Raising the skills of nuclear workers

March 17, 2014

LDP mulls new credentials for nuclear workers

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140317_36.html

Japan's ruling party is considering creating new state credentials for workers involved in the cleanup of radioactive debris or the decommissioning of nuclear power plants.

The move comes as the need for skilled technicians in these areas grows. Work in Fukushima to cleanup radioactive materials from the nuclear accident has fallen behind schedule. The task of decommissioning aging reactors in the coming decades will also require more experts.

Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers point out that raising the skills of nuclear industry employees will improve safety overall and help minimize incidents of worker exposure at plants.

They are planning to create 3 levels of national qualifications in such areas as decontamination, reactor maintenance and radiation monitoring.

At present, the government has only one state license for nuclear workers, which covers management of reactor operations