Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson and officials from UA Local 598 along with the group Hanford Challenge have filed with a federal court to force immediate changes to safety procedures at Hanford.

The trio are hoping the court will force Washington River Protection Service to immediately implement numerous safety changes at the Hanford Tank Farms, including the use of breathing apparatus equipment anywhere in the tank farm area.

Currently the SCBA or Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus equipment is only required or worn in certain areas where vapors are known to be present. But since the beginning of the year, over 50 workers in various areas of the farm have been exposed to vapors, a number of them becoming sick or experiencing physical reactions.

Vapors from the waste storage tanks at Hanford have been known to exist for decades, but now the labor unions and worker are putting their foot down.

Local 598 called for a work stop until the SCBA and other safety practices they asked for are put into place. A trial on the issue has been set for next May, but officials say the can't wait that long.  Among the safety procedures, officials want a new perimeter of some 200 feet extended around the farm areas where safety equipment will be worn, mandatory use of breathing equipment inside known vapor zones, and installation and use of additional vapor detection and warning equipment beyond existing zones.

There are other safety measures they want to see as well.

More From 870 AM KFLD