Oregon Public Broadcasting

Some people sickened by beryllium say the toxic metal is finally getting adequate attention at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.

The Department of Energy has completed a long awaited report on workers' exposure toberyllium.But as Correspondent Anna King reports the document has not yet been made public.

Beryllium is a light-weight metal that was used to seal radioactive rods. In fine particles it can get into the lungs.

Craig Hall worked at Hanford. He was diagnosed with Chronic Beryllium Disease more than 10 years ago. Since then he's been warning of the dangers of beryllium, but says he was ignored.

Now a federal investigation has resulted in a 100-page draft report by the Department of Energy's Office of Health Safety and Security. Hall was one of the few people who were allowed to see it this week.

Hall says he thinks the findings could have more critical of Hanford managers. But he says the issue has reached a tipping point.Craig Hall: "They've not done what they needed to do, some of these people at Hanford. So I think there is a new ray of sunshine going on and I think they are going to fix this, I hope."Hall is pushing for more beryllium testing at Hanford.

The Department of Energy had several large meetings in the Tri-Cities this week to inform workers about the risks of beryllium.