Personal Contamination at Reprocessing Plant

Print View Posted on: 01 March 2017

Event Date: 08 January 2017 Event Type: Fuel Reprocessing
Event Location: United Kingdom, Sellafield INES Rating: 2 (Final)

Sampling of radioactive material was taking place on a reprocessing facility. This sampling task is performed twice daily and experienced senior staff are used to perform the operation. On this occasion a Shift Team Leader was engaged to undertake the task. Upon leaving the building and using the building exit hand and frisking monitors, the Shift Team Leader found himself to be contaminated. The Shift Team Leader reported to the Health Physics Surgery where contamination was found on one finger of his right hand and removed using the standard procedure.

An assessment has been undertaken and a dose estimate produced. The estimated dose of just over 1 Sv exceeds the statutory equivalent annual dose limit for the hand of 500 mSv.

INES Rating: 2 - Incident (Final) as per 01 March 2017
Release beyond authorized limits? No
Overexposure of a member of the public? No
Overexposure of a worker? Yes
Contamination spread within the facility? No
Damage to radiological barriers (incl. fuel damage) within the facility? No
Degradation of Defence In-Depth No
Person injured physically or casualty? No
Is there a continuing problem? No

Iain Gray
Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR)
ines.officer@onr.gov.uk
Site Sponsors
Site Sponsors: IAEA, NEA and WANO
This site is hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and co-sponsored by the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organization of Economic Cooperation Development (OECD/NEA) and World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO).
Disclaimer
This site is hosted by the IAEA, however, event reports are filed and updated by authorities in participating countries, which remain responsible for all related content. Read more >