Fun Facts About John Laesch #1

FUN FACT: Did you know that John Laesch often works in nuclear power plants?

This photo was taken in a training center because cameras are not allowed in the plant itself. Union carpnters build scaffolds and perform several other jobs in nuclear plants. During the winter months when electricity demand is lower, nuclear plants go through “outages.” The nuclear plant is turned off for 17-30 days while the spent nuclear fuel is changed for fresh rods. Routine maintenance and equipment upgrades are planned during these outages.

Carpenters build scaffolds in difficult-to-access locations so other workers can check, repair or replace valves, snubbers, worn-out pipes, or other equipment. John typically works the night shift and has been the drywell foreman at his “home plant,” LaSalle Station. The drywell exposes workers to the highest levels of radiation. It requires quick, safe work that is carefully planned out and effectively communicated to everyone involved.

Workers wear the yellow suit to protect against radiological contamination and an electronic dosimeter (ED) in the lefthand breast pocket measures radiation exposure. The ED alarms when prior to radiological limits being exceeded. Some work areas expose workers to elevated temperatures, tight cramped areas, or radiologically “dirty” areas that require a second suit or special respirator.

John has a lifetime radiation exposure of about 3 REM. Some workers who have been in these plants for decades have accumulated 50+ REM. A number of nuclear workers contract cancer or brain tumors later in life, but John feels that the most dangerous part of the job is driving home after a 12-hour shift. It seems like we lose someone every year who dozes off at the wheel after a long shift, driving home on icy roads.

Over the years, John has written several articles for the Carpenters’ Magazine. One of his articles featured the rise of Danielle Hernandez (another former Local 195 member) who rose to the rank of General Foreman, the first female to accomplish this while working as an Exelon subcontractor. I was allowed to take a camera into the plant to shoot several pics and this selfie of Dani and me.

It is January and very shortly my friends will be walking the bitter cold mile into work at LaSalle Station – work safe and stay motivated. #UnionStrong