Contract Workers in Japan's Nuclear Utility Industry: Can We Maintain Safety and Health Standards at Nuclear Power Plants?

Authors

  • Akikuni Matsumoto University of Tokyo
  • Hisayuki Hara Niigata University
  • Kazumitsu Nawata Niigata University

Keywords:

Nuclear power plant, Risk management, Contract worker, Safety and health education.

Abstract

: Many small contracting firms are used to maintain nuclear power plants in Japan. The accident at the Fukushima nuclear plant raised the serious question as to whether safety standards can be upheld with this system. A review of regulations governing Japan's nuclear utility industry derived two imperfect information models that implied opposing incentives for utility companies to use contract workers rather than hire employees. We then analyzed the dataset of nuclear plant worker's exposure to radiation in the power generation industry. The results suggest that using contract workers enables the utility companies to implement lower standards than those imposed by regulations and to reduce costs by circumventing responsibilities legally imposed on employers.

Author Biographies

Akikuni Matsumoto, University of Tokyo

Technology Management for Innovation

Hisayuki Hara, Niigata University

Economics

Kazumitsu Nawata, Niigata University

Economics

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Published

2014-12-05

How to Cite

Matsumoto, A., Hara, H., & Nawata, K. (2014). Contract Workers in Japan’s Nuclear Utility Industry: Can We Maintain Safety and Health Standards at Nuclear Power Plants?. Journal of Reviews on Global Economics, 3, 401–414. Retrieved from http://lifescienceglobalca.com/index.php/jrge/article/view/2572

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Articles