nuclear-news

The final results of worker tests after a December spread of contamination at the plant found 11 Hanford workers had inhaled or ingested radioactive particles, according to information released Thursday

That’s on top of the 31 positive test results after a similar spread of contamination in June at the plant in the center of the nuclear reservation.

The Washington Department of Ecology, a regulator on the project, also has said it will not allow demolition to continue if it is not convinced it can be done safely.

Open-air demolition on the plant began in late 2016 using heavy equipment to tear down its walls. Extensive work already had been done to remove as much contaminated equipment as possible from the plant.

According to a draft report issued earlier in the month by CH2M/Jacobs Engineering with input from the U.S. Department of Energy, an air-monitoring system last fall failed to pick up the spread of radioactive contamination, giving management false assurance that controls were effective.

State monitoring has found that plutonium and americium particles traveled as far as 10 miles from the demolition site, near Richland. Vehicles, office buildings and workers have been tested for traces of radioactive contamination.

A plan for safer demolition has yet to be released.

The project has been troubled with radioactive contamination found outside worker offices at the plant and on worker cars and government vehicles.

………….https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/42-hanford-workers-contaminated-with-radiation/