Review of health issues of workers engaged in operations related to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this review was to summarize the lessons learned from the experience in protecting the health of workers engaged in operations following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).


METHODS
We reviewed all types of scientific papers examining workers' health found in Medline and Web of Sciences as well as some official reports published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan and other governmental institutes.


RESULTS
The papers and reports were classified into those investigating workers at the Fukushima Daiichi and Daini NPPs, workers engaged in decontamination operations in designated areas, and other workers. Regarding workers at the NPPs, many efforts were made to establish an emergency-care and occupational health system. Risk management efforts were undertaken for radiation exposure, heat stress, psychological stress, outbreak of infectious diseases, and fitness for work. Only a few reports dealt with decontamination workers and others; however, the health management of these workers was clearly weaker than that for workers at the NPPs.


CONCLUSIONS
Many lessons can be learned from what occurred. That knowledge can be applied to ongoing decommissioning work and to future disasters. In addition, it is necessary to study the long-term health effects of radiation exposure and to accumulate data about the health of workers engaged in decontamination work and other areas.
Occupational Health Training Center, University of Occupational and Environmental Health.
Koh
K
Hiraoka
Seiichiro
S
Tateishi
Koji
K
Mori
D003666:Decontamination; D004190:Disasters; D062406:Fukushima Nuclear Accident; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D055848:Nuclear Power Plants; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016272:Occupational Health; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012308:Risk Management; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology