ENS 57664
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
06:15 Apr 13, 2025 | |
| Title | Medical Transport with Contamination |
| Event Description | The following information was provided by the licensee via phone and email:
At approximately 0215 EDT, on April 13, 2025, a uranium recovery and recycle services (URRS) operator was performing a pressure check of a dissolver system filter housing following change out of the filter cartridges. Uranyl nitrate solution discharged from the housing lid/housing body interface onto the operator's coveralls in the upper left arm area. In accordance with the operating procedure, the operator was wearing a full-face shield, safety glasses, chemical gloves, and a chemical apron that covers the torso area. The chemical apron does not cover the arm area. The operator reported the exposure to a URRS chief operator and the skin area on the upper left arm was rinsed for approximately fifteen minutes. The incident commander, a medical first responder from the Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility (CFFF) emergency brigade and a health physics (HP) technician were contacted to respond to the URRS area. After decontamination efforts on the affected area of the arm, HP direct [on contact] survey results were 500 disintegrations per minute (dpm) per 100 cm squared of alpha [radiation] for the left bicep area. The filter housing lid was secured properly and passed the pressure check required by the operating procedure. This event did not impact safety equipment. A causal analysis and corrective actions will be documented in the Corrective Action Program (CAP). All smear survey results of the exposed skin area were below clean area limits (less than 200 dpm per 100 cm squared). As a precaution to ensure comprehensive evaluation and treatment for uranyl nitrate/nitric acid exposure to the skin, the operator was transported by ambulance to an offsite medical facility. The affected portion of the employee's arm was bandaged and wrapped in gauze and tape, and the employee was accompanied by a CFFF HP technician for evaluation. Contamination surveys were performed for the ambulance and the gurney used to transport the employee, and all results were below clean area limits, indicating no spread of contamination during care for the employee. All potentially contaminated materials associated with the transport were collected and returned to the CFFF for disposal. The employee was provided with an over-the-counter topical ointment and released from the offsite medical facility at 0735 on April 13, 2025. The CFFF is a licensed Part 70 facility subject to 10 CFR 70 Subpart H, and the event did not challenge the performance requirements of 10 CFR 70.61 as analyzed in the Integrated Safety Analysis. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Westinghouse Electric Corporation Columbia, South Carolina (NRC Region 2) | |
| License number: | SNM-1107 |
| Reporting | |
| 10 CFR 70.50(b)(3) | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+10.87 h0.453 days <br />0.0647 weeks <br />0.0149 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Steve Subosits 17:07 Apr 13, 2025 |
| NRC Officer: | Ian Howard |
| Last Updated: | Apr 13, 2025 |
| 57664 - NRC Website | |
Westinghouse Electric Corporation with 10 CFR 70.50(b)(3) | ||
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 576642025-04-13T06:15:00013 April 2025 06:15:00 10 CFR 70.50(b)(3) Medical Transport with Contamination ENS 571522024-05-30T08:30:00030 May 2024 08:30:00 10 CFR 70.50(b)(3) Medical Transport with Contamination ENS 554122021-08-17T06:30:00017 August 2021 06:30:00 10 CFR 70.50(b)(3) Medical Treatment with Contamination ENS 549012020-09-15T13:00:00015 September 2020 13:00:00 10 CFR 70.50(b)(3) | Unplanned Medical Treatment ENS 548012020-07-25T15:00:00025 July 2020 15:00:00 10 CFR 70.50(b)(3) Contaminated Injured Employee Taken to Hospital ENS 537462018-11-19T05:00:00019 November 2018 05:00:00 Part 70 App A (C), 10 CFR 70.50(b)(3) Contaminated Worker Requiring Medical Treatment ENS 478612012-04-24T02:00:00024 April 2012 02:00:00 10 CFR 70.50(b)(3) Contaminated Individual Required Medical Treatment 2025-04-13T06:15:00 [Table view] | |