DHAKA: In their first meeting since Japan created a new, more independent nuclear agency 13 months ago, the top regulator on Monday urged the head of the utility that runs the crippled Fukushima plant to take ‘drastic steps’ to mitigate a spate of mishaps at the complex.

Nuclear Regulation Authority Chairman Shunichi Tanaka summoned Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco) president Naomi Hirose to his office to express concerns about growing problems at the plant, including human errors that have led to a series of leaks of contaminated water used to cool the damaged reactors.

Human error is mostly to blame for the recent mishaps, as workers deal with a string of crises, reports The Straits Times.

Tanaka said earlier this month the repeated ‘silly mistakes’ are a sign of declining morale and sense of responsibility.

Tepco acknowledged a systemic problem in a recent report, Workers under tight deadlines tend to cut corners, making mistakes more likely; at times, they don’t fully understand their assignment or procedures.

BDST: 1320 HRS, OCT 28, 2013
RoR/BSK