Workers face incredible risk with little food

[LiberalEsto]

Source: The Yomiuri Shimbun

"Working in close proximity to dangerously high levels of radiation, hundreds of workers are feverishly trying to stabilize the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant amid brutal living conditions: only two meals a day and sleeping packed together with just one blanket each.

Kazuma Yokota, chief of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency's Fukushima office that is in charge of inspections at the facility, told a press conference Monday what the workers' lives are like, based on the five days he spent as an observer at the nuclear plant last week.

About 450 employees of plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. and companies helping with the crisis were working in unpredictable conditions to prevent a catastrophe, according to TEPCO.

Yokota, 39, gave the nation its first glimpse at the tough conditions the workers are enduring as they put their lives at risk. He stayed from Tuesday to Saturday at the plant's emergency office, which is housed in an earthquake-resistant building. The room is being used as a command center, dining room and bedroom for the workers. The two-story specially built structure was completed in July, TEPCO said."

Read more: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110329004944.htm

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Can't they at least send these guys some food and blankets as they risk their lives?

[midnight]

1. It is the least they could do....

[CreekDog]

13. the rank and file workers are not the ones to blame here

:hi:

[thereismore]

2. Chernobyl liquidators said they ate very well. At least they had that. nt

[ElsewheresDaughter]

3. and what are we to believe that a fucking helicopter can't drop some blankets or food?

[LiberalEsto]

4. Since they can drop water, there's no excuse

Maybe the Tepco executives should take up a collection.

[Tumbulu]

7. the article says that helicopters cannot come close

because of the radiation.

brave workers- they are giving up their lives to try to avert a worse disaster.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

11. come on....the fire trucks got in &out several times ..then truck the supplies in

[Marblehead]

5. the world should

be supporting this effort as it could have global effect

[sasquuatch55]

6. These people are real heroes! n/t

n/t

[AsahinaKimi]

8. honto desune!

They truly are.

[secondwind]

9. I hope their families and loved ones will be compensated for their sacrifices!

[BOG PERSON]

10. "Please don't tell the supervisor I have the flu."

"I've been working with a shattered pelvis for three weeks."

[LiberalEsto]

12. They also don't have enough fresh water

I read an article in this morning's Washington Post that mentioned the disgraceful treatment of these nuclear heroes. The article reporter that they have limited fresh water, and no phone lines with which to contact family and friends.

They only eat two meals a day because food shipments are "sporadic", and they sleep in one large room or in hallways in a building near the energy plant. The terrible work conditions were only revealed because of comments by an inspector from the national nuclear regulatory agency, according to the Post article.

Sadly, this is typical of the way corporations view their workers: they are as expendable as ants. Workers risk their lives in dangerous places like nuclear plants, ocean oil drilling rigs and coal mines, and the fucking corporate bastards can't even be bothered to check whether the workers are getting enough to eat and drink. Or, for that matter, to talk with their families during what may be their final days alive.

:cry: