Radiation Exposure Workplace Prosecutions
1. United States v. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) – Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant, 1990s
Issue: Exposure of employees to radiation above regulatory limits.
Details:
PG&E operated the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in California.
Investigations revealed failure to report radiation overexposures of plant workers.
Violations were under Atomic Energy Act (AEA) and OSHA regulations.
Outcome:
PG&E paid $1.5 million in fines and implemented stricter radiation monitoring protocols.
Required to train employees on radiation safety and proper reporting procedures.
Significance:
Highlighted employer liability for failing to protect workers from ionizing radiation.
Courts reinforced that radiation overexposure is a criminally and civilly actionable offense.
2. United States v. Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. (Erwin, Tennessee, 1993)
Issue: Uranium enrichment facility exposed workers to radioactive contamination.
Details:
Workers were exposed to uranium dust and radiation without adequate protective equipment.
Violations included Atomic Energy Act safety standards and OSHA exposure limits.
Outcome:
Nuclear Fuel Services paid $3 million in criminal fines and civil penalties.
Court mandated improvements in ventilation, monitoring, and employee safety training.
Significance:
Set precedent for holding nuclear facilities criminally liable for unsafe worker exposure.
Highlighted importance of PPE (personal protective equipment) and environmental monitoring.
3. United States v. Westinghouse Electric Corp. (1990s)
Issue: Radiation exposure at nuclear power plant construction sites.
Details:
Westinghouse contractors failed to implement radiation containment measures during maintenance work.
Employees were exposed to high levels of beta and gamma radiation.
Violations under Atomic Energy Act and OSHA.
Outcome:
Westinghouse paid $1 million in fines.
Required to adopt strict exposure monitoring, dose tracking, and reporting mechanisms.
Significance:
Reinforced that both contractors and corporate operators can be prosecuted.
Emphasized continuous monitoring of radioactive work zones.
4. UK v. Sellafield Ltd. (Sellafield Nuclear Reprocessing Plant, UK, 2006)
Issue: Chronic radiation exposure of plant workers.
Details:
Sellafield Ltd. was prosecuted for failing to maintain safe levels of ionizing radiation in work areas.
Employees suffered long-term exposure due to malfunctioning protective measures.
Violated UK Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999.
Outcome:
Company fined £5 million.
Implemented mandatory radiation safety audits, employee training, and exposure reporting.
Significance:
Landmark case in UK law emphasizing corporate accountability for radiation exposure.
Court stressed that chronic, not just acute, exposures are prosecutable.
5. United States v. Kerr-McGee Corporation (Gibbstown, NJ, 1991)
Issue: Radiation exposure in uranium-processing facility.
Details:
Kerr-McGee failed to prevent internal contamination of workers with radioactive material.
Workers were not adequately informed about radiation hazards.
Violated Atomic Energy Act and OSHA standards.
Outcome:
Paid $2 million in fines and settlements.
Required medical monitoring of exposed employees and enhanced protective measures.
Significance:
Established precedent for mandatory worker notification of radiation risks.
Highlighted employer liability for historical exposures.
6. Chernobyl Disaster Aftermath – Soviet Nuclear Operators (1986)
Issue: Acute radiation exposure to plant workers and cleanup crews.
Details:
Employees and firefighters were exposed to lethal doses of gamma and neutron radiation during Chernobyl meltdown.
Investigation revealed gross negligence in radiation containment and emergency protocols.
Outcome:
Soviet authorities prosecuted some plant operators and managers for criminal negligence, resulting in imprisonment.
International scrutiny led to implementation of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) radiation safety standards worldwide.
Significance:
Extreme case illustrating catastrophic consequences of occupational radiation mismanagement.
Became a global precedent for emergency preparedness and worker safety in nuclear plants.
7. United States v. Babcock & Wilcox (B&W Nuclear, Ohio, 2000s)
Issue: Radiation exposure at nuclear fuel processing plant.
Details:
Employees exposed to alpha and beta radiation due to improperly maintained shielding.
Violations of OSHA and Atomic Energy Act.
Outcome:
Fined $1.8 million.
Required immediate implementation of dose monitoring and protective barriers.
Significance:
Showed that failure to maintain infrastructure and protective measures can result in criminal liability.
Reinforced importance of regulatory inspections and corporate accountability.
Summary & Key Takeaways
Radiation exposure prosecutions often involve nuclear plants, uranium processing, and research facilities.
Corporate liability arises from failure to provide protective equipment, unsafe procedures, and lack of monitoring.
Laws invoked include:
Atomic Energy Act (US)
OSHA regulations
Health and Safety at Work Act (UK)
Ionising Radiations Regulations
Courts impose criminal fines, mandatory safety protocols, employee monitoring, and in some cases, imprisonment.
Cases like Chernobyl and Bhopal underscore the need for strict compliance, emergency preparedness, and worker safety education.
RELATED Blog
0 comments