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Re[3]: Help with Size-Reducing Gloveboxes
Why not just fill the gloveboxes with polyurethane foam, which becomes a
lightweight solid, rather than cutting them up? [You guys obviously are a bunch
of cutups (-: ].
Sounds as if you guys need to decon the inside of the boxes more than you are
doing, if at all, prior to cutting them up.
Maybe using a saw that cuts metal would generate fewer non-respirable particles
than using an acetylene torch.
How about placing a high pressure hose or a small fan inside the gloveboxes to
resuspend the material. Simultaneously, purge the gloveboxes with nitrogen gas.
I suspect a significant number of the particles will be trapped in the box
outlet HEPA filter(s), assuming the boxes are under negative pressure.
I don't know what fixative you are using, but spraying the inside of the boxes
with Krylon paint works well. Colored paint will show you what surfaces have
been sprayed.
Maybe a strippable paint would work.
Good luck on this.
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re[2]: Help with Size-Reducing Gloveboxes
Author: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu at guardian
Date: 12/21/98 11:20 AM
Do you know this guy?
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Help with Size-Reducing Gloveboxes
Author: <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu> at INTERNET-MAIL
Date: 12/21/98 10:38 AM
> 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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information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html
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information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html