The human cost of cleaning up the Chernobyl disaster, told by one of the workers

; Date: Tue Jun 11 2019

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The cleanup operation at Chernobyl attempted to use "robots" to cleanup highly radioactive debris, to spare humans from the task. Humans with experience working around radioactive debris were valuable, and had to be preserved for as long as possible. But in the area of the worst radioactive debris, where extremely radioactive graphite had fallen from the core of the reactor, the robots failed to work. Humans had to go in themselves, wearing the most primitive of protective suits, and working for shifts lasting all of two minutes. It took 3828 men to accomplish the task.

Chernobyl 3828

The wreckage of the reactor was removed by soldiers. Briefing by General Tarakanov.

About the Author(s)

(davidherron.com) David Herron : David Herron is a writer and software engineer focusing on the wise use of technology. He is especially interested in clean energy technologies like solar power, wind power, and electric cars. David worked for nearly 30 years in Silicon Valley on software ranging from electronic mail systems, to video streaming, to the Java programming language, and has published several books on Node.js programming and electric vehicles.
BBC's coverage of Chernobyl disaster immediately afterwards Interview with Deputy Chief Engineer of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant