Japan death plant faulty pipe ‘not inspected’

THE operator of a Japanese nuclear plant admitted to lax safety inspections after a steel pipe which had not been properly inspected for 28 years exploded and killed four workers.

Kansai Electric Power Company said the thickness of the pipe, which ruptured and spewed out non-radioactive steam on Monday, was below minimum safety standards.

"We conducted visual inspections, but never made ultrasonic tests, which can measure the thickness of a steel pipe," said spokesman Haruo Nakano.