1/ For decades, @LosAlamosNatLab and the U.S.’s other nuclear labs put atomic progress ahead of workers’ safety.
In the late ‘90s, the government apologized and promised to change.
But have they?
bit.ly/2At5Gfx
In the late ‘90s, the government apologized and promised to change.
But have they?
bit.ly/2At5Gfx
2/ Chad Walde was one of 1,400+ nuke workers who've said they've been exposed to radiation over the last 20 years.
Chad died from a rare brain cancer last year.
This is his story.
Chad died from a rare brain cancer last year.
This is his story.
3/ Chad remembered safety problems.
In May 2000, a wildfire shut down the lab for weeks. He noticed some employees had badges pinned to their chest monitoring their radiation exposure. He wasn’t issued one for over a year.
The lab didn’t monitor his radiation in 1999 or 2000.
In May 2000, a wildfire shut down the lab for weeks. He noticed some employees had badges pinned to their chest monitoring their radiation exposure. He wasn’t issued one for over a year.
The lab didn’t monitor his radiation in 1999 or 2000.
4/ Years later, Chad came home one night dressed in an outfit made of paper after being sprayed down with hard water to wash off potential radioactive particles, he told his wife — a process known as a “Silkwood shower.”
His records didn’t mention this.
His records didn’t mention this.
5/ Los Alamos spokesman Kevin Roark said the lab “maintains a comprehensive archive of worker radiation dosimetry data.”
santafenewmexican.com/news/local_new…
santafenewmexican.com/news/local_new…
6/ When Chad applied for cancer benefits, he found his file had no mention of these instances.
Many workers had similar stories: Their recollection of events didn’t match the govt’s.
Los Alamos Lab said radiation exposures have been “consistently recorded.”
Many workers had similar stories: Their recollection of events didn’t match the govt’s.
Los Alamos Lab said radiation exposures have been “consistently recorded.”
7/ As an electrician, Chad had access to nearly every building on site — from old nuclear sites to modern labs. Let’s take a look at Chad’s radiation exposure…
8/ 👉The lab didn’t start monitoring until nearly two years after he started.
👉The lab recorded zero exposure 11 out of 14 years.
👉The lab said he was exposed to radiation that’s well below safety limits. (Have you worked in a lab? bit.ly/2Q3lGKE)
👉The lab recorded zero exposure 11 out of 14 years.
👉The lab said he was exposed to radiation that’s well below safety limits. (Have you worked in a lab? bit.ly/2Q3lGKE)
9/ Chad told his wife that he remembers being exposed to radiation in years that are listed as “0” or have low hits on his radiation report.
10/ In 2014, Chad was diagnosed with Stage 4 glioblastoma. Chad learned that one of the only known environmental risk factors for glioblastoma is radiation exposure.
His lab supervisor told him he’d get Chad paperwork to apply for federal compensation.
His lab supervisor told him he’d get Chad paperwork to apply for federal compensation.
11/ After reviewing the documents, the gov’t said there was only a 2.67% chance that his cancer was related to radiation exposure from the lab.
To get benefits, that percentage needed to be 50%.
Chad was denied.
To get benefits, that percentage needed to be 50%.
Chad was denied.
12/ Chad had 3 surgeries and 19 rounds of chemo.
Doctors said he had 6-12 months to live.
Doctors said he had 6-12 months to live.
13/ One month after his last surgery, his doctor wrote a letter to the Department of Labor.
Chad’s diagnosis, it said, could be related to his chronic uranium exposure.
But by that point, Chad’s health was rapidly declining.
Chad’s diagnosis, it said, could be related to his chronic uranium exposure.
But by that point, Chad’s health was rapidly declining.
14/ Chad died in June 2017 after a 33-month battle with cancer.
His outstanding medical bills will be compensated only if the government agrees there were gaps in the lab’s record-keeping.
Until then, his wife can only think over what-ifs.
His outstanding medical bills will be compensated only if the government agrees there were gaps in the lab’s record-keeping.
Until then, his wife can only think over what-ifs.
16/ What do you know about national labs and the people who work in them? We’d like to hear from you.
Every response helps us see a more complete picture of stories like Chad’s.
bit.ly/2Q3lGKE
Every response helps us see a more complete picture of stories like Chad’s.
bit.ly/2Q3lGKE
17/ ... and don’t forget to sign up for our Big Story newsletter and get major investigations like this send directly to your inbox when they are live:
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