The following information was received from the state of
Tennessee via email:
An incident took place while processing a liner with water filters and Dry Active Waste (DAW) in it during filter shredding operation in the Filter Shredding area of the Radioactive Material Solutions (RMS) Building on site. The container contained mixed fission and activation products with Co-60 as a primary contaminant. A fire was observed in the steel Final Form Container (FFC) liner through the remote observation. The size of the fire was limited to the container itself. The FFC is a steel liner where the material accumulates and is contained in preparation for sealing for disposal. The filter processing room was accessed via a hatch and a crane was used to seal the FFC. The fire suppression system was activated to cool down the FFC liner. The Oak Ridge Fire Department responded to the site. Since the fire was contained to the FFC liner, the Oak Ridge Fire Department did not enter the building. The area radiation and air effluent stack monitors did not alarm. Samples from air samplers are being analyzed for airborne material. Staff that remained in the building will undergo a bioassay to assess for potential uptake. A follow-up report will be submitted within 30 days.
TN Incident No.: TN-20-116