SRNL TO Conduct Review of Tank Vapors
WC Monitor
5/2/2014
The Savannah River National Laboratory will lead an independent review of chemical vapors and worker protection at the Hanford tank farms, it announced late last week. Early this week, two more workers reported smelling tank vapors, this time at the C Tank Farm where work began April 27 to empty waste from Tank C-102. That brings the number of workers receiving medical evaluations this spring for possible exposure to chemical vapors to 28. The watchdog group Hanford Challenge has criticized the choice of the national lab to lead the review, saying it was self-serving, and cautioned workers about cooperating with the study. DOE has a history of retaliation against workers who raise concerns or become ill, Hanford Challenge said. This will be the third independent study of tank vapors in recent years, with Washington River Protection Solutions asking Savannah River for broader analysis and recommendations than technical reviews in 2008 and 2010 provided. The expanded scope is expected to be determined after a review of the previous studies, which were organized through the Hanford Concerns Council. “SRNL’s role is to ensure that the best experts are brought in and given full latitude to ask hard questions and make their recommendations,” said Terry Michalske, the national lab’s director.
A number of steps to protect worker safety have been taken in recent years, but the exposures this spring show that more work needs to be done, said Dave Olson, WRPS president. “This new review, with its broad scope and the involvement of recognized experts, will make a difference in protecting Hanford workers from future chemical vapor exposures,” he said. Among other work, the panel will look at the technology now used to provide protection against inhalation and other contact with tank vapors and additional technology that may be available. Kevin Smith, manager of the DOE Office of River Protection, has said that he is interested in newly available technology that can test the personal breathing space of individual workers for vapors. Now, when vapors are smelled and industrial hygienists then try to detect them, they often have already dispersed into the air.
The independent team also will look at the four years of data gathered as part of the tank farm industrial hygiene program since the last independent review and the actions that resulted. It will examine the adequacy of present policies, protections and responses to potential vapor exposures. It also will look at how to improve data collection and analysis to develop ways to protect both the overall workforce and individual workers and to evaluate their health.
Study to Put Issue ‘To Bed Once and For All,’ DOE Says
Smith said he was disappointed that a worker advocacy group would discourage workers from cooperating in an investigation intended to protect their health and safety. The study will put the full resources of the national laboratory system behind the investigation to not just study the chemical vapor issue, “but put it to bed once and for all,” he said. “We are going to solve this issue.” Hanford Challenge played a role in the previous two studies through Carpenter’s position on the council, with Hanford tank farm contractors and the advocacy group working together to produce independent and credible industrial hygiene reviews and responses, according to Hanford Challenge. The Hanford Concerns Council set protocols and processes that inspired worker confidence, Carpenter said. Workers could request an off-site interview to make sure managers did not know they were talking to investigators, he said. Worker privacy will be protected in the new study, Smith said in response. They may participate anonymously if they choose, he said.
Group Challenges Independence of Study
Hanford Challenge also criticized the independence of the study, both because of the DOE link between the national lab and Hanford and because Olson came to Hanford after serving as president of Savannah River Remediation. “Hanford workers and federal taxpayers deserve a timely, credible review. And this isn’t it,” Carpenter said. Some improvements were made following the last studies—including raising stacks that emit vapors—but management turnover in recent years has caused some of the recent history to be forgotten, Carpenter said. Because so many chemicals are potentially in vapors and in such small amounts, preventing exposure is the only way to protect workers, Carpenter said. He favors stacks that would vent waste far into the desert, having workers use supplied air when work is being done that increases the risk of vapors and using charcoal scrubbers to capture chemicals.
Smith said all options are on the table as DOE looks for ways to better protect workers. It might not be possible to fully eliminate vapors, but his goal is drive vapor exposure to as close to extinction as possible, he said. “We really want to be a healthy environment for all workers,” he said.
Tank Farms Contractor Works to Address Issue
WRPS continues to address tank vapor issues as it waits for the independent recommendations. Workers in the A Tanks complex have been wearing respirators since early April. A team of the contractor’s engineers has been assembled to look for potential improvements, starting with the A Tanks complex. It will provide a new assessment of vapor release sources, dispersion modeling, and equipment and infrastructure options such as stack extensions. The reorganized Chemical Vapors Solutions Team met last week, with both Mission Support Alliance and CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Co. sending members to the team. Team members will serve on sub-teams that will pursue improvement projects and recommend actions to the full team. Members also will serve as a conduit to the team for worker questions and concerns. In addition, staff from the Hanford Site medical provider, HPMC Occupational Medical Services, met with some tank farm workers to discuss its practices related to tank vapor incidents. Several actions were identified to address worker concerns, Olson told employees in a memo.
C Tank Farm is the only area at Hanford were waste is being retrieved, which increases the chance that workers will smell vapors as the waste is disturbed. Work was moving quickly on Tank C-102 as retrieval began this week, which is typical as work begins to empty tanks, said Rob Roxburgh, WRPS spokesman. The tank contains 319,000 gallons of waste and WRPS is using two enhanced-reach sluicing systems in the tank. The two workers who smelled the vapors were cleared to return to work later that day. However, some workers exposed to vapors in September and December have not returned to work, Carpenter said. Continuing symptoms of some of those exposed late in 2013 and this spring include persistent coughing, headaches, shortness of breath and disorientation, he said. He is concerned that workers eventually could develop cancer because of the chemical exposure, he said.
The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board staff reported in a recently released weekly report that incidents in the A Tanks complex and the S Tank Farm appear to be the result of tank vapors. But an incident at the T Tank Farm appears to be the result of nearby herbicide spraying, according to the report.
Bechtel Creates New Quality Position
WC Monitor
5/2/2014
Bechtel Corp. has assigned its corporate head of quality to take over leadership of quality, engineering, procurement and other key functions at Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant. A new position was created for Michael Costas, and he will report directly to Peggy McCullough, project director of the plant. He will supervise construction, plant startup and safeguards and security. McCullough said he will drive upgrades to systems engineering, supplier quality and process improvement. “Michael joins the project at a critical time, as we ramp up our engineering and construction activities,” said Craig Albert, president of Bechtel’s government services business unit. Bechtel is continuously looking for ways to strengthen the quality culture at the Hanford plant, he said.
