The Department of Energy (DOE) has initiated Phase II of a new program designed to evaluate former workers' past exposures and potential health risks, and provide medical screening programs for former workers who are found to be at significant risk for health problems due to past exposures to USDOE workplace hazards.

Key activities during the first phase of this program included identifying the nature and extent of workplace exposures at a select number of DOE sites. Information collected by the health care professionals and labor specialists, chosen by DOE to take the lead in developing and carrying out these programs, helped determine the scope of the medical monitoring programs being offered.

Two teams were selected to evaluate and monitor target populations of former workers at the Hanford Site. The University of Washington Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program is conducting the project for former production and non-construction workers. Initially, medical screening programs will be offered to former workers who, based on their exposure history, are likely to have had significant workplace exposure to noise, beryllium and/or asbestos. Screening for additional hazards could be offered if funding is available. The Hanford Building Trades Medical Screening Program is conducting similar programs for the former building trades workforce.

Participation by all of Hanford’s former workers will greatly enhance the quality of this program and may help identify areas or facilities on DOE sites where changes could be made to protect the health of current and future workers. Your participation in this project is voluntary. There is no cost to you for enrollment in this project. Monitoring examinations will be free, though the project will not pay for any follow-up exams.

If you would like to know whether or not you are at significant risk for health problems as a result of your work at Hanford, or would like further information on these programs, please contact:

Former production or non-construction workers contact: University of Washington - Richland Office: Kathy Koons (509)946-4432 or (509)946-4673 or (800)419-9691, 1201 Jadwin Avenue - Suite 101, Richland, WA 99352

Former construction workers contact: Hanford Building Trades Medical Screening Program, (800)866-9663, PO Box 900960, Seattle, WA 98109

For More Information, See:

• DOE Hanford Home Page
• DOE Headquarters Home Page
• University of Washington Activities at Hanford

  The Department of Energy has developed this program in response to the Defense Authorization Act of 1993, Section 3162. To perform this study, under the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, employee information may be released from government owned files.