Assessing the effect of mandatory progress reporting on treatment requirements identified during health examinations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant: A time series analysis

Mori, Koji; Tateishi, Seiichiro; Kubo, Toshikazu; Kobayashi, Yuichi; Hiraoka, Ko; Kawashita, Futoshi; Hayashi, Takeshi; Kiyomoto, Yoshifumi; Kobashi, Masaki; Fukai, Kota; Tahara, Hiroyuki; Okazaki, Ryo; Ogami, Akira; Igari, Kazuyuki; Suzuki, Katsunori; Kikuchi, Hiroshi; Sakai, Kazuhiro; Yoshikawa, Toru; Fujino, Yoshihisa

doi:10.1002/1348-9585.12111

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…9 Also, new health management procedures were introduced in July 2016 at the TEPCO-operated FDNPS as part of the fitness-for-duty program. 10 Such organizational autonomy and increased responsiveness to changes in the environment are essential to improving occupational health. 11 On the other hand, although there have been few reports on decontamination workers, it has been pointed out that the occupational health management of these workers is weaker than that of workers at nuclear power plants.…”

Section: Issues For Decontamination Workersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using the lessons learned through these experiences, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare recognized that properly controlling and implementing medical and health care management in response to a similar accident would require sufficient measures and systematic preparation 9 . Also, new health management procedures were introduced in July 2016 at the TEPCO‐operated FDNPS as part of the fitness‐for‐duty program 10 . Such organizational autonomy and increased responsiveness to changes in the environment are essential to improving occupational health 11 …”

Section: Occupational Health Issues For Decontamination Workersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A brief overview of the registration system of radiation exposure doses for decontamination workers and their occupational health management

Fukunaga

Asano

2022

Journal of Occupational Health

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Following the Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011, decontamination and related works have been carried out over a wide area, mainly in Fukushima Prefecture. In November 2013, the Radiation Dose Registration and Management System for Decontamination Workers was established to manage the occupational exposure doses of workers engaged in such work. The Radiation Effects Association mainly operates the registration system. This paper summarizes existing reports on this system and occupational health issues among decontamination workers. We collected previous reports and related regulatory laws on occupational health management for decontamination workers working in Fukushima Prefecture, summarized the outline of the radiation dose registration and management system for these decontamination workers, and discussed future issues related to their health management. Approximately 100 000 decontamination workers were registered in the system as of 2020, but none showed radiation doses that exceeded the dose limit. To our knowledge, there have been no reports of decontamination workers presenting physical symptoms suspected to be related to radiation exposure. On the other hand, heatstroke countermeasures and anxiety about radiation exposure have been reported as possible issues in the occupational health management of decontamination workers. Although decontamination workers are unlikely to experience biological effects from radiation exposure, epidemiological studies are needed to examine this evidence. Further analysis is also needed on non‐radiation effects, which pose occupational health concerns for decontamination workers. The registration system would allow for tracking decontamination workers, providing data for analyzing radiological and non‐radiological effects.

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Section: Issues For Decontamination Workersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Occupational Health Issues For Decontamination Workersmentioning

confidence: 99%

A brief overview of the registration system of radiation exposure doses for decontamination workers and their occupational health management

Fukunaga

Asano

2022

Journal of Occupational Health

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“…3 This guidance precipitated comprehensive follow-up actions based on the results of health examination. 4 Consequently, there was a decline in workers necessitating medical treatment or detailed examinations, 5 and although it is hard to ascertain a direct link, the annual rate of sudden deaths at FDNPP dropped to around 1. 6 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health and productivity management initiatives to promote worker health and improve the workplace environment at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant

Mori,

Ito,

Moriya

et al. 2024

Journal of Occupational Health

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Background: Since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (FDNPP) accident in 2011, measures were taken to address occupational health risk, such as heat illness and infectious diseases, and ensuring fitness for duty with the Tokyo Electric Power Company and its contractors. However, with the decommissioning operations to span several decades and an aging workforce, there arose a need for proactive occupational health strategies that not only addressed these risks but also promoted employee health and created a comfortable work environment. With the Japanese government’s promotion of health and productivity management (HPM) for corporations, an HPM-based initiative was launched at the FDNPP in 2019. Case: We designed an HPM questionnaire tailored to the unique conditions at the FDNPP for contractors in 2019. Subsequently, we have adjusted the questionnaire annually in light of evolving societal contexts and insights derived from contractors’ feedback. This initiative also involved the annual recognition of outstanding contractors. These efforts have led to a steady increase in the number of contractors participating in the HPM survey, with respondents' scores continually improving. We also emphasized disseminating HPM practices from contractors to their subcontractors due to the complex subcontracting structure at FDNPP, and our results showed that more contractors have been expanding these efforts to their subcontractors. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that individual contractors are steadily enhancing their HPM efforts. We are committed to continually offering support to advance HPM throughout the FDNPP.

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Follow-Up of Occupational Health Issues and Measures Taken in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Where Decommissioning Work Has Continued Over 6 Years Since 2014

Mori

Tateishi

Kubo

et al. 2020

Journal of Occupational &Amp; Environmental Medicine

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Objectives: To follow up arising occupational health (OH) issues, measures taken, and their performances in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant since 2014, and thus share experiences and extend the contribution of OH to long-term decommissioning work and preparation for future disasters. Methods: Necessary information from official reports and through the OH-related activities involved was collected and analyzed. Results: The issues were categorized into establishment of the OH management system, three individual issues, and others. During the 6 years until end 2019, the OH management system has been strengthened and OH measures have been enriched gradually by visualizing the broader picture, even though some resistance and problems have been encountered. Conclusions: Improvement in the autonomy of contractors and their ability to respond to environmental changes is necessary.

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Assessing the effect of mandatory progress reporting on treatment requirements identified during health examinations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant: A time series analysis

Abstract: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creat ive Commo ns Attri bution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cited by 3 publications

References 7 publications

A brief overview of the registration system of radiation exposure doses for decontamination workers and their occupational health management

A brief overview of the registration system of radiation exposure doses for decontamination workers and their occupational health management

Health and productivity management initiatives to promote worker health and improve the workplace environment at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant

Follow-Up of Occupational Health Issues and Measures Taken in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Where Decommissioning Work Has Continued Over 6 Years Since 2014

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