Japan's Atomic Energy Commission has for the first time laid out its measures to prevent possible terrorist attacks on nuclear power plants.

A working group at the state agency has compiled a report on enhancing safety at the country's nuclear plants.

The report calls for insisting that power companies check personal information, such as the criminal and financial records, of all plant employees.

Such a measure is in place in most major countries that have nuclear plants, but Japan hasn't introduced the system due to personal privacy considerations.

After the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant triggered by the earthquake and tsunami of March 2011, plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, lost track of 10 workers. Their whereabouts remain unknown.

This is because the utility had failed to confirm the names and addresses of workers, let alone information such as criminal records.

The report also calls for stricter management where necessary of several radioactive substances that are widely used in hospitals and research institutions.

Friday, February 10, 2012 20:51 +0900 (JST)