Glovebox Glove Failure

Radiological Safety Training for Plutonium Facilities

DOEHDBK11452001

Handouts

Lessons Learned 2

Glovebox Glove Failure

An employee at the Plutonium Processing and Handling Facility at Los Alamos National

Laboratory detected contamination on the right elbow of his anti-contamination coveralls

after moving equipment in a glovebox (ALO-LA-LANL-TA55-1999-0015). A Radiological

Control Technician surveyed the employee and found contamination on the employee's

upper left cheek, left eyebrow, forehead and hair. The maximum contamination detected

was 4,000 dpm alpha. The employee was decontaminated with one soap and water wash.

Diagnostic bioassay sampling revealed no uptake.

Contamination was detected in the lefthand glove of the glovebox where the employee

had been working. There was no obvious sign of glove failure in the gloves which had

been replaced one month earlier and had been inspected prior to use on the day of the

incident. This shows the importance of monitoring with an alpha detector at intervals during

the day.