The Department of Energy expects to continue modified schedules at the Hanford Site in Washington state throughout the summer as the area continues to struggle with oppressive heat, according to a recent Defense Facilities Safety Board report.
The staff report dated July 2 and recently posted online on the safety board’s website details some of the complications caused at the former plutonium production site as a result of “record-breaking high temperatures,” that occurred since late June.
“Impacts included reduced outdoor operations, temporary closure of the site’s primary health clinic, modified work schedules and increased telework, cases of heat exhaustion, out-of-service decontamination facilities due to high water temperature, and reduced 222-S laboratory functions because of cooling system malfunctions,” according to the report by the board’s two on-site inspectors for Hanford.
“As of this report, most of the impacts to site infrastructure, including the 222-S laboratory have been addressed,” according to the document. “However modified work schedules to mitigate heat stress will most likely continue through the summer for many projects.”
“Heat precautions are still working well,” a DOE spokesperson at Hanford told Weapons Complex Morning Briefing late last week.
The high temperature Sunday at Richland, Wash., one of the towns near Hanford, reached 103 degrees Fahrenheit. Daytime highs are forecast to be at or near 100 degrees through Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
The fire danger at the Hanford Site continues to be “extreme” according to the DOE website for Hanford run by the Leidos-led site services contractor.
