"A comprehensive, though specialized, summary of worker safety in
response to Fukushima."
— Kirkus Reviews
The magnitude 9.0 earthquake that struck the east coast of Japan in 2011 caused serious damage to the Fukushima Daiichi Atomic Power Plant, causing meltdowns rated level 7 in three reactors and the release of radioactive material.
The situation required the immediate response of emergency personnel and decontamination workers, whose radiation protection fell under the purview of Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
Shojiro Yasui was one of the officers in charge of the emergency response teams. Since 2011, he has written a series of papers outlining the lessons learned from Fukushima regarding occupational health and safety in the face of radiation threat.
Much has been written about the Fukushima disaster, but relatively little has been published concerning radiation protection for workers. Yasui’s papers cover the incident in four broad categories:
- Emergency response
- Post-emergency response
- Decontamination and remediation
- Actions for the future
Of interest to nuclear operator personnel, government officials, and anyone interested in radiation hazards and emergency response, this collection of papers—written by a knowledgeable insider—offer valuable insights, guidance, and references relating to best practices during radiation exposure. What has been learned at Fukushima can improve occupational health and safety throughout the energy industry.
In the second edition, a new chapter is added for post-accident procedures for radiation protection and healthcare for emergency workers. Another new chapter is appended for the literature review on radiation protection for emergency response relating Fukushima Nuclear Disaster.