Update-Protective Clothing flammability

[Judd Sills <sillsj@GAT.COM>]

Here is a modest update on the fatality at
Oak Ridge involving the welder in protective
clothing.  This excerpt is from the DOE Weekly
Operating Experience Report which may be
seen at URL:
http://www.tis.eh.doe.gov/web/oeaf/oe_weekly/oe_weekly_97/oe97-08.html

"On February 13, 1997, at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site, a welder was fatally 
burned. His two layers of anti-contamination clothing and coveralls 
caught fire, engulfing him in flames. All of the clothing was cotton. 
Investigators have not determined the exact source of ignition. Facility 
personnel are investigating the rapid burning of the anti-contamination 
clothing and coveralls. A DOE Type A accident investigation is in 
progress in accordance with DOE 225.1, Accident Investigations. OEAF 
engineers will follow the investigation and provide lessons learned in a 
future Weekly Summary."

Best regards
Judd M. Sills, CHP           |   Office: (619)455-2049
General Atomics, Room 01-166C|      Fax: (619)455-3181
3550 General Atomics Court   |   E-Mail:  sillsj@gat.com
San Diego, CA  92121         |