D&D Hazards Reduction

DOE-HDBK-1132-99

Design decisions for cleanup activities should consider the duration of the

specific activity, the complexity of the activity, the hazard consequences, and

the hardware salvaged for use at the next activity. Costly designs and

equipment may need to be provided, even for short duration activities, for safe

operation. To make these items cost effective, designs should include

provisions to make the hardware portable (or at least easily salvageable).

Designs should also consider modular items that can be installed with different

modules to fit a particular application. The following sections address general

design considerations.

D&D Hazards Reduction . Because the initial stages of decommissioning are

generally hands-on operations in many facilities, personnel exposure issues

should form a large part of the project planning efforts. The best hazard

reduction is to remove the hazards as early as possible in the project for any

type of hazard, thereby reducing the opportunity for exposure. The sections

below provide specific examples of project planning, sequencing, lessons

learned, or technology options that should be considered for hazards reduction

in a D&D project.

Chemical Exposure . Bulk chemical removal as soon as possible in the project

is usually an excellent choice from both a safety and regulatory viewpoint.

Residual chemicals in piping systems and dead legs should always be drained

and contained with industrial exposure; maximum expected volume issues

should drive the draining and containment methods. Even " mpty"systems

can contain significant volumes of liquids within level, sagging, or residue dams

that could be invisible from any external inspection of the systems. Application

of ALARA principles to chemical hazards should be applied with the same rigor

as to radiological exposure.

Operating from a position of knowledge is always preferred, but every project

should be planned with some realization that exact chemical mixtures,

volumes, and locations of liquids will not be known when the piping system is

actually breached. The watchword for any chemical system clean-out or

removal is to expect surprises.

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