Hyogo Himeji Accident exposed to radiation at a Japanese steel factory Sending documents to companies, etc. Labor Standards Office

Two years ago, at a Nippon Steel factory in Hyogo Prefecture, there was an accident in which two employees were exposed to radiation that would greatly exceed the annual limit during an inspection of an X-ray device.

When the Labor Standards Inspection Office investigated the accident, it was found that there was a suspicion that the countermeasures stipulated by law had not been taken at the site. The document was sent for inspection.

According to people involved, two male employees who inspected an X-ray device that measures the thickness of products at a Nippon Steel factory in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture in May complained of poor physical condition.

It is believed that he was exposed to radiation far exceeding the annual maximum amount stipulated by law, and he underwent examinations and treatment at the Hiroshima University medical facility, which provides advanced medical care for radiation exposure.

In response to the accident, the Himeji Labor Standards Inspection Office investigated the status of safety management. It was found that there was a suspicion that measures were not taken to encourage workers to wear

For this reason, the Labor Standards Inspection Office accused Nippon Steel Corporation as a corporation and an employee in his 50s who was in charge of managing the X-ray equipment, on the 20th, suspected of violating the Industrial Safety and Health Act, alleging that he had neglected necessary safety management. I sent the documents for inspection.

The investigation also found that the two exposed people may have been working at the site with the X-rays on for about 20 minutes.

Nippon Steel ``We will do our best to prevent the recurrence of accidents''

In response to NHK's interview, a representative of Nippon Steel said, "We have not yet confirmed the fact that the matter has been sent to the public prosecutor. We have implemented countermeasures, but we will continue to do our best to ensure safety in order to prevent a recurrence of the accident."

Nippon Steel has revealed that two male employees who were exposed to radiation were discharged from the medical facility by the end of December the year before, but they have not disclosed details such as their condition as it involves personal information.