Workers poisoned

Press, 19 August 1978, Page 9

Workers poisoned

NZPA London One of the world’s leading authorities on radiology is to conduct an independent inquiry into health and safety standards at the British Aldermaston atomic weapons establishment. where 12 workers have been contaminated by plutonium dust. Sir Edward Pochin, a phy-i sician and consultant to the | National Radiological Protec-i tion Board, is expected to! have a report ready for the Defence Secretary (Mr Fred Mulley) in about two months. News of the inquiry by Sir Edward came as a union ! official claimed that scientists identified the first case of suspected plutonium poi-: Zoning at Aldermaston in February. Plutonium can! cause some cancers. Ernie Brown, convener for the Engineering Union and a j member of Aldermaston’s: ■ health and safety committee, I also said that "hundreds ofj personnel have yet to be | checked.” Mr Brown said: "Everyone I has to submit urine samples ’once a month. We thought ■ that was sufficient and we had confidence in the management. “We are not scientists, land obviously it wasn’t good enough.” The second case was disI covered in March when, said IMr Brown, the management ; agreed to close the centre’s ’ radioactive waste-disposal unit for two months.