[andor]

The rod in the middle of the picture contains thorium-MOX pellets, and is being inserted into the reactor (which is underground).

So these guys are standing right next to a fuel rod radioactive enough to start a nuclear chain reaction? [0] Can anybody elaborate on how dangerous this is?

[0] only if close to lots of other fuel rods, I guess...

[tarre]

Unused nuclear fuel has very low radioactivity. It is the fission products, which are the problem regarding radioactivity. Were it a used fuel bundle, they wouldn't be standing there.