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14 July, 2005ICEM News Release No. 56/1999
Japan's electricity companies have now sent more than 500 specialised workers to the Tokaimura nuclear fuel processing plant to deal with the aftermath of yesterday's serious accident there, the Japanese Federation of Electric Power Workers' Unions (Denryokusoren) reports.
The union federation today called for urgent safety measures to protect the clean-up workers. It also said that it should not have been possible for yesterday's "criticality accident" to happen.
Following is a full translation of the statement issued this afternoon by Kiyoshi Hamano, General Secretary of Denryokusoren:
A critical nuclear accident has occurred at the JCO nuclear fuel processing plant in Tokaimura, Ibaragi Prefecture.
As a result of this serious accident, many workers at the site and others have been exposed to radiation, and the surrounding area has been polluted.
For many years, Denryokusoren has been working to achieve nuclear safety, as well as to secure public trust in nuclear generation.
Denryokusoren believes that it should not have been possible for this criticality accident to occur, and regrets the fact that the accident took place.
This accident happened at a site where Denryokusoren is not directly active. However, Denryokusoren believes that the safety of the general public, as well as full confidence in nuclear generation, is essential, and that the use of nuclear generation must be based on a national consensus.
Therefore, Denryokusoren will demand that the relevant parties and authorities conduct a thorough investigation of the causes of the accident, and will continue to act for the achievement of a mature safety culture within the Japanese nuclear industry.
Furthermore, the electric power companies in Japan, in response to an urgent request from the Japanese Natural Resource and Energy Agency, have sent their specialised technical workforce, together with material assistance, to the accident site.
Denryokusoren believes that full cooperation with this assistance is necessary. But the safety of the more than 500 electric power workers sent to the site of the accident is essential.
Therefore, Denryokusoren has today, through the Japanese Electric Power Industry Association, requested the electric power companies to ensure the complete safety of our fellow-workers who are now working at the accident site.
[end of statement]
At the global level, Denryokusoren is affiliated to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).
The union federation today called for urgent safety measures to protect the clean-up workers. It also said that it should not have been possible for yesterday's "criticality accident" to happen.
Following is a full translation of the statement issued this afternoon by Kiyoshi Hamano, General Secretary of Denryokusoren:
A critical nuclear accident has occurred at the JCO nuclear fuel processing plant in Tokaimura, Ibaragi Prefecture.
As a result of this serious accident, many workers at the site and others have been exposed to radiation, and the surrounding area has been polluted.
For many years, Denryokusoren has been working to achieve nuclear safety, as well as to secure public trust in nuclear generation.
Denryokusoren believes that it should not have been possible for this criticality accident to occur, and regrets the fact that the accident took place.
This accident happened at a site where Denryokusoren is not directly active. However, Denryokusoren believes that the safety of the general public, as well as full confidence in nuclear generation, is essential, and that the use of nuclear generation must be based on a national consensus.
Therefore, Denryokusoren will demand that the relevant parties and authorities conduct a thorough investigation of the causes of the accident, and will continue to act for the achievement of a mature safety culture within the Japanese nuclear industry.
Furthermore, the electric power companies in Japan, in response to an urgent request from the Japanese Natural Resource and Energy Agency, have sent their specialised technical workforce, together with material assistance, to the accident site.
Denryokusoren believes that full cooperation with this assistance is necessary. But the safety of the more than 500 electric power workers sent to the site of the accident is essential.
Therefore, Denryokusoren has today, through the Japanese Electric Power Industry Association, requested the electric power companies to ensure the complete safety of our fellow-workers who are now working at the accident site.
[end of statement]
At the global level, Denryokusoren is affiliated to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).