Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Japan (Ratification: 1973)

The Committee notes the observations made by the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC–RENGO), the Japan Business Federation (NIPPON KEIDANREN), communicated with the Government’s report, as well as the Government’s reply to both.

The Committee also notes the information provided by the Government concerning Article 14 of the Convention on measures in favour of workers who can no longer perform work involving exposure to ionizing radiations.

Article 2. Application of the Convention to all activities involving exposure of workers to ionizing radiations in the course of their work. Workers engaged in recovery and decontamination work. The Committee notes the observations of the JTUC–RENGO, submitted under the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), that for the decommissioning of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station (undertaken following the earthquake in 2011), the accumulated radiation doses of each worker are increasing, and that securing a sufficient number of workers with the necessary skills and experience is a pressing issue. The JTUC–RENGO states that it is crucial to secure occupational safety and health by taking measures to reduce workloads and radiation exposure and employers must implement complete protective measures for workers including health care and education. The Government should enhance supervision and monitoring in that respect, and take full measures for workers engaged in special decontamination zones and their surroundings.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement in its report that, for the prevention of radiation hazards for workers engaged in decontamination work, it established the Ordinance on the prevention of ionizing radiation hazards for decontamination and related works. This Ordinance requires employers engaged in decontamination works to carry out: dose monitoring; exposure reduction measures, including a preliminary survey of worksites; measures for the confinement of contamination including surface screening of workers and equipment; training of workers; and health-care management. The Government indicates that inspections are undertaken at worksites, and the necessary guidance provided. The Committee refers to paragraph 24 of its general observation of 2015, which states that workers undertaking remedial actions for decontamination purposes should be subject to the relevant requirements for occupational exposure in planned exposure situations, as outlined in section 3 of the Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards (BSS) issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Committee requests the Government to pursue its efforts to ensure that the protection provided in the Convention is applied to workers engaged in decontamination works, and to continue to provide information on the measures it is taking in this regard.

Article 7. Exposure of workers under the age of 18. The Committee notes the observations of the JTUC–RENGO that legal violations related to persons under 18 working in decontamination work were reported in the press. The union urges the Government to strengthen guidance and supervision to ensure that persons under 18 years of age are not employed in decontamination work. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures it is taking to ensure the enforcement of the national legislative provisions related to occupational exposure of workers under the age of 18.

Articles 12 and 13. Medical surveillance and records of individual doses. The Committee notes the observations of the JTUC– RENGO that, with respect to the ongoing decommissioning work at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, it is essential to apply mid- to long-term health-care measures that cover workers after retirement. The Committee also notes the Government’s reference to section 30 of the abovementioned Ordinance, which provides that the medical examination requirements for workers engaged in such work include a review of radiation exposure history, examinations for the eyes and the skin, and blood tests. The Committee draws the Government’s attention to paragraphs 26 and 39 of its 2015 general observation concerning workers’ health surveillance, and paragraphs 29 and 41 concerning records of individual doses. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to ensure that workers directly engaged in radiation work undergo medical examinations prior to such work and subsequently undergo further medical examinations at appropriate intervals. It also invites the Government to provide information on any measures taken to avoid a situation in which a worker may believe they must suppress dosimetric information or other actions, in order to maintain their work status.