Workers exposed to harmful radiation at NAS Fallon

The practice of X-raying aircraft has been shut down at NAS Fallon after at least two Boeing workers were exposed to potentially harmful doses of radiation over the past three months.

Boeing Company officials confirmed Thursday that two of its employees were exposed to radiation while working around a Navy X-ray machine that should have been turned off.

The machine is used to check for metal fatigue on Navy fighter jets, which Boeing is contracted to maintain at NAS Fallon. The machine is owned and maintained by the Navy but operated by the civilian employees.

Boeing spokesperson Paul Guse said the two men who received the highest doses of radiation have been examined at a California hospital, but the full effects of the exposure are not yet known.

The employees are now back at work, waiting to see what the extent of their injuries will be.

According to a memo sent out to Boeing's nearly 200 employees at the base earlier this month, a preliminary investigation by the Navy indicated the machine was staying powered up while everything appeared powered down.

Base and company officials are still trying to determine what exactly happened and the exact amount of radiation each man received.

"We are working closely with the Navy in investigating this incident," Guse said, "as well as providing the necessary health care for those employees involved."

The problem was discovered on May 26, when the second employee received a dangerous dose.

Lab tests, however, suggest the problem with the x-ray equipment had been present for more than two months before that.

Employees working near the X-ray machines are required to wear radiation badges called dosimeters. The badges are periodically sent to a private lab for testing and the results are returned to the Navy.

Badges sent in from early March showed high levels of radiation exposure but the results didn't make it back to the Navy until after the second incident, more than two months later, according to base spokesperson Zip Upham.

According to Boeing, four employees received some radiation exposure but only two were dosed with enough to cause physical symptoms.

An official with the Navy Radiological Affairs Support Office, which will be investigating the apparent malfunction, declined comment Thursday and base and Boeing officials said they did not know how long it will take to issue their report.

"Based on the final results of that investigation, Boeing will take the necessary action to ensure the safety of our employees," Guse said.