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On August 19, 1998, 11 workers at the Fuel Conditioning Facility (FCF) at Argonne National Laboratory-West in Idaho received small radiation doses while performing routine maintenance on one of the hot cell manipulators. Five of these individuals received internal contaminations, with the highest internal contamination of 50 millirem. This dose is below reportable levels.

Argonne National Laboratory - West

The incident occurred during maintenance work on one of the manipulators in the FCF. This is the facility in which the demonstration of electrometallurgical spent fuel treatment is being conducted. The workers were performing a routine replacement of a manipulator seal tube (i.e.,the portion of the manipulator which bridges the contaminated and uncontaminated areas of the hot cell). Upon completion of the activity, the workers performed required whole body surveys and were found to be contaminated. At that time, all work was suspended in the facility, the facility was evacuated, and the Emergency Control Center on site was activated. No contamination was detected outside the facility and there was no airborne contamination.

FCF Closeup

All personnel were decontaminated, and returned to regular duties the next day. The specific causes of the contamination are unknown at this time. An investigation team is being assembled to ascertain the causes of the event.

A picture of the ANL-W site, a closeup picture of the FCF, and a floor plan of the FCF are provided below for information.

Click on the above image for a detailed view of the FCF Floor Plan.