Energy Dept. Safety Policy Puts Weapons Facilities on Notice

WASHINGTON — Nuclear weapons plants would be subject to surprise audits and immediate shutdown if conditions were found to be unsafe under a new Energy Department safety policy unveiled Wednesday.

Energy Secretary Hazel O’Leary said the department plans “a vigorous and comprehensive effort” to assure safety to workers as well as the public at nuclear weapons facilities in more than a dozen states.

Critics have accused the department of paying little attention to safety and workers’ health over the years as it concentrated on testing and producing nuclear weapons during the Cold War.

A recent congressional report concluded that the department is not prepared to safeguard thousands of workers who soon will be involved in the cleanup of radioactive wastes at weapons plants.

O’Leary acknowledged shortcomings, but noted that the author of the report by Congress’ Office of Technology Assessment has been tapped to become the department’s top safety officer.

Saying she is determined to bring about “a new ethic” that puts safety first, O’Leary said the new initiatives would move the department in that direction.

The new safety policy provides:

* More authority to the assistant secretary for environment, health and safety, including the ability to conduct surprise inspections of weapons plants and shut down operations if unsafe conditions are found.

* Closer scrutiny of worker conditions at weapons plants and laboratories by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

* Gradually declassifying department documents, including health and safety records. The records for years have been sought by outside researchers to better assess the danger to the public at weapons plants.

* Creation of new safety committees at Energy Department facilities across the country.