February 8, 2010 in City

Vapor concerns halt Hanford work

Annette Cary Tri-City Herald

Concerns over chemical vapors from an underground tank have stopped work to retrieve radioactive waste from Tank C-104, the only leak-prone tank currently being emptied at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.

A Hanford worker was diagnosed with a medical issue after several workers smelled fumes, and a determination has not been made about whether the medical problem is linked to the vapors.

Late Jan. 25, workers who were in a control trailer for the work outside the C Tank Farm fence at Hanford came outside and smelled a strong odor linked to vapors vented from the tanks, said Fred Beranek, director of environment, safety, health and quality at Washington River Protection Solutions.

Smelling vapors is not unusual, and workers who have any symptoms are required to report for medical care, he said.

The workers were taken to a medical center and checked out that night. They were allowed to return to work for their next shifts. Symptoms were typical of vapor exposure, including watery eyes, throat irritation or a metallic taste in the mouth, Beranek said.

During the week, several more workers developed symptoms, all apparently from the same January shift, he said.

On Feb. 1, a worker called a stop to work, using a system extended to any Hanford worker who believes there is a safety issue, because of the number of employees who had reported symptoms.

Safety representatives said it was safe for work to resume two or three hours later, Beranek said.

However, on Tuesday Washington River Protection Solutions was notified by AdvanceMed Hanford that one of the workers exposed to vapors had a medical issue that would require the worker to stay out of areas with organic vapors. Washington River Protection Solutions declined to discuss what the medical issue was because of medical privacy laws, but such a restriction would be ordered for a lung issue.

The stop remains in effect until Washington River Protection Solutions knows more about whether vapors could have harmed the worker.