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Re: Fire at Oak Ridge K-25 Plant
Tests done at ORNL and at LANL have shown that not only is untreated cotton
capable of sustaining a flame, it burns fairly. One of the major
preliminary findings of the investigation was the failure to recognize that
untreated 100% cotton clothing is a flammability hazard, and I want to make
sure that the attached posting does not add to that failure of recognition.
There are commercially available fire-retardant cotton and other materials
that are supposed to be resistant to washings. We will be testing some at
ORNL starting next week.
At 10:56 AM 3/20/97 -0600, you wrote:
>At 07:47 AM 3/20/97 -0600, you wrote:
>> =20
>> Can anyone provide me with information pertaining to the fire at the=
>=20
>> Oak Ridge K-25 plant (back on Feb 13, 1997) concerning a welder who=20
>> was fatally burned wearing AntiCs? Sorry for the tardiness, I was not=
>=20
>> yet subscribed back then and I understand information was put out on=
>=20
>> RADSAFE. Please send it to my eMail address: =20
>> werner.k.paulhardt@consenco.com.
>> =20
>> Thanks in advance,
>> =20
>> Werner Paulhardt
>> Supervisor-Dosimetry
>> Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant
>> werner.k.paulhardt@consenco.com
>> (410)495-4773
>> fax (410) 495 3980
>>
>The DOE is presently investigating this incident as a Type A Incident (their
>highest classification). Initially, the DOE information that was released
>said that the welder was working at the Oak Ridge K-25 site on
>2/13/97 using a cutting torch. "The victim was totally engulfed in
>flames when his two layers of anti-contamination suits over a pair of
>coveralls burned. All of the clothing was cotton. The exact
>source of ignition is currently unknown, however the burning of
>the clothing and coveralls is a concern."
>
>In the latest release on this incident, the DOE (see Week 11
>Operating Experience Report) has stated the following:
>
>"1. UPDATE ON FATALITY AT OAK RIDGE
>
>
>"On March 7, 1997, Dr. Tara O'Toole, assistant secretary, Environment,=20
>Safety and Health, issued a memorandum outlining the Type A Accident=20
>Investigation Board's preliminary findings on the February 13, 1997,=20
>fatality at Oak Ridge K-25 site. The following is a summary of Dr.=20
>O'Toole's memorandum.
>
>"The fatality occurred while welders were using oxygen/acetylene cutting=20
>torches to remove equipment from a facility outside a fixed shop area in=20
>a high-contamination area. Because the work was being performed in a=20
>radiological area, the welders wore anti-contamination clothing in=20
>addition to full-face respirators and welders' masks. The Board's=20
>preliminary analysis of the accident indicated that sparks and/or molten=20
>metal (slag) from the cutting operations ignited the welder's=20
>anti-contamination clothing. Based on preliminary input, the Board=20
>identified the flammability of the anti-contamination clothing, the=20
>worker's inability to see that his clothing was on fire, and the lack of=20
>a designated/dedicated fire watch for the operations as contributing=20
>factors to the accident. The fire consumed the welder's clothing in a=20
>short period of time (approximately 3 minutes or less).
>
>"The welder wore anti-contamination clothing that was 100 percent cotton=20
>and not treated with flame retardant. Flame-retardant anti-contamination=20
>clothing is available to workers at some DOE sites. However, there are=20
>no regulatory, industrial, or DOE requirements stating such clothing=20
>must be used in operations similar to those being performed at the K-25=20
>site when the accident occurred. Personnel safety responsibilities for=20
>the fire watch were not specifically defined or required for the welding=20
>operations. As a result, the memorandum recommends that operations=20
>office managers review the following personnel safety issues for work at=20
>their sites involving similar hazards.
>
>"=95adequacy of fire watch procedures involving personnel safety as well as=
>=20
>property loss control (e.g. maintaining line of sight)=20
>"=95adequacy of fire watch training regarding personnel safety and emergency
>aid/response=20
>"=95adequacy of fire mitigation equipment (for both personnel and property)=
>=20
>available to fire watches to carry out their responsibilities=20
>"=95adequacy of existing policy/requirements for using=
> flame-retardant-treated=20
>anti-contamination clothing when workers are involved in operations with=20
>similar hazards=20
>
>"The Accident Investigation Board is continuing to investigate this=20
>event. Findings from the Board's final report will be disseminated in a=20
>future OE Weekly Summary. "
>
>Here at General Atomics, we have conducted burn tests on our
>protective clothing to decide what our course of action
>should be. We demostrated that an untreated cotton coverall will
>burn when exposed to flame, but if the source of ignition is
>removed, then the flame will go out. In other words, the PC
>garment will burn through but does not on its own sustain a flame.
>Polyester-Cotton blend PCs are a whole different story, however.
>The blend will ignite and will sustain a fire on its own. To
>compound the risk to the worker, the polyester in the cloth
>will melt as it burn. With respect to flame retardent treated=20
>PC garments, I have seen several reports from other
>Radiation Protection folks that the flame retardant on treated
>PCs doesn't survive the harsh laundry environment for very
>many washes, so this doesn't seem to offer a ready solution.
>
>I would suggest that you watch the DOE Operating Experience Report=20
>Website at the following URL for more details:
>http://www.tis.eh.doe.gov/web/oeaf/oe_weekly/oe_weekly.html
>
>The above information does not represent official information
>or opinion of my employer.
>
>Best regards to all
>
>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 |
>
>
****************************************
Jerry Hunt, CHP
Office of Radiation Protection
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
P.O. Box 2008
Bldg. 4500-S, MS-6099
Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6099
Ph.-(423)576-5117, Mailto:hbj@ornl.gov
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