Re: Help with Size-Reducing Gloveboxes

["Scott Flowerday" <Scott.Flowerday@tdh.state.tx.us>]

> Date:          Mon, 21 Dec 1998 09:47:53 -0600 (CST)
> Reply-to:      radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
> From:          "Estabrooks, Bates" <bates.estabrooks@rfets.gov>
> To:            Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
> Subject:       Help with Size-Reducing Gloveboxes

> RADSAFERs,
> 
> Maybe some of you can provide us some creative suggestions.
> 
> We here at Rocky Flats are in the process of D&Ding a major Pu facility.
> The current work involves size-reducing highly contaminated Pu gloveboxes.
> The Rad Con approach we have taken so far, is to build a HEPA-filtered tent
> around the boxes in a room, apply a fixative inside the box, set up
> localized vent suction near any cuts, and send workers into the tent in
> "bubble suits" and supplied air to cut up the box.
> 
> While this approach has proven successful in getting a lot of gloveboxes
> removed in a short time, we have had a few problems.  Most notably, we have
> had several incidents of very high Pu DAC values in the tent (800K, 1.6 M,
> etc.)
> 
> We are looking for creative suggestions for "engineering controls" to do
> this work in the future so that we can get people out of supplied air, and
> get workers out of potentially hazardous (high-DAC) environments.  Any
> suggestions y'all could offer to "bag the work, not the worker" would be
> appreciated.  
> 
> Thanks for your help.
> 
> Bates Estabrooks
> Rocky Flats
> 303-966-3769
> Page: 303-212-6469
> Fax: 303-966-6783
> bates.estabrooks@rfets.gov
> 
> 
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What are the dimensions?     Are they fairly uniform or do they vary 
in size?  What are the materials involved?  Are there sections within 
the gloveboxes or are they one section?  One alternative to size 
reduction if they are uniform in size is to consider overpacking them 
with waste and using them as an inner package for waste.  I would 
also be interested in what methods you are using to cut the boxes up 
and what type of localized ventilation you are using.  If you are 
applying a fixative then the contamination is being released in the 
cutting process, have you looked at alternatives in your cutting 
methods?  Do you maintain negative pressure within the glovebox 
during cuts? 
Scott D. Flowerday
Emergency Response and Investigation Branch
Bureau of Radiation Control
(512) 834-6688
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