Memos trace routine radiation overexposures
Workers at the Energy Department's Fernald plant routinely received [open quotes]gross,[close quotes] [open quotes]unacceptable[close quotes] and [open quotes]undue[close quotes] radiation exposures during uranium processing operations from the 1950s through the early 1970s, according to internal Fernald memos. The documents come to light as DOE continues to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars every month to defend its former Fernald contractor, NLO Inc., from a workers' lawsuit seeking compensation for alleged injuries from poor safety practices at the Ohio facility. DOE officials have contended the NLO defense effort is justified because there is no evidence that any former Fernald workers have suffered injury as a result of radiation exposures at the plant. However, the internal Fernald memos document major concerns expressed by Fernald health officials about unsafe working conditions at the plant and what appear in some cases to be routine overexposures of workers.
- OSTI ID:
- 6843039
- Journal Information:
- Energy Daily; (United States), Vol. 22:45; ISSN 0364-5274
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
FEED MATERIALS PRODUCTION CENTER
HEALTH HAZARDS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
FEED MATERIALS PLANTS
HAZARDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
RADIATIONS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
054000* - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety