Operational accidents and radiation exposure experience within the United States Atomic Energy Commission, 1943--1975. [AEC health and safety during first 32 years]

Technical Report · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7275927· OSTI ID:7275927

The occupational injury and fatality experience during 32 years of the development of the atomic energy industry under the direction of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and its predecessor, the Manhattan Engineering District, is reviewed. Data are included on the cause of all accidents, including fires and transportation accidents, and the cost of AEC property damage. Fatalities of AEC and contractor personnel from all causes during the 32-year period totaled 321, of which 184 occurred in construction; 121 in AEC operations such as production, research, and services; and 16 in Government functions. There were 19,225 lost-time injuries attributable to all accidental causes, or a 32-year frequency rate of 2.75 based on the number of injuries per million man-hours. There were six deaths attributable to nuclear causes, thee of which were due to blast and flying missiles and three caused by whole-body radiation exposure. Forty-one workers were involved in lost-time radiation accidents, of whom 26 showed clinical manifestations attributable to radiation, resulting in permanent partial-disability of three workers and the loss of a digit by four workers, while the others did not develop evidence of radiation injury. (CH)

• Research Organization: USAEC Division of Operational Safety, Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 7275927
• Report Number(s): WASH-1192(Rev.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560151 -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
560161 -- Radionuclide Effects
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& Toxicology-- Man
570000* -- Health & Safety
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ACCIDENTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
COST
CRITICALITY
DOCUMENT TYPES
DOSES
FIRES
INJURIES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PERSONNEL
RADIATION ACCIDENTS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REVIEWS
SAFETY
TRANSPORT
US AEC
US ORGANIZATIONS