Incident Analysis Report: B696 MOVER Event, August 19, 2004
On August 19, 2004, three operators [employees of Washington TRU Solutions Central Characterization Project (CCP)] and one Health and Safety Technician [(H&ST), an employee of the University of California (UC)] were working in the mobile characterization unit, known as the Mobile Visual Examination and Repackaging Unit (MOVER). The unit, which was located in the Decontamination and Waste Treatment Facility (DWTF) Yard, uses a glovebox to repackage Transuranic (TRU) drums. Work was in progress on the last set of drums to be repackaged. Work had been completed on a TRU drum that was on its way out of the unit. Work had begun on a 0.6-plutonium-equivalent curie (PE Ci) TRU container. During the bag-in process for the 0.6-PE Ci container, operators encountered contamination measuring 6,000 counts per minute (cpm), or approximately 12,000 disintegrations per minute (dpm) on the exposed area of the drum port. The operators decontaminated the exposed, contaminated area of the drum port, and this exposed area was swiped again. The area was declared clean. During bag-out of the previous drum, operators noticed that the retaining band was not tightened optimally; therefore, the retaining band was replaced with a new one on this drum. The three operators and LLNL H&ST were wearing respirators, as required by CCP Procedure CCP-TP-042 and by LLNL Integration Worksheet (IWS) 11359. Operators were cleared to remove respirators once the area was verified as clean. An LLNL operator-in-training (Operator 4) had also entered the MOVER to assist in glovebox work. As the operators commenced opening and sorting waste parcels, the H&ST checked the Continuous Air Monitor (CAM) and observed that the readout of the CAM had risen. The CAM alarm sounded shortly thereafter. When the CAM alarm sounded, all personnel stopped work and immediately exited the glovebox area into an airlock, in accordance with CCP Procedure CCP-HSP-002. A full-body contamination frisk was conducted and cleared the personnel present to exit the MOVER. No contamination was noted on worker's clothing or skin (lab coats were not monitored at this time). Nasal swipes were taken. The H&ST re-entered the room and assessed contamination, which was located in four areas. Four nasal swabs were positive, and one was negative. Lung counts that were subsequently taken were negative.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 15016325
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-TR-207109-REV-2; TRN: US200513%%132
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 27 Apr 2005
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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