unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (10/04/89)
Forwarded-From : GREENPEACE Newsline
NEWS RELEASE
NEW URANIUM MINES HOLDING BACK RADIATION PROTECTION OF
CANADIAN WORKERS: GREENPEACE
TORONTO, September 7, 1989 -- Greenpeace today charged
the Federal government is placing workers in Canada's
nuclear industry at greater risks from radiation than
similar workers in the UK and Sweden.
In a research report submitted to the Canadian Labour
Congress' TASKFORCE ON NUCLEAR ENERGY, Greenpeace said
that the Federal and Saskatchewan governments' drive to
open new uranium mines is the reason that Canada is
falling behind the international community in
protecting nuclear workers from radiation.
The report, entitled "Current Politics of Radiation
Protection in Canada", found that:
- the Canadian 'allowable' radiation dose to workers in
the nuclear industry is more than 3 times as high as the
limit in the UK; Sweden will follow the lead of the UK
in lowering its limit in 1990;
- despite the fact that the leading international health
physics agency will likely also lower its recommended
limit in 1990, amendments now being proposed by Ottawa
will entrench the present high limit for at least a
decade;
- the Federal and Saskatchewan governments' desire to
bring new high-grade uranium mines into production is
the reason that Canada is falling behind in the
international field of radiation protection.
In June, Greenpeace was joined by the United
Steelworkers union, representing over 80% of uranium
workers in the country, in calling for a halt to the new
Cigar Lake uranium mine in Saskatchewan. The union and
Greenpeace say the radiation risks to workers will be as
much as 400 times greater than at existing mines.
Greenpeace claims that it is this fact which has
convinced the Atomic Energy Control Board to resist
international pressure to lower 'allowable' limits.
John Willis of Greenpeace said, "Protecting workers to
international standards might damage the profit line for
the uranium industry, so they are resisting the trend to
better protection."
Willis said that because of the resistance of the
uranium industry, which is heavily dominated by the
joint federal-provincial Crown corporation Cameco, all
other radiation workers "must risk their lives under
standards which are considered out of date by most
scientists in the field". These workers include nuclear
reactor operators, health care workers, industrial
radiographers, and others.
-30-
Further Information:
John Willis, Ian Fairlie
Greenpeace (416) 538-6470
* Origin: >> You can't sink a Rainbow << [Echo-coordinator] (2:513/13.1302)
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