TEPCO Implements Restrictions At Fukushima Daiichi To Control Covid

Fukushima prefecture has managed to keep covid cases down to a total of 82. For obvious reasons TEPCO has been concerned with the potential for an outbreak at Fukushima Daiichi. In order to prevent an outbreak among workers at the disaster site, they have taken some unusual precautions.

TEPCO began with entry temperatures checks of workers in April. During the earlier emergency phase announced by the government, TEPCO had some Daiichi staff telecommuting, they did not explain what work was allowed to telecommute. They changed worker break times to stagger breaks resulting in fewer people in a break area at one time. As of the end of May, there have been no virus cases at the site.

Tactics used include:

• Limiting crowded, indoor activities.
• No unnecessary outings and travel for employees.
• Any worker leaving the prefecture will have to complete a 2 week quarantine before they can return to work.
• Wear masks on site, temperature checks and informing the company of infections or exposures.
• Visitors have been banned from the site since February. This was scheduled to expire June 30th. No word currently if this has been extended.
• No face-to-face eating in cafeterias, tables have been spread out to provide distance.
• The seismic isolation building (command center) and units 5-6 building are off limits to anyone except the workers who conduct their work in these buildings. Hand sanitizing and masks are required for entering these areas.
• Video conferencing was implemented as a replacement for now banned domestic or international travel.
• Telecommuting, avoiding group meetings and isolating work shifts from each other.
• Cooperating companies and manufacturers are asked to abide by the same on site rules at TEPCO workers.
• Meetings with outside manufacturers are to be conducted in a first floor atrium area.

The current essential work at the disaster site, dealing with fuel debris, spent fuel and contaminated water are considered priority work and those workers in need of extra protection. Their bus travel to the site and their check in process for work at the site is to be isolated from other workers. Separate entrances and exits were established at key buildings to avoid people coming in close contact with each other.

Drivers on site are to have their own facilities and work space to limit their contact with others.

Radiation body scan checks had been postponed during the initial outbreak. After infection rates in Fukushima prefecture remained low, body scans were re-started, as they are done locally.

TEPCO states that they continue to have enough protective gear on site and they are attempting to assure an ongoing supply. Medical use of similar equipment has put strains on supply chains and inventory.

The images below were provided by TEPCO but did not come with descriptions.

TEPCO document – in Japanese
https://www4.tepco.co.jp/decommission/information/committee/roadmap_progress/pdf/2020/d200528_12-j.pdf

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