I know this post is quite old, but just in case anyone is interested, here goes my opinion about the initial topic...
From wikipedia: The physical effects of anxiety may include heart palpitations, tachycardia, muscle weakness and tension, fatigue, nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath, headache, stomach aches, or tension headaches (...) Panic attacks usually come without warning and although the fear is generally irrational, the subjective perception of danger is very real. A person experiencing a panic attack will often feel as if he or she is about to die or lose consciousness. The emotional effects of anxiety may include "feelings of apprehension or dread, trouble concentrating, feeling tense or jumpy, anticipating the worst, irritability, restlessness, watching (and waiting) for signs (and occurrences) of danger, and, feeling like your mind's gone blank" as well as "nightmares/bad dreams, obsessions about sensations, deja vu, a trapped in your mind feeling, and feeling like everything is scary."
Anyone familiar with mental health area will be sure the experiences described by the worker in japan is a panic attack. It does not mean he didn't feel that, he almost surely FELT all that he explains. Although for many people used to radioactivity it may seem stupid, the biggest harm radioactivity may cause on "normal" population is due to fear and apprehension. And this harm, as been shown on population near Chernobyl) may be VERY real (anxiety and depression disorders are quite hard!)!!!!!!! Just think on the chaotic craziness that may appear if a dirty bomb is detonated in a city, although the real danger due to radiation would be very small.
Regards,
Eugenio
PD: I have received doses of 180 mRem in less than one hour and confirm that some kind of coffes may be quite worse. On the other hand I think 1050 mRem in 20 seconds... it's quite hard and really enough to be very angry with the job planning!!!!