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JUL 13 2009 PM P.03 2- are deaning a small amount of ps that would not fill a tea cup, it seemed like heavy duty black rubber gloves that came almost to the elbow, and made it difficult to hang onto small parts were un-necessary. Such a deardng job might take less than a minute. On bigger jobs, I usually used the gloves. Big jobs, such as deaning tanks, ducting or piping were done outside. We would try to stand up wind during these periods1 StilL we would get some TCE fumes, and sometimes get splashes onto our dothing, ever' though we had on protective aprons and boots. Most of the ICE used outdoors was caught by buckets or other means for recycling. Full protection "Greyhghf suits were Issued only for most hazardous Jobs, as will be covered later. While the company did have a fine safety program which instilled many safety procedures In me, which I still practice, It could have been stronger. For example, our shop had a "Safety Man", a fellow mechanic. A peer1 What man wants to report fellow workers for safety violations? Only rarely was a mechanic reported for violations. The company also had a "demerit program for all kinds of vlolatlont Demerits resulted in a temporary halt of scheduled pay raises until they were worked off on a predetermined time schedule. If enough demerits were accrued, the employee was fired. I never had any demerits during my entire employment Hind sight tells me that only supervisory personal rather than ones peers should have been in that responsible position, with authority to use dlsdplinary action. }IYDRAZINE CONTAMINATION In aprox. 1958, the company started experimenting with Methyl Hydrazine (MH). MR was known at that time as a carcinogen, resulting In possible leukemia. I was assigned to a team Irained to use full Greylight protective dothing, Including boots, suit hood, gloves, and a Scottpak breathing supply. The suit sleeves and legs were taped to prevent spills from entering. Once each month our blood was drawn for testing. Our assignment was to decontaminate test engines, and other components1 Shortly after MR testing began, It was accidentally discovered It had seeped Into ground water, after a day labor had drank some cool, apparently fresh well water. He became quite ill and was In the mean time, ALL the employees were washing their hands in that same water used in all the restrooms. The MR had seeped Into the ground water from the "burn ponds" in front of all the large engine test stands. I believe only the BOWL, TRE, and CU test sights were involved with MEL It Is Important to note here, during my entire employment at SSFL, all drinking water was bottled and provided by outside vendors. After the initial acddenl something resembling water softener tanks were Installed, and furnished by vendors. However, as far as I recall, well water continued to be used In all the restroom facilities.
JUL 13 2009 PM P.05 1/ Shortly thereafter, all the PS were loaded onto a bus. I estimate about 25 PS were Involvect We were taken to the fire station in Area 1 and ushered Inside. We were watched carefully and ordered to shampoo and shower thoroughly. We were loaned company coveralls to wear home. We were not permitted to wear any of our except for shoes and socks. We were ordered to have our wife's launder our dothing that very nlghl and return the coveralls the next day. Neither the regular firemen nor the company said anything about a "midear meltdown, or nudear acddent or possible nuclear contasninattot. No warnings or inslructi.ons other then the above were given. ifowever, we didn't have to be a scientist to figure out what probably had happenecl The first admission of a "nudear, acddent" I learned of was in the Valley Daily Newspaper In about the early 1980's. M1JLPTABLE MYLOMA, (Bone Marrow Cancer) Due to chest pains caused by scar tissue from a minor heart attack in 1964,1 began riding a blcyde for cardiac exercise In Dec., 1989. Within 9 months, I was riding 15 n'dles, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The chest pains were now completely gone, with no nifro pills used during this six year perioct. In By Nov.1995, I bad to stop all bike riding due to bad: and neck pain. I bad trouble holding my head up enough to see oncoming traffic. Also, the small cracks In the pavement caused great pain when I went over thent I continued exercising on a stair dimber machine. Finally due to increased pain In April of 19%, 1 was diagnosed with the above cancer. I was put on 1 year of State Disability, and in Sept. 1996;! started receiving Social Security Disability payments. State cftsability stopped In AprIl, 19%. My medical treatments are as follows: March, 1996 - hospitalized 1 week. I received a "Porta Cath" In a surgical procedure, started 4 days of chemo therapy and 1 month of radiation. I was hospitalized each month for the following 5 months for chemo, followed by an Infusion of Aridla, which helps rebuild bone. For the next 5 months, I received oral chemo at home. Following my last hopitalisaffon In Nov.1996, and continuing to date, and to continue for the rest of my life, I receive an Intravenous Infusion of Ariclia. The current results of the bone eating cancer left me 3 Inches shorter. Two vertebra in my neck were damaged. and 3 vertebrae In my mid back collapsed. As aresultof this damage, I anitimited to lifting no more than 20 pounds, and I have minor nerve damage effecting by left arm and hand, and occasional tingling In my left foot The pain in by back and related rib area never goes away except when I am asleep. Sleep is very difficult as I can only stay on my back, or either side no more than about 2 hours, 4 on very rare occasions. I
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