The big “if” is whether or not the workers are sticking to the PAGs. If they stay at or under 25 or even 50 rem, then the risk remains totally stochastic.
If, however, they have resolved to keep fighting even though they get dosed up to a couple of hundred rem and actually go down from acute radiation sickness, that’s different (and suicidal). There does seem to be a bit of a history in the Japanese culture of young men undertaking suicidal missions in defense of the homeland.
I can’t believe the company and government will let them stay that long. OTOH, if they threw away their dosimeters and the higher-ups are OK with it... who knows?
This may be one of those cultural contexts that we Occidentals have a hard time grokking.
I really doubt that the Fukushima HPs would let them hide dosimetry, considering the high level of visibility involved. And its not like contractors jumping generators who are trying to get more work.
I’m not doubting their fortitude; there is a lot of risks associated with sharp objects, hydrogen explosions, electrical cables, aftershocks and fields that vary. This would go for any rescuer in Japan, not just at the nuke plants.
My issue is that the article bases a headline on a crying (and scared) mother, and in doing so passes her off as an expert. And some FeaRpers here have taken this testimony as proof that there will be deaths from radiation.