Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and general contractor Obayashi Corp. said Wednesday they have jointly developed a radiation-shielding seat that can significantly reduce radiation exposure for workers operating industrial vehicles at nuclear power plants.

The companies said the seat, which incorporates a vest reminiscent of body armor, aims to reduce radiation exposure by 50 percent for workers operating special vehicles at the Fukushima No. 1 facility and other radiation-contaminated areas for such work as decontamination, removing debris and transporting waste.

The seat, which consists mainly of tungsten sheet, is to be released in mid-December, the companies said.