Another radioactive contamination spread at Hanford. Work halted at plant

[Marlin]

Another radioactive contamination spread at Hanford. Work halted at plant

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/hanford/article190442694.html

[Bonds 25]

The 11 mrem (over 50 years) these poor workers were exposed to is devastating and because its plutonium, it will most likely prove to be fatal.

Government will cut them a check in 50 years when they are on their death bed....because dying at 90 years young doesn't happen naturally.

[atomicarcheologist]

The 11 mrem (over 50 years) these poor workers were exposed to is devastating and because its plutonium, it will most likely prove to be fatal.

Government will cut them a check in 50 years when they are on their death bed....because dying at 90 years young doesn't happen naturally.

Maybe I missed something in this story, but I didn't see any assigned dose reported.

[Bonds 25]

The article in the paper (major headline) included the exposures.

[TVA]

The 11 mrem (over 50 years) these poor workers were exposed to is devastating and because its plutonium, it will most likely prove to be fatal.

Government will cut them a check in 50 years when they are on their death bed....because dying at 90 years young doesn't happen naturally.

Because ALARA isnt a law right?

[Bonds 25]

Yeah, rerun....that 11 mrem (over 50 years) broke laws and really put the workers health in jeopardy. Certainly justifiable to put a total halt to work, delaying the clean up project and costing god knows how much in tax dollars. You and your ALARA is the law excuse....pathetic, especially in this instance.

Can't shutdown the billion+ (Annually) clean up of the mega bakery every time somebody gets a little harmless flour on them.....yet that's exactly what they do.

[TVA]

So you are obligated to follow 10CFR as it is a law and as a nukeworker you are bound to follow it. In fact as a Licensed Operator your license says you will follow it. Yet you think its a joke?

[Bonds 25]

And what part of this breaks the mighty 10CFR? 11 mrem over 50 years isn't as low as reasonably achievable given the circumstances around this kind of work?

How many licensed operators are currently employed at the Hanford Weapons Site clean up?

[Marlin]

So you are obligated to follow 10CFR as it is a law and as a nukeworker you are bound to follow it. In fact as a Licensed Operator your license says you will follow it. Yet you think its a joke?

You know the the R in ALARA is reasonable right? 11 millirem over 50 years is roughly the same radiation exposure from eating 20 bananas a year for 50 years. There may have been violations of the CFRs but I don't think ALARA is one of them.

[Marlin]

And what part of this breaks the mighty 10CFR? 11 mrem over 50 years isn't as low as reasonably achievable given the circumstances around this kind of work?

How many licensed operators are currently employed at the Hanford Weapons Site clean up?

Sorry I hadn't meant to walk on your post but I had already typed it up while you were posting as well and as long as I went to the effort. 

[TVA]

Point being if someone is exposed to dose they shouldnt have been exposed to a Licensed Operator shouldnt be minimizing it. His license says he cannot do so.

[TVA]

So you not being there gives you the ability to scoff at a law your license obligates you to uphold?

[hamsamich]

Well what is reasonable?  Sounds vague to me.  Isn't that the point?  DOE sites aren't really ALARA as far as gamma doserate vs contamination/airborne dose anyway.  They still wear a respirator at the slightest hint of someone getting contaminated.  Most deputy managers at a DOE facility would rather people get 1000s of extra mrem over time than one person getting contaminated.  But they would never admit that.  Part of that is because of the threat of ALPHA, but they do it all the time even when there is no alpha contamination historically present in the location of concern.  I am 100% sure DOE sites use respiratory protection to ensure people don't get contaminated most of the time, not to protect from airborne radioactivity.  Not ALARA at all.

[TVA]

Yet it is the law. A licensed operator should never minimize a law.

[Marlin]

Point being if someone is exposed to dose they shouldnt have been exposed to a Licensed Operator shouldnt be minimizing it. His license says he cannot do so.

This was a Hanford reservation remediation project no license involved site or operators. Probably a Category 3 facility due to fissile material present (just guessing as I do not know the inventory numbers).

[Bonds 25]

As low as REASONABLY ACHIEVABLE. This doesn't mean a couple mrem of exposure while working around, doh! radioactive material is breaking the law.

11 mrem of unplanned exposure to radworker at a commercial nuclear power plant doesn't even warrant a call to the RPM let alone the NRC. 100 mrem OVER the established dose alarm set point gets the call. Of course this being an uptake and the dose is dose myth, I would be required to call the RPM. Still, nothing the NRC cares about. But why are we talking about the NRC and licensed operators when Hanford is DOE?

[Marlin]

As low as REASONABLY ACHIEVABLE. This doesn't mean a couple mrem of exposure while working around, doh! radioactive material is breaking the law.

11 mrem of unplanned exposure to radworker at a commercial nuclear power plant doesn't even warrant a call to the RPM let alone the NRC. 100 mrem OVER the established dose alarm set point gets the call. Of course this being an uptake and the dose is dose myth, I would be required to call the RPM. Still, nothing the NRC cares about. But why are we talking about the NRC and licensed operators when Hanford is DOE?

DOE uses 10 CFR 835 for rad protection with some exceptions.

[Bonds 25]

I know. Does it say 11 mrem of exposure over 50 years from an uptake is the end of the world or even a violation of any kind? Should it automatically shutdown a multi billion dollar clean up project?

[Marlin]

I know. Does it say 11 mrem of exposure over 50 years from an uptake is the end of the world or even a violation of any kind? Should it automatically shutdown a multi billion dollar clean up project?

Nope! 

[Marlin]

Update: Radioactive particles found on cars. Hanford workers may have driven 2 home

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/hanford/article190628514.html