It is possible that a male employee was exposed to a large amount of radiation, which was several to several tens of times the annual limit, due to an accident last month at a Nippon Steel factory in Hyogo prefecture during an inspection of a measuring device that uses X-rays. I found out by interviewing the people concerned.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, which saw the accident seriously, issued a notice requesting other companies using similar measuring devices to thoroughly prevent radiation exposure, and the Labor Standards Inspection Office and others are investigating the situation of the accident.
According to Nippon Steel and the police, on the 29th of last month, two male employees in their 30s and 50s who were inspecting the measuring device that irradiates X-rays at the factory of Nippon Steel's Setouchi Steel Works in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, the next day. On the 30th, I complained of poor physical condition and went to the hospital. Currently, the two are undergoing examinations and treatments at a medical facility at Hiroshima University, which provides advanced radiation emergency care.
According to people familiar with the matter, the two may have been exposed to X-rays for a certain period of time during the work on the 29th, significantly exceeding the one-year exposure limit of 50 millisieverts stipulated by law. The final dose is unknown, but it can range from several to tens of times the annual limit, depending on the people involved.
Nippon Steel has not disclosed the condition of the two.
According to Nippon Steel, this factory is making iron plates for use in automobiles, and at the time of the accident, the two people were inspecting a device that measures the thickness of the plating on the surface by hitting the iron plate with X wire, so labor standards supervision The station and police are investigating the situation of the accident to see if there were any problems with safety management.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said that the accident may have been left exposed to X-rays during the inspection work, and as of 1st of this month, it will prevent exposure to other companies using similar measuring equipment through industry groups. I issued a notice requesting thoroughness.
Nippon Steel told NHK that "There was no leakage to the outside due to an indoor accident. In consideration of the privacy of the injured, we will refrain from details. We cooperated with the investigation of the relevant authorities and immediately resolved the cause. I want to investigate and prevent recurrence. "