PRESS RELEASE

FROM: Janet Michel

Coalition for a Healthy Environment, 423/966-5918

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (July 10, 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

Investigation 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.

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Press Release (continued)

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

been 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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