Antinuclear

BHP Billiton fudges radiation exposure levels of uranium mine workers

The whistleblower produced documents that show BHP uses manipulated averages and distorted sampling to ensure the figures are below the maximum exposure levels set by government…..managed to manipulate the sampling by transferring workers, whose exposures were escalating, to a different area

Radiation unsafe at BHP’s Olympic Dam: whistleblower, Sydney Morning Herald, June 4, 2010 Workers at BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam are being exposed to unsafe levels of radiation, according to a company whistleblower.

BHP Billiton has been warned about the risks at Roxby Downs, but according to South Australian Upper House Greens MP Mark Parnell the company has failed to take action.
Mr Parnell says the levels of polonium-210, the toxic by-product of uranium production, have breached health standards.

The whistleblower produced documents that show BHP uses manipulated averages and distorted sampling to ensure the figures are below the maximum exposure levels set by government, he said.

‘‘It’s a uranium mine, it’s radioactive, it’s dangerous and people work there and there will always be questions around occupational health and safety in a uranium mine,’’ Mr Parnell said.

Although he’s been aware of the situation for some years, Mr Parnell said until the whistleblower, who works in the plant, came forward late last year there was no evidence of the practices.
The company had managed to manipulate the sampling by transferring workers, whose exposures were escalating, to a different area, he said…….

When BHP released its environmental impact statement for its planned expansion, Mr Parnell said it showed it was ‘‘business as usual’’ and the company was not proposing any improvements to occupational health and safety standards.

‘‘As the mine expands, potentially more people will be exposed,’’ he said. ‘‘Every time they’ve reviewed safe radiation exposure standards, they’ve been lowered.

Radiation unsafe at BHP’s Olympic Dam: whistleblower

June 11, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets and lies, South Australia, uranium | antinuclear, Australia, BHP, BHP Billiton, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, secrets and lies, South Australia, uranium