LANL workers get radiation contamination

LANL workers get radiation contamination

Plutonium Facility–Work Planning: Last Thursday, a group of eight workers, with five simultaneously working in gloveboxes, experienced a contamination event while performing corrective maintenance on the trolley in the plutonium-238 area. Radiological surveys identified greater than two million disintegrations per minute (dpm) in several locations in the room and on multiple areas of the coveralls of two individuals. One of these workers also had about 500 dpm on the skin. Overall, three workers started special bioassay. The continuous air monitor alarmed about 1.5 hours into the event; however, its filters and those of other fixed air samplers revealed only low levels of airborne contamination. Management conducted a fact-finding for this event on Monday where follow-up actions revealed a V-shaped tear about the size of a quarter in one of the gloves; however, potential causes of the tear remain undetermined. Other points discussed include the need for extra monitoring equipment, reinforcement of surveying following glove exit, and a request for continuous presence of a radiological control technician (RCT) during complicated trolley jobs. 


http://www.dnfsb.gov/sites/default/files/Board%20Activities/Reports/Site%20Rep%20Weekly%20Reports/Los%20Alamos%20National%20Laboratory/2014/wr_20141226_65.pdf

Sandia criticized by NNSA:

Sandia criticized by NNSA:

The full report states: "Sandia’s initial
refusal and extreme reluctance to provide an investigation report to NNSA is one example that calls
into question Sandia leadership’s commitment to transparency and the obligation as an FFRDC to full
disclosure of its affairs to the NNSA"

Sandia leadership was criticized:

http://nnsa.energy.gov/sites/default/files/nnsa/inlinefiles/FY14%20Sandia%20FDO%20Letter.pdf

Football!

As the twilight of the labs is upon us we must step back and consider what is really important in life and it is football. It brings us together and at that same time it divides us and forces all of us to choose a side. It is what decides what the best of us are and what falls below expectations. You may worry about your pension and your benefits but that is not why the labs are here. You may think you can contribute something to world through science and what you do matters, it does not, but there is something greater than you, more than you and you can be part of that. The only reason we are here at this moment and this time...is football, you need to grab this moment and live it and know who you are, what you are, and why you are on earth. The glory, the power, the feeling that you have been a participant in the grand scheme of pure existence, raw life, the exhilarating moments of action that defines what we are! Life is a sport and that sport is football...be it, watch it.

Working Less at LLNS

Dear Blog,

I've been working at the Lab for just under a year, and noticed a co-worker showing up for less than 6 hours a day, and no one seems to care. I've noticed others not making it to nearly 8 hours regularly also, but not so egregious as the other. Is this typical?

I don't know if I should speak up, just mind my own business, or slowly do the same?

Thanks,

Peon the Pion

Livermore Lab Case Continued To Allow Time For Mediation

OAKLAND, CALIF., JAN. 29, 2015 — /PRNewswire/ -- Gwilliam, Ivary, Chiosso, Cavalli & Brewer release the following: Judge Robert B. Freedman of the Alameda County Superior Court has continued the May 2015 trial in Andrews, et al. v. Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, Case No. RG09453596, to allow the parties time to mediate this case that has been in litigation since May of 2009.

The 130 plaintiffs, represented by the law firm of Gwilliam, Ivary, Chiosso, Cavalli & Brewer filed suit against Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS) for wrongful termination, breach of contract, age discrimination and other individual claims as a result of being laid off by LLNS in May 2008, shortly after the Lab's privatization. LLNS, a private company led by Bechtel Corporation and the University of California, was awarded the contract to run the National Security Laboratory in 2007. Prior to 2007, the Lab had been operated exclusively by the University of California, and had not had a mass layoff since the 1970's. On May 22 and May 23, 2008, LLNS laid off over 400 career employees. The layoff occurred shortly after LLNS took control of the Lab. The Plaintiffs contend that the layoff was done in order to save money for this contractor.

In an order issued on January 20, 2015, Judge Freedman confirmed the parties' agreement to mediate the case before a private mediator. There have two long trials already in this litigation. In 2013, an Alameda County jury awarded the first 5 plaintiffs damages of more than $3 million (including interest). Ten more plaintiffs were scheduled to go to trial in May of 2015. That trial was continued by Judge Freedman to October 2015, pending the results of the upcoming mediation. The mediation is scheduled for April 2015.

http://www.heraldonline.com/2015/01/29/6749118/livermore-lab-case-continued-to.html

The broken NNSA laboratories

Yet another study on the broken NNSA laboratories

At least this group gets one part of the equation correct when it concludes that no other part of the executive branch wants to own the laboratories. Not DoD. Not DHS. Not the IC. Nobody. Period.

When it recommends that the labs remain in DoE, it does not make the case that they should stay there because that is where they belong; rather, they should not move simply because they are undesired elsewhere.

This leaves the labs in a position where it is hard to argue that they are special and should be treated differently in a budget cut. 

http://www.nap.edu/catalog/19326/aligning-the-governance-structure-of-the-nnsa-laboratories-to-meet-21st-century-national-security-challenges

Los Alamos National Lab Failed to Protect Classified Information

Report says Los Alamos National Lab Failed to Protect Classified Information

Updated: 01/28/2015 10:12 PM | Created: 01/28/2015 9:19 PM 

By: Danielle Todesco, KOB Eyewitness News 4

It has just been one problem after another for the Los Alamos National Laboratory as of late. This week alone, several of those problems are in the headlines.

The latest problem out of LANL is a new report obtained by our partners at the Santa Fe New Mexican. It shows that a classification officer at LANL failed to protect classified information, and because of that, there were six different incidents where information involving national security was wrongly released.

It is also hard to forget the radiation leak at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad, which was blamed on LANL. Investigators say workers at LANL started using a different kind of kitty litter for packing, which caused a barrel to burst.
State Representative David Gallegos says he hopes to work with the representative who serves Los Alamos to see how the state can help prevent any more problems at LANL.

"Right away, disappointment came to my mind because, like I say, they've been under the microscope since the incident at the WIPP site, so it's one of those things. When you're being viewed that closely...you're going to find errors," Representative Gallegos said. "It also gives you the opportunity to upgrade the way you do business, and I was disappointed that they've gotten more problems than what was already revealed."

LANL officials released this brief statement on the release of classified information:

"The lab is looking at addressing the issues raised in the report through a set of corrective actions."