Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant
MEMORANDUM
TO: Board of Directors, Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant/Department of Energy
FROM: Kathleen Hayes, Consultant for Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant/Department of Energy
DATE: 17 November 2012
RE: Notification of Potentially Hazardous Working Conditions and Worker Health
Introduction
Ethical and moral issues have been brought into question when determining the proper protocol when informing employees of potential health risks while on the job. Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant and the Department of Energy have been accused of failing to notify workers of the potentially hazardous exposure to radiation and the health risks they would be facing. Recommendations will be made for the Plant/Department of Energy and discuss the importance ethical responsibility and treatment of employees. Proper notification and steps to make sure vital information is communicated is beneficial to both worker health and corporate/government responsibility.
Facts Summary
Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, owned by the Department of Energy, exposed several thousand uranium workers to plutonium and other radioactive material. This same material had also been dumped into landfills and fields which caused exposure to wildlife and private water wells. Records on plutonium contamination were kept but the plant never disclosed the potential health risks to the workers. Due to their lack of knowledge, the workers did not wear sufficient protection while working with the hazardous materials. The records kept indicate the high levels of radiation found within the plant and that plutonium had been found up to one mile from the plant.
The plant maintained that there were insignificant amounts of plutonium and that the exposure to the workers was too small to cause health risks. The government’s stand on this was contradicted by internal documents and records kept by management indicating the level of radiation exposure were a concern for the workers and the environment. Recent
TO: Board of Directors, Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant/Department of Energy
FROM: Kathleen Hayes, Consultant for Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant/Department of Energy
DATE: 17 November 2012
RE: Notification of Potentially Hazardous Working Conditions and Worker Health
Introduction
Ethical and moral issues have been brought into question when determining the proper protocol when informing employees of potential health risks while on the job. Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant and the Department of Energy have been accused of failing to notify workers of the potentially hazardous exposure to radiation and the health risks they would be facing. Recommendations will be made for the Plant/Department of Energy and discuss the importance ethical responsibility and treatment of employees. Proper notification and steps to make sure vital information is communicated is beneficial to both worker health and corporate/government responsibility.
Facts Summary
Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, owned by the Department of Energy, exposed several thousand uranium workers to plutonium and other radioactive material. This same material had also been dumped into landfills and fields which caused exposure to wildlife and private water wells. Records on plutonium contamination were kept but the plant never disclosed the potential health risks to the workers. Due to their lack of knowledge, the workers did not wear sufficient protection while working with the hazardous materials. The records kept indicate the high levels of radiation found within the plant and that plutonium had been found up to one mile from the plant.
The plant maintained that there were insignificant amounts of plutonium and that the exposure to the workers was too small to cause health risks. The government’s stand on this was contradicted by internal documents and records kept by management indicating the level of radiation exposure were a concern for the workers and the environment. Recent