Three Hanford workers were cleared to return to work after receiving precautionary medical evaluations for odors reported today inside the 271-AW instrument building near AW Farm. Five others reported odors but declined medical evaluation. Workers were not in an area that requires use of a supplied-air respirator.

The workers were preparing an empty storage box to receive containerized tank waste samples when they reported a glue-like odor. Workers were instructed to leave the facility, and access to the area was restricted.

Shortly following the odor reports, industrial hygiene technicians conducted monitoring using direct-read instruments and did not detect anything above background levels.

Additional air samples taken and sent to the lab for analysis returned results below action levels. Access to the area has been restored.