Tokyo Electric Power Co. on Nov. 8 announced “emergency measures” to increase the work force, raise wages and improve labor conditions at the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Tokyo Electric Power Co. on Nov. 8 announced “emergency measures” to increase the work force, raise wages and improve labor conditions at the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority had called on the utility to take action following a recent series of human errors that led to radioactive water leaks and other incidents at the nuclear plant.
According to TEPCO, 100 workers had been assigned to deal with radioactive water at the plant, such as monitoring storage tanks and replacing vulnerable tanks with more watertight models. In August, 300 tons of highly radioactive water was found to have escaped from one tank.
The utility said it will increase the work force to 320.
TEPCO said it will build a large rest station that can accommodate 1,200 workers, as well as a facility near the plant by the end of fiscal 2014 that can provide up to 3,000 meals.
The utility will also include expected wage hikes in its order prices for the assembly of radioactive water storage tanks and other tasks, company officials added.