Ill. Lawmaker Questions Safety; Temp Workers Used at Uranium Processing Plant

For Immediate Release:  January 18, 2011

Contact: John Paul Smith, (618) 638-7894 or jsmith@usw7-669.com

Metropolis, IL (Jan. 18) – A safety report titled, “Communities at Risk?” was released today by USW Local 7-669 leaders highlighting potential hazards by the use of temporary, unskilled workers hired by Honeywell International during a six-month lockout at the nation’s largest uranium conversion processing plant.

“We’ve become gravely concerned for the safety of the greater Metropolis-Paducah (KY) community, especially since the Dec. 22 release of hydrofluoric acid, the NRC citations and the pending OSHA inspection of the Honeywell plant,” said Darrell Lillie, USW Local 7-669 President, representing 230 workers locked out by the company since Jun. 28.

Illinois State Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg-118^th Dist) had harsh words for Honeywell management at Metropolis union hall on release of the report. He called on the federal regulatory agencies with responsibility for the plant operations to order a safe shutdown until a new labor agreement is negotiated and the skilled union workers can return to their jobs.

The state legislator joined the USW local president in urging immediate action by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).

Illinois State Rep. Phelps declared: “In light of the community safety report, it is irresponsible for Honeywell to keep operating” He said. “The warning signs were made clear in the report. It’s not a question of if, but when a disaster will occur.”

According to a summary of the report made by USW Local 7-669 President Lillie, he said it documented that up to 1.12 million pounds of hydrofluoric acid at a time were in use at Honeywell Metropolis Works. “Honeywell has acknowledged that a release of just 16 percent of this amount of hydrofluoric acid could impact as many as 128,000 people in the surrounding 25 mile radius.”

He added, “Everyone only needs to remember the release of hydrofluoric acid on Dec. 22, 2010, which triggered emergency sirens and activated the facility’s emergency mitigation towers, which are designed to spray water in an attempt to knock down escaping gas. Fortunately, the incident didn’t cause any reported injuries.”

The primary product made at Metropolis Works is uranium hexafluoride, called UF6.  According to Lillie, it’s a radioactive substance that is used to produce nuclear energy. Other hazardous chemicals used in storage at Honeywell Metropolis are: Fluorine; Sulfuric Acid; Potassium Hydroxide and Ammonia.

“Inside the plant, our union members are the guardians of safety. At the present time, the inexperienced temps are in the Honeywell Metropolis plant and under the thumb of management without the needed training and without a commitment to community safety.”

The Local 7-669 president pledged to continue efforts to bargain in good faith with Honeywell, but he also promised: “We will not bargain away worker safety, or safety of the community.”

A copy of the USW community safety report, ‘Communities at Risk?’ — Potential Hazards in Metropolis (IL) and Paducah (KY) is available for download by clicking here. For more information, visit: www.usw7-669.com/.

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