SAFETY
A safety supervisor checks employee's work permits at Carbide's O a k Ridge gaseous diffusion plant. The permits are a vital part of the plant's precaution against radiation injuries to workers. They give total exposure data a n d in dicate that the worker is trained to protect himself in hazardous areas
What Are Kevs to Α-Plant Safety? Industry relies on sa fety programs a n d c o n s t a n t e d u c a t i o n , instead of a v / s , to protect w o r k e r s J A H T \ io the atomic energy industry i
/ho are trying to decide whether trie relatively new industry' is ready for state control. The joint Committee on Atomic En ergy's smooth-running hearings have hit a snag: It's going to take a lot of time and effort to draft workmen's compen sation laws that are as up to date as the industry ( see p a g e 28 ). Industry, however, is showing Con gress that atomic energy people are not waiting fo>r laws and government in surance plans to protect workers. A series of hearings scheduled t o e n d in May featixres testimony on t h e indus try s suieiy" rueasures. SpOKesmen ior Union Carbide and Du Pont ahead ν (Troccnt e n
48
C&EN
MARCH
3 0.
1959
have described programs at Oak Ridge and Susannah River. Carbide's Hugh F. H e n r y , head of the safety, fire, and radiation control d e p a r t m e n t of the Oak Ridge Oaseous Diffusion Plant, says a key to safe op eration is this philosuphy; **Ea,ch em ployee is responsible for accident pre vention commensurate with his opera tional responsibilities." This encourages employees to m a k e free use of radia tion detection e q u i p m e n t for their own protection and protection of personnel they supervise. Radiation, however, is not the major safety problem in the Gaseous Diffu sion Plant, Henry says. I t is t h e risk Ox infiaiin^ airborne particles Ot chcmicallv toxic uranium that receives his
greatest attention. Materials that be come airborne include uramium oxide dusts, liquid solution sprays., and gas eous uranium hexafiuoride and its hy drolysis products. Safe-haifedling pro cedures art* similar t o those required for lead, mercury, cadmium, and other m a i d ii.*iï> v\luf;*t- sj>ccine to^wiciti^s are near that of uranium. Besides chemical toxicity, ïHhui \ points ouï., iïalïùîed υηιηιπτί) also presents an cK-niruarion hazard. Basic t o all plant operations is Henry's number one safety mile: ('onfine t h e material. This meat is not only that employees must make every effort t o k e e p radioactive materia.! from es caping but also includes proper design of process and maintenance -equipment and operating methods. Sometimes a closed system must be opened for in spection or repair. Short-tesrm a i r con tamination may occur. In these cases, Henry says, gas masks and respirators are called for. Although special
