japanese x-ray overexposure

["Dhr. Van rooyen" <rooyen@aib-vincotte.nl>]

I found the following message today at 
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/main/main-e.htm

I couldn't find any previous reference in the archives  

==============
3 electronics workers hurt by X-rays 

 Yomiuri Shimbun

 CHIBA -- Three workers at an electronics component manufacturer in
 Yokaichiba, Chiba Prefecture, suffered serious burns to their hands in June
 after being exposed to X-rays, it has been learned. 

 The three workers, aged 19, 26 and 29, received serious burns to their right
 hands while examining electronic parts at Taihei Electronics Co. 

 At the beginning of last month, their right hands became inflamed and the
 three workers underwent medical checks at a nearby hospital. 

 On July 5, they were diagnosed as suffering from radioactive burns at the
 National Institute of Radiological Sciences and were hospitalized there for
 several days. 

 Doctors reportedly told the three workers that they were showing symptoms
 consistent with having been exposed to 50 to 100 sieverts of radiation--far
 more than the 50 millisievert annual safety limit set by the government. 

 The workers apparently had not received training on handling radioactive
 substances even though this was legally mandatory. 

 The Labor Standards Inspection Office in Choshi, Chiba Prefecture, began
 investigating the company on suspicion that it violated the Industrial Safety
 and Health Law by failing to provide its workers with appropriate
 instruction. 

 According to the company, the workers were checking for defective
 products by scanning integrated circuit chips with X-rays in a hermetically
 sealed laboratory. 

 During radiographic testing, workers are supposed to stop transmission of
 the rays before opening a hatch to change the position of the product. But
 the three workers evidently omitted to do this. 

 In the criticality accident that occurred at the JCO Tokai Plant in
Tokaimura,
 Ibaraki Prefecture, in September last year, two workers were fatally
 exposed to six to 18 sieverts of radiation. Although only a small part of
each
 worker's body was exposed in the Taihei factory case, radiation of a much
 higher level was involved. 

 Sadakichi Ota, president of the company, said he regretted the accident,
 adding that both management and employees must have been careless since
 no accident had occurred during the previous 15 years. 


  Copyright 2000 The Yomiuri Shimbun

===============


Paul van Rooijen
Manager HSE
AIB-Vinçotte Nederland BV
Postbus 6869
4802 HW Breda
The Netherlands

tel	++31 (0) 76 579 11 54
fax	++31 (0) 76 587 47 60 
e-mail	rooyen@aib-vincotte.nl


************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html