down work even if it means exposing themselves to radiation above 100 millisieverts because it could mean their employer would lose "future orders" for their services. Employees' loyalty to their employer is still much stronger in Japan than here is the US.

More info on Fukushima workers at the link:

FOCUS: Nuclear plant workers have option to quit but not many doing so

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/81152.html