WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — A nuclear waste site in Washington State will increase personal protective equipment of workers at the facility, a US Department of Energy (DOE) spokesperson told Sputnik after the DOE was sued for failing to protect workers.
"To further enhance worker protection, DOE’s tank farm contractor, Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS), has increased the use of work controls and personal protective equipment, including the use of self-contained breathing apparatus in areas of potential vapor exposure," the DOE spokesperson said.
On Tuesday, the state of Washington sued the DOE over a nuclear waste clean-up at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, claiming there was danger to the workers because of vapor releases from underground waste storage-tanks.
The spokesperson said the DOE was working with WRPS to address the potential vapor exposures.
"The Department is committed to safe and efficient work in the tank farms," the DOE spokesperson noted. "The Department’s top priority is the protection of our workforce, the public and the environment."
In a 16-month period, however, there have been 50 nuclear gas leak incidents reported at the Hanford reservation.
On April 28, 2015, US Senator Ron Wyden called on the DOE’s Inspector General to investigate wasteful contracting practices at the Hanford site.
On Wednesday, the Hanford Challenge advocacy group and UA Local 598 union also sued the US federal government claiming the DOE and WRPS failed in their responsibility to keep workers working at the Hanford nuclear waste site safe.
