ENS 54901
ENS Event | ||
|---|---|---|
13:00 Sep 15, 2020 | ||
| Title | Unplanned Medical Treatment | |
| Event Description | On September 15, 2020, at approximately 0900 EDT, a Westinghouse employee performing routine work in the Conversion Decontamination Area was exposed to nitric acid on the bottom of the right foot due to an issue with his protective footwear. The nitric acid came in contact with the employee's footwear impacting the bottom of the right foot. Appropriate treatment for exposure to nitric acid was provided by onsite medical response staff, and per procedure the employee's foot was wrapped in plastic, and the employee was transported to an offsite medical facility accompanied by plant health physics personnel for evaluation.
Contamination was detected on the exposed area of the employee's skin during [Health Physics] surveys. Direct survey results for the bottom of the right foot were 1700 dpm/100 cm2 [disintegrations per minute per 100 square centimeters] alpha. Surveys for direct contamination were also performed at the hospital before and after cleaning the exposed area and the contamination level remained the same at 1700 dpm/100 cm2 alpha. All smear results of the exposed area were below clean area limits (less than 200 dpm/100 cm2). Contamination surveys were performed on the ambulance and at the hospital 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 issue were collected and returned to [Commercial Fuel Fabrication Facility] (CFFF) for disposal. The operator was provided with over the counter medication and released to go home. A leaking valve was identified as the source of the nitric acid, which was promptly isolated and left in a safe state. There was no release to the environment and the liquid accumulation of nitric acid on the floor has been removed and the floor cleaned. The Columbia plant is a licensed Part 70 facility subject to 10CFR70 Subpart H, and this event does not challenge the performance requirements of 10 CFR 70.61 as analyzed in the Integrated Safety Analysis. The isotope involved was U-235. The hospital that performed medical treatment was Prisma Health. | |
| 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:+19.83 h0.826 days <br />0.118 weeks <br />0.0272 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Elise Malek 08:50 Sep 16, 2020 |
| NRC Officer: | Bethany Cecere |
| Last Updated: | Sep 16, 2020 |
| 54901 - NRC Website | |
Westinghouse Electric Corporation with 10 CFR 70.50(b)(3) | ||
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 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 2021-08-17T06:30:00 [Table view] | |