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Editor’s note: This story includes descriptions and references to allegations of sexual harassment. For more information, see our editorial standards.
Dive brief:
- A former employee of a major nuclear construction project filed a lawsuit in federal court in June against her former supervisor and a Bechtel unit over claims she was repeatedly sexually harassed at work.
- The lawsuit was filed by Madalyn Jennings, the only female apprentice electrician at the Hanford Vit plant in Richland, Washington. It described a persistent pattern of inappropriate behavior by general foreman George “Buster” Elgin, according to the filing.
- According to court documents, Elgin made frequent comments about Jennings’ appearance, asked her to send photographs of herself, sent her non-work related texts and repeatedly exposed her breast. Elgin allegedly escalated his harassment over time and retaliated against Jennings after she reported the incidents, ultimately leading to Jennings’ termination.
Diving knowledge:
The suitwhich was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, names Elgin, Waste Treatment Completion Co. and Bechtel National, the government services arm of Reston, Virginia-based Bechtel, as defendants.
On behalf of Bechtel and WTPP, spokeswoman Staci West said in an emailed statement: “Bechtel does not tolerate harassment, intimidation or discrimination of any kind and is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace. Since this matter is the subject of pending litigation, it would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this time.”
According to the filing, Jennings’ husband, Gary Jennings, who also worked at the plant as an electrician, was also harassed by Elgin.
Elgin also repeatedly claimed he was “bulletproof” while on the job and said he was “untouchable” because of his family’s five-generation legacy as officers working at the Hanford site, according to court documents. The lawsuit claims the IBEW Local 112 union hall is named Elgin Hall, in honor of his grandfather. The lawsuit also describes the harassment of Madalyn Jennings by Elgin’s father, Skip Elgin, who worked in the supply store at the job site where Madalyn Jennings was assigned.
After a broken finger, Madalyn Jennings was unable to perform her assigned duties and was not provided with reasonable accommodations, according to the complaint. She left in September 2024, and Gary Jennings left later that month because of continued harassment, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit seeks multiple forms of relief, including lost wages, emotional distress, attorneys’ fees and other damages.
The construction industry has a history of harassment and discrimination. In 2023, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission criticized the construction industry hostility toward “men of color and women of all races and ethnicities.” Additionally, a 2021 report from the Women’s Policy Research Institute found that 26.5% of women who work in construction they reported that they are “always or often bullied just for being a woman.”
Waste Treatment Completion Co. is a Bechtel-AECOM entity created to complete construction and lead the start-up and commissioning of nuclear waste treatment sites at the Hanford site, which is a project that aims to turn 56 million gallons of radioactive waste into glass which can be safely disposed of, according to the Department of Energy.
