As if figuring out how to safely resume operations during a pandemic isn’t tough enough, the Energy Department’s Hanford Site in Washington state continues to tell many workers to stay home because of smoky air.
Poor air quality from fires across Oregon and Washington prompted Hanford management to keep many non-essential employees home again today.
As it has since the weekend, Hanford announced on its website Tuesday that non-essential workers north and south of the Wye Barricade, including Richland, should stay home at least through today’s day shift.
Telecommuters and workers deemed essential to maintain minimum safe operations are to follow their normal work schedules, according to the notice.
The Energy Department did not immediately say by press time roughly how many people are staying home because of the poor air quality resulting from northwest wildfires.
Hanford cleanup work is now in Phase 2 of DOE’s effort to gradually resume pre-COVID-19 levels of operation. As of a couple of weeks ago, roughly 50% of Hanford’s normal 11,000 member federal-and contractor workforce were back working inside the fence, after the site went to minimal staffing from mid-March to late May. Roughly 45% are still teleworking and the remaining 5% are on leave.
Wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington state have placed air quality in the hazardous range everywhere from San Francisco to Seattle, media reported Tuesday.
