Oral history interview, Alfonso Cardenas, 2004 (video and transcript)

Work at Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant from 1957 to 1978; job as chemical operator at Rocky Flats; cleaning up of Building 771 after 1957 fire; sheet metal work with beryllium and plutonium; beryllium and berylliosis (contamination from airborne beryllium oxide; inadequate protection for workers; beryllium handling compared to plutonium handling; beryllium in buildings 883 and 44; lawsuit for compensation for berylliosis; amount of compensation for berylliosis; medical expenses for berylliosis; Workmen's Compensation; diagnosis of berylliosis; living with berylliosis; berylliosis program at National Jewish Hospital; discrimination against Hispanics and Blacks at Rocky Flats, in Longmont and elsewhere; radioactive contamination at Rocky Flats; decontamination procedures; 1969 fire in Building 776; his feeling about the union at Rocky Flats; safety at Rocky Flats; asbestos at Rocky Flats; lead at Rocky Flat;, high pay at Rocky Flats; extreme weather at Rocky Flats; attitude about the Cold War; impact of illness on interviewee and family