Safety Policies and Controls

DOE-HDBK-1113-98

Module 105 Criticality Safety

Lesson Plan

Instructor's Notes

Achieving criticality involves bringing together many

factors that promote a sustained nuclear chain reaction. To

avoid criticality, one should be aware of the conditions that

would promote a criticality for the particular materials they

encounter, and avoid those conditions that promote

criticali ty.

General Criticality Safety Principles

Some things done to promote criticality safety

include:

analyzing work environments to assess the risk of

criticality and eliminate likely criticality

concerns;

using carefully planned and approved procedures;

providing specific training for those personnel

working in areas where fissile materials are

present; and

implementing system design features that are

favorable to criticality safety. These features

include:

- using containers with a size and geometry

that will not allow criticality,

- designing piping systems to prevent buildup

of uranium and prevent criticality,