PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Janet Michel

Coalition for a Healthy Environment, 423/966-5918

June 29, 1998

GROUP ASKS FOR FULL INVESTIGATION OF ILLNESSES AND WORKING CONDITIONS IN OAK RIDGE

The Coalition for a Healthy Environment (CHE) has requested the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) conduct a full investigation (Type B) of workers' respiratory illnesses resulting in lost workdays at the East Tennessee Technology Park (formerly the K-25 Plant). In addition, CHE requests that a representative of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers and/or CHE be able to participate as observers or advisors to the Type B nvestigation Board.

In a June 1, 1998, memorandum from the DOE Oak Ridge Manager, James Hall, to Peter Brush, Acting Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety, and Health, a waiver for a "Type B" investigation was requested. DOE believes their "For-Cause Review" constitutes sufficient action. The weakness of this level of review is the lack of investigating illnesses on an historical basis. A "Type B" accident investigation follows established guidelines designed to determine the "root cause" of an incident and then to identify corrective actions to prevent a recurrence.

There is an extensive history of workers experiencing respiratory illnesses. We want to know why it has taken so long for the K-25 safety and health department to recognize the unhealthy conditions in the vaults. We believe a Type B investigation would be more thorough and comprehensive and is justified considering the history of the site and the illnesses.

On March 23, 1998, a team of occupational medicine physicians hired by Lockheed Martin to evaluate illness in K-25 workers, presented the results of a limited industrial hygiene investigation of the vaults at K-25. They found dangerous levels of mold spores and bacteria. The physicians

recommended that employees working in this area use full respirators.

However, plant management's policy requires that workers request respirators if they experience respiratory symptoms and feel it is necessary. CHE believes this policy is inadequate. It is the company's responsibility to protect workers' health when a known health hazard has

een identified. It is also well known that many workers are too fearful of reprisal to request special equipment.

CHE members and acquaintances have gotten ill upon entering the vaults. Workers' private physicians have forbidden them from entering the vaults ever, but plant Health Services has ignored this restriction and the private physicians' diagnoses.

CHE believes that the failure to recognize the unhealthy work conditions years ago is indicative of the deficient safety culture where "safety is optional" and concerned employees should "get another job." Unfortunately, this recent request for a waiver appears to be DOE's standard way of

approaching safety and health. Too often, incidents have not been thoroughly investigated with disastrous results for workers' health and lives. Many workers believe that the welding death last year could have been prevented by more comprehensive investigations into health and safety

concerns and accidents.

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