Honeywell Uranium Hexafluoride Nuclear Fuel Factory – Contaminated Worker Transported to Local Medical Facility, July 8, 2015

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boots, contamination, coveralls, decontamination, emergency planning, Feed Materials control room, hex, Honeywell, hospital decontamination, Illinois, inadequate medical infrastructure, Massac Memorial Hospital, medical condition, medical infrastructure, Medical Treatment involving contamination, Metropolis, NRC, nuclear energy, nuclear fuel chain, nuclear fuel cycle, Nuclear Fuel facility, Nuclear Fuel Factory, nuclear power, radiation, radiation contamination, radiological emergency, UF6, UF6 Conversion, uranium conversion, uranium hexafluoride, uranium hexafluoride production, USNRC, whole body survey

UF6, Uranium Hexafluoride.

It says “medical treatment involving contamination”. It says “CONTAMINATED EMPLOYEE WITH MEDICAL CONDITION TRANSPORTED OFFSITE.” It also says “non-work related medical condition“. So, how does this make sense? The worker got contaminated and then had heart palpitations from fear?

It sounds like the local ER or clinic, or part of it, may have been off-limits to other people for awhile: “Following medical evaluation, hospital facilities were decontaminated and found to be free of contamination prior to release for unrestricted use.” Or, they risked exposure, as did the medical workers. The town is so tiny that they may have had to shut the ER to other people. Metropolis has a population of a little over 6,000 people, and its tiny 25 bed hospital appears to serve other communities, based on visits. And, they only have one part-time doctor! Such a dangerous Nuclear Fuel Factory nearby and they only have one part-time doctor!? They have two animal hospitals. Paducah, population 25,000, 13 miles away, has 2 hospitals. Honeywell needs to set up its own clinic: “Massac Memorial Hospital is a 25-bed general medical and surgical hospital located in Metropolis, Illinois. In 2011, the hospital had 1,002 admissions, 10,031 emergency room visits, and 25,365 outpatient visits. As of 2011, Massac Memorial Hospital employees 22 full-time registered nurses, 12 full-time licenses practical nurses, 1 part-time physician, 25 part-time registered nurses, and 4 part-time licensed practical nurses.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massac_Memorial_Hospital

This illustrates one reason that there needs to be an “Emergency” Planning Cornerstone for Fuel Facilities. And, that it should include onsite medical care, as well as decontamination training for offsite medical facilities. https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2015/07/12/us-nrc-manager-comments-on-nrc-document-opposes-emergency-preparedness-for-nuclear-fuel-facilities-comment-deadline-monday-13-july-11-59-pm-ny-dc-et/
“Fuel Cycle Facility Event Number: 51215
Facility: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
RX Type: URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE PRODUCTION
Comments: UF6 CONVERSION (DRY PROCESS)
Region: 2
City: METROPOLIS State: IL
County: MASSAC
License #: SUB-526
Agreement: Y
Docket: 04003392
NRC Notified By: SEAN PATTERSON
HQ OPS Officer: JEFF ROTTON Notification Date: 07/09/2015
Notification Time: 10:29 [ET]
Event Date: 07/08/2015
Event Time: 09:48 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 07/09/2015
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
40.60(b)(3) – MED TREAT INVOLVING CONTAM
Person (Organization):
GERALD MCCOY (R2DO)
MARK LOMBARD (NMSS)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
Event Text
CONTAMINATED EMPLOYEE WITH MEDICAL CONDITION TRANSPORTED OFFSITE

“On July 08, 2015 a Honeywell employee experienced a non-work related medical condition that required off site medical support. The incident occurred at approximately 0948 [CDT] in the Feed Materials Building Control Room at the Metropolis facility. Due to the nature of the employee’s condition, the individual was transported to a local medical facility. Honeywell Health Physics staff accompanied the injured employee and provided guidance to Emergency Room personnel and controlled the facilities prior to decontamination. A whole body survey of the employee and plant clothing was performed; the maximum amount of contamination present was on the employee’s work boots, 86,000 dpm/100 sq. cm [employees work coveralls also contaminated]. All contaminated clothing was removed from the employee and an additional whole body survey was performed; no contamination above background levels was detected. Following medical evaluation, hospital facilities were decontaminated and found to be free of contamination prior to release for unrestricted use. All contaminated materials from the hospital and injured employee were returned to the Metropolis facility.

The licensee notified NRC Region 2 (Hartland) and the Metropolis Emergency Coordinator.”
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/event-status/event/2015/20150710en.html

Other posts on the Honeywell Metropolis site:
https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2014/06/13/17-serious-safety-violations-at-honeywell-uranium-conversion-plant-found-subsequent-to-release-of-vapor-and-much-more/
https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2014/06/15/honeywell-illegally-stored-corrosive-radioactive-slurry-along-ohio-river-pled-guilty-paid-fine/
https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2014/08/28/honeywell-creates-potentially-dangerous-conditions-by-uranium-conversion-facility-worker-lock-out/
https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2014/10/30/honeywell-uranium-conversion-facility-haz-gas-escape-suspected-worker-lock-out-ongoing/
https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2014/11/08/locked-out-uranium-processing-workers-protest-honeywells-use-of-scab-workers-at-uranium-enrichment-plant-in-illinois/
https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2014/11/10/honeywell-metropolis-uranium-hex-plant-recently-required-to-address-structural-failings/
https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2014/11/10/alert-declaration-not-made-during-event-involving-uranium-hexafluoride-leak-plus-more-stinky-honeywell-business/

As it appears online: