Workers exposed to radioactive material at former nuke weapons plant
GOLDEN, Colorado (AP) -- For the second time in a week, an accident exposed workers to minor levels of radioactive material at the Rocky Flats former nuclear weapons plant.
Eight such accidents were reported at the plant in all of last year.
A contractor, Kaiser-Hill, is being paid $7 billion to clean up the site and could receive a bonus if it completes the job before the end of 2006.
"They're anxious to close Rocky Flats, so we ask, `Are they being hasty? Are they being sloppy?"' said Steve Gunderson, the state health department's official in charge of monitoring Rocky Flats.
However, he said he had concluded that the two accidents were unrelated and didn't indicate a pattern of problems.
Kaiser-Hill is investigating the incidents and "will make any appropriate changes if any are deemed necessary," company spokesman John Corsi said.
In the latest accident, a filter fell off an exhaust fan system Monday, releasing accumulated contamination. Two of the six workers in the affected room at the time tested positive for possible minor contamination and will be tested further, Department of Energy spokesman Pat Etchart said.
The exposure appeared to be well below federal limits, Gunderson said.
Five days earlier, workers were installing a filter system in a separate building when air from a contaminated room backed into the rest of the building. Three of the 33 workers involved showed minimal exposure and were undergoing further testing.
No radioactive material escaped from the buildings, Etchart said.
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