Japan nuclear worker exposed to radiation, unhurt

TOKYO, June 24 (Reuters) A worker at a Japanese nuclear fuel reprocessing plant was exposed to a small amount of radiation today, but appeared to suffer no health problems, an prefectural government official said.

The incident occurred at a spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Rokkasho in Aomori prefecture, northern Japan, operated by Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd.

The worker had been checked by a doctor, the official said, and there had been no effect on the environment around the plant.

Officials were looking into the incident.

One of the worst accidents at any nuclear facility in Japan occurred at a uranium-processing plant in Tokaimura on September 30, 1999, when an uncontrolled chain reaction was triggered after three poorly trained workers used buckets to mix nuclear fuel in a tub.

The resulting release of radiation killed two workers and forced the evacuation of thousands of nearby residents.

In August 2004, hot water and steam leaking from a broken pipe at Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Mihama No. 3 nuclear power generator killed five workers in Japan's worst nuclear power plant accident.

REUTERS SHB VC1655