A former apprentice electrician has filed a federal lawsuit alleging workplace harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination while working on one of the nation’s largest nuclear waste treatment construction projects.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington and names a former supervisor, Waste Treatment Completion Company, and Bechtel National as defendants.
The allegations stem from the plaintiff’s time working at the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant in Richland, Washington, a major federal project designed to safely process radioactive waste.
Lawsuit Alleges Workplace Harassment
According to the court filing, the plaintiff was the only female apprentice electrician assigned to her work area during her employment at the project.
The complaint alleges that her supervisor engaged in repeated inappropriate conduct, including making comments about her appearance, sending non-work-related text messages, requesting personal photographs, and engaging in other behavior that created a hostile work environment.
The lawsuit further alleges that the conduct escalated over time and that retaliation occurred after the incidents were reported internally.
The plaintiff claims the alleged retaliation ultimately contributed to the end of her employment.
Additional Allegations Included in Court Documents
The complaint also alleges that other individuals associated with the project engaged in inappropriate behavior during the plaintiff’s time on the jobsite.
According to the filing, both the plaintiff and her husband, who was also employed as an electrician at the facility, experienced workplace-related harassment.
The lawsuit additionally claims that the plaintiff did not receive reasonable accommodations following a workplace injury that temporarily limited her ability to perform assigned duties.
Both employees eventually left their positions in 2024.
At this stage, these allegations remain claims presented in the lawsuit and have not been proven in court.
Bechtel Responds to the Lawsuit
In response to the litigation, a spokesperson representing Bechtel and Waste Treatment Completion Company stated that the company does not tolerate harassment, intimidation, or discrimination of any kind and is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace.
The company declined to comment further because the matter is currently pending before the court.
No findings or judgments have been issued regarding the claims.
Construction Industry Continues to Address Workplace Culture
The lawsuit has renewed conversations about workplace culture and employee protections within the construction industry.
Over the past several years, industry organizations and federal agencies have highlighted concerns related to harassment and discrimination on construction jobsites. Studies have shown that women working in construction continue to report experiencing workplace harassment at disproportionately high rates.
Many contractors have responded by implementing stronger anti-harassment policies, improving reporting procedures, and expanding workforce training programs designed to create safer and more inclusive jobsite environments.
High-Profile Federal Construction Project
The Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant is one of the largest environmental cleanup projects in the United States. The facility is being developed to treat and safely dispose of millions of gallons of radioactive waste generated during decades of nuclear weapons production.
Construction and commissioning activities at the site involve thousands of workers across multiple trades and contractors.
As the federal lawsuit proceeds, the court will determine whether the plaintiff’s allegations are supported by the evidence presented during litigation.
The case serves as another reminder of the importance of maintaining respectful workplaces and ensuring that construction employees have access to appropriate channels for reporting and addressing workplace concerns.
