Plutonium Exposure Case Study

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Exposing workers to plutonium Angela Harrison Columbia Southern University July 2, 2013 Exposing Workers to Plutonium The case study Exposing Workers to Plutonium discusses how in the late 1990’s it was discovered that thousands of workers/employees were exposed to plutonium at the Department of Energy of the United States government plant in Paduca, Kentucky. Exposures resulted due to the managing advising the workers that their exposure to plutonium was very minute; therefore, the workers did not wear any type of safety equipment. Studies of the area surrounding the plant, have determined that uranium has contaminated wildlife areas and private water wells. The studies have also discovered that there was a higher rate of workers with cancer from ionized radiation (Beauchamp, Bowie, & Arnold, 2009, pp. 172-173). Should management in the plant make a full disclosure of known risks, even when the risks are believed to be insignificant? Yes, of course, management should disclose all risks. Ethically and morally, the workers’ right is to choose whether to work in the environment after they have knowledge of the risks. If managers neglected to tell workers of the risks, they would go directly against OSHA’s goals. OSHA’s goals are to reduce occupational hazards through intervention, promote a safety and health environment through compliance, cooperative programs and strong leadership and maximize effectiveness and efficiency by strengthening capabilities and infrastructure (OSHA). The text discusses that workers’ rights include needing to know all information and the basis of the assumed risks to decide whether the risks are acceptable to them. It is the employer’s responsibility to educate their employees and the employees’ right to refuse to work in such conditions (Beauchamp, Bowie, & Arnold, 2009, p. 110). The case study asks
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