US Army officials at McAlester Army Ammunition plant awaiting air quality tests, report still outstanding

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Officials at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant are awaiting air quality test to determine if improvements in a building where bombs are filled have decreased workers' chances

Monday, January 10th 2005, 7:27 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Officials at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant are awaiting air quality test to determine if improvements in a building where bombs are filled have decreased workers' chances of getting exposed to TNT.

The bomb production line closed in September after 34 employees tested positive for low levels of oxygen in their blood from exposure to TNT.

Also outstanding is a written report that would detail how those employees were exposed to the explosive powder and what safety and policy changes had been made since the bomb line shut down.

The report, which was expected weeks after the bomb line ceased production, will be available no later than January 27th.

Ammunition plant public affairs officer Mark Hughes says the report was delayed because officials were waiting on a medical team's analysis.

The 34 workers who tested positive for TNT exposure have returned to normal health. Those workers have not reported any continuing health problems. At the time they were tested, some said there were experiencing fatigue and headaches.