SRNL WILL LEAD REVIEW OF HANFORD CHEMICAL VAPORS

After more than two dozen Hanford tank farm workers this spring needed medical attention for exposure to chemical vapors, Savannah River National Laboratory will lead a panel review of hazardous vapor management and worker protection measures for contractor Washington River Protection Solutions. SRNL will establish the panel and manage communications with WRPS, and has promised to make the report public. “While a number of steps have been taken and improvements made in recent years to address chemical vapors hazards, the latest set of exposures shows that more work needs to be done. This new review, with its broad scope and the involvement of recognized experts, will make a difference in better protecting Hanford workers from future chemical vapor exposures,” WRPS President and Project Manager Dave Olson said in a statement.  

 

SRNL Director Terry Michalske said in a statement: “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. This is one more important way that the National Lab can provide relevant scientific and technical assistance for the safe execution of a critical DOE environmental management mission.”