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Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Berrylium exposure
Anonymously contributed:
Article Does anyone know more details about what really happened? Specifically - what buildings and was there any chance people working in nearby areas could have been exposed
Yeah, Machine shops and waste handling facilities are a good start! Although I understand that some poor secretary actually came down with the disease in an office that was near (but not too near) an area where beryllium was processed! It seem that the lab "Subject Matter Expert" (there is a contradiction in terms) sampled the shit out of the area but neglected to test the biggest filter (read - the office carpet)in her immediate vicinity! Another confirmed kill for Hazards Control! Nice work guys!
Oh yeah, someone apparently neglected to inform HC that 8 feet isn't the absolute service ceiling for beryllium dust in a turbulent industrial environment. GSE is going to absolutely rape LLNL/LLNS!
U.S. to Review Beryllium Safety at Livermore The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California is set to face a federal investigation into its potentially unsafe handling of beryllium, a toxic metal used in producing nuclear weapons, the Contra Costa Times reported Sunday (see GSN, Feb. 4).
Federal inspectors are expected to examine beryllium work at the site in September, following an independent investigation last month.
The inspections came in response to five incidents in which Livermore employees made contact with the metal, sometimes without their knowledge. In one of the cases, the laboratory took five months to inform 178 contract workers that they had been exposed during a retrofit project in one facility.
A small number of people exposed to the material develop beryllium sensitivity, a condition that leads in up to two-thirds of cases to potentially lethal chronic beryllium disease. Some research has linked an increased likelihood of developing the disease with continued exposure to the metal after a person is diagnosed with sensitivity.
The U.S. Energy Department offers beryllium sensitivity checks to current and former employees. Between 50 and 60 personnel connected to one of the incidents have requested checks, and a small portion of those people have tested positive for sensitivity (Betsy Mason, Contra Costa Times, July 6).
Ok the real truth is that there are 26 lab workers that are Be sencitive and of thouse 26 2 are cronic Be. These are lab emploeies not GSE workers. I have heard there are at least 4 GSE workers that are Be sencitive. The people that came to investigate did not talk to any of the people how are afected. Not to much of an investigation if you ask me. I know because I am one of the Be sencitive LLNL workers.
How much is being fatally poisoned worth to me? Vs what LLNS/DoE thinks. Oh wait, I know how much they think I was worth.
I traveled to work for years via bus, breathing diesel fumes and lousy Livermore air. Was exposed to notable doses of carbon monoxide from generators placed just upwind of building air intakes. Worked in machine rooms that had sand build up on top of racks. Other rooms that were laden with dust left over from construction. The building coordinators claimed the places were clean and safe. Oh yeah.
Would bet good money I would test positive for Be. Fat lot of good any compensation would be now.
9 comments:
Some info from Feb '08:
Livermore Discloses Beryllium Exposure
Yeah, Machine shops and waste handling facilities are a good start! Although I understand that some poor secretary actually came down with the disease in an office that was near (but not too near) an area where beryllium was processed! It seem that the lab "Subject Matter Expert" (there is a contradiction in terms) sampled the shit out of the area but neglected to test the biggest filter (read - the office carpet)in her immediate vicinity! Another confirmed kill for Hazards Control! Nice work guys!
Oh yeah, someone apparently neglected to inform HC that 8 feet isn't the absolute service ceiling for beryllium dust in a turbulent industrial environment. GSE is going to absolutely rape LLNL/LLNS!
U.S. to Review Beryllium Safety at Livermore
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California is set to face a federal investigation into its potentially unsafe handling of beryllium, a toxic metal used in producing nuclear weapons, the Contra Costa Times reported Sunday (see GSN, Feb. 4).
Federal inspectors are expected to examine beryllium work at the site in September, following an independent investigation last month.
The inspections came in response to five incidents in which Livermore employees made contact with the metal, sometimes without their knowledge. In one of the cases, the laboratory took five months to inform 178 contract workers that they had been exposed during a retrofit project in one facility.
A small number of people exposed to the material develop beryllium sensitivity, a condition that leads in up to two-thirds of cases to potentially lethal chronic beryllium disease. Some research has linked an increased likelihood of developing the disease with continued exposure to the metal after a person is diagnosed with sensitivity.
The U.S. Energy Department offers beryllium sensitivity checks to current and former employees. Between 50 and 60 personnel connected to one of the incidents have requested checks, and a small portion of those people have tested positive for sensitivity (Betsy Mason, Contra Costa Times, July 6).
Ok the real truth is that there are 26 lab workers that are Be sencitive and of thouse 26 2 are cronic Be. These are lab emploeies not GSE workers. I have heard there are at least 4 GSE workers that are Be sencitive. The people that came to investigate did not talk to any of the people how are afected. Not to much of an investigation if you ask me. I know because I am one of the Be sencitive LLNL workers.
What buildings were involved?
What buildings were involved?
The list keeps growing. The reality is that if you worked in a building that at any time did weapons work,you may have been exposed to Be.
Considering the PR, I would strongly recommend everyone request to be tested for Be. It doesn't take much to get compensated.
It doesn't take much to get compensated.
Yeah, I'll bet!
Compensated, sure...
How much is being fatally poisoned worth to me? Vs what LLNS/DoE thinks. Oh wait, I know how much they think I was worth.
I traveled to work for years via bus, breathing diesel fumes and lousy Livermore air. Was exposed to notable doses of carbon monoxide from generators placed just upwind of building air intakes. Worked in machine rooms that had sand build up on top of racks. Other rooms that were laden with dust left over from construction. The building coordinators claimed the places were clean and safe. Oh yeah.
Would bet good money I would test positive for Be. Fat lot of good any compensation would be now.
Crapload of worker exposure and cover-up documents at the LANL Blog. You might want to drop by and check them out!
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