In-Focus Japan: Ohi reactor restarts found unnecessary – TEPCO liable for Fukushima worker safety

In-Focus Japan: Ohi reactor restarts found unnecessary – TEPCO liable for Fukushima worker safety

by Enformablehttp://enformable.com/2012/08/in-focus-japan-ohi-reactor-restarts-found-unnecessary-tepco-liable-for-fukushima-worker-safety/

 

Fish caught off Fukushima found to have cesium levels 380 times the safety limit

The utility says it detected 38,000 becquerels per kilogram of radioactive cesium in a rock trout caught about 1 kilometer off Minamisoma City on August 1st.
Source: JiJi Press
Source: NHK

Ohi reactor restarts found unnecessary as energy demand in Japan plummets

The sharp decline in electricity demand is apparent, even though higher than average temperatures were recorded nationwide last month, according to the Meteorological Agency.
Critics say that instead of relying on nuclear power, KEPCO could have easily covered any shortage by requesting neighboring electricity utilities, which had an oversupply, to provide backup.
“Electricity utilities may be opting to restart their nuclear reactors since they are cheaper than thermal power plants,” Hideyuki Koyama, executive director of Mihama no Kai, which opposes Kepco’s nuclear power use, told The Japan Times.
“The data are solid proof that Japan can supply enough electricity even without any nuclear power generation,” he stressed.
Source: The Japan Times

TEPCO liable for Fukushima workers safety

Less than 10 percent of the work at this nuclear power plant is conducted by those directly employed by TEPCO. Over 90 percent is done by employees of subcontractors, sub-subcontractors and contractors several times removed.
TEPCO faces quite serious criminal liability if they endanger those working on-site through a complicated web of outsourcing.   Article 87 of the Labor Standards Law holds firms that outsource (outsourcers) responsible for workplace safety and sanitation for workers employed by their subcontractor.
Source: The Japan Times