Radiation protection incident provisionally classified as level 2
On February 11, a monitoring sensor triggered an alarm while a technician was performing a glove box1 handling operation in a workshop at the Orano Melox plant. The operator immediately donned the appropriate mask and evacuated the work room.
In accordance with the procedures in force, the employee was taken in hand by the site's radiation protection teams and medical service. The latter carried out the initial radiological inspections and took the appropriate actions under such circumstances. Medical supervision by doctors from CEA Marcoule was put in place. The employee received specific support with medical check-ups. He returned to exercising his professional duties at an adapted workstation in the control room.
This incident was immediately notified to the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) and to the Social and Economic Committee (Comité Social et Economique) of Melox.
Some results of the radiological analyses are now available. They confirm the absence of any health consequences for the employee. Nevertheless, the evaluation carried out by the French Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) shows that the dose received by the technician would exceed the regulatory annual limit2.
The study conducted subsequent to this incident showed that the glove used at the workstation had been perforated. Work has commenced on the development of even more resistant gloves since this date. The preventive actions related to this operation, as well as the practices to adopt, have been reviewed with the teams. All these measures allow for increased protection of operators.
Orano Melox has proposed to the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) to classify this incident, provisionally and as a matter of prudence, as level 2 on the INES scale, which is graduated up to 7, with a new dose evaluation to be carried out before the end of 2020.
In accordance with the procedures in force, the employee was taken in hand by the site's radiation protection teams and medical service. The latter carried out the initial radiological inspections and took the appropriate actions under such circumstances. Medical supervision by doctors from CEA Marcoule was put in place. The employee received specific support with medical check-ups. He returned to exercising his professional duties at an adapted workstation in the control room.
This incident was immediately notified to the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) and to the Social and Economic Committee (Comité Social et Economique) of Melox.
Some results of the radiological analyses are now available. They confirm the absence of any health consequences for the employee. Nevertheless, the evaluation carried out by the French Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) shows that the dose received by the technician would exceed the regulatory annual limit2.
The study conducted subsequent to this incident showed that the glove used at the workstation had been perforated. Work has commenced on the development of even more resistant gloves since this date. The preventive actions related to this operation, as well as the practices to adopt, have been reviewed with the teams. All these measures allow for increased protection of operators.
Orano Melox has proposed to the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) to classify this incident, provisionally and as a matter of prudence, as level 2 on the INES scale, which is graduated up to 7, with a new dose evaluation to be carried out before the end of 2020.
1 Leaktight chamber equipped with observation ports and orifices fitted with gloves attached and hermetically sealed to the walls. It allows the radioactive material to be isolated and protects the operator.
2 The annual limit for exposure for employees in the nuclear sector is 20 mSv per year.
2 The annual limit for exposure for employees in the nuclear sector is 20 mSv per year.
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