Lessons learned at TMI: cleanup for respiratory protection
The March 28, 1979, accident at Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) presented GPU Nuclear with technical challenges unprecedented in the nuclear power industry. Among these challenges were a myriad of health physics problems that had to be solved to ensure a radiologically safe environment for workers performing cleanup activities. The application of the as-low-as-reasonably-achievable (ALARA) philosophy has been a fundamental aspects in protecting cleanup workers. The unique conditions produced by the accident, however, have necessitated novel and innovative approaches in making this philosophy effective. The option to use respirators is based on which method will result in the lowest radiation dose to the worker. Inherent to this program has been the training of workers to overcome the perception that any internal contamination is of foremost concern and is orders of magnitude greater in biological effect than an identical external dose. It is, of course, the total dose (internal dose plus external dose) that must be minimized to implement a true ALARA philosophy. The need for considering the total radiation dose when making decisions to use respirators has been clear during the TMI-2 cleanup. Prescribing respirators is not always good for the ALARA concept.
- OSTI ID:
- 5653741
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-870601-
- Journal Information:
- Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 54; ISSN TANSA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
220900* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
ACCIDENTS
AEROSOLS
ALARA
CLEANING
COLLOIDS
DECONTAMINATION
DEMOLITION
DISPERSIONS
DOSES
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
POWER REACTORS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION PROTECTION
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR DISMANTLING
REACTORS
RESPIRATORS
SOLS
THERMAL REACTORS
THREE MILE ISLAND-2 REACTOR
USES
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS