In 1999, a nuclear disaster occurred at a uranium processing plant in Tokaimura, Japan, resulting in the death of Hisashi Ouchi, who was exposed to a massive dose of radiation. Ouchi suffered severe burns and spent 83 days in critical condition before begging doctors to stop treating him. The accident was caused by a series of fatal mistakes, including carrying uranium in buckets and not wearing proper protective equipment. Ouchi was exposed to 17 Sieverts of radiation, the highest amount ever recorded in a living person. His co-worker, Masato Shinohara, also died from multiple organ failure. The incident led to new legislation in Japan to improve safety in the nuclear energy industry. The plant operator, JCO, paid compensation to affected individuals and lost its credentials for running nuclear plants.
Fri, 14 Jul 2023 13:32:40 GMT | Daily Mail