NHK video on Fukushima workers

December 25, 2013

Workers face Uphill Struggle

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/newsline/201312250500.html

3,500 workers work in Fukushima Daiichi every day.

An NHK journalist was allowed to follow the workers who are removing fuel rods off reactor No.4.

The protective gear itself is a major impediment (eg.3 layers of gloves make it difficult to move your fingers, the mask makes it very difficult to breathe normally and of course to communicate). It limits the amount of work you can actually do.

Workers are “hot, thirsty and exhausted”.

They are screened after every shift (at least while the journalist was present).

The success of the decommissioning process rests entirely on their shoulders.