LANSCE Division

Hazard Control Plan Cover Sheet

+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| **Handling of Pu Samples  |                             |   |            |
| at Lujan FP5**            |                             |   |            |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| ### LANSCE-3 HCP-16       | Revision: 0                 |   | Dat        |
|                           |                             |   | e:10/30/00 |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| Location of Work:         |                             |   | Group:     |
|                           |                             |   |            |
| TA-53/ Lujan Center/FP5   |                             |   | LANSCE-3   |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| **Authors:**              | ### Signature               |   | **Date**   |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| Walter Trela              |                             |   | 10/24/00   |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| #                         |                             |   |            |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| #                         |                             |   |            |
|  Initial Risk Level: high |                             |   |            |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| # REVIEW/APPROVAL         |                             |   |            |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| **Concurrence by:**       |                             |   |            |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| Bruce Takala (LANSCE-3)   |                             |   |            |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| Mike Duran (ESH-1)        |                             |   |            |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| Dory Ryan (ESH-5)         |                             |   |            |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| LANSCE-12 Rep             |                             |   |            |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| LANSCE-6 Rep              |                             |   |            |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
|                           |                             |   |            |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| **Residual Risk Level:    |                             |   |            |
| low**                     |                             |   |            |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| **Approved by:**          | ### Signature               | * |            |
|                           |                             | * |            |
|                           |                             | D |            |
|                           |                             | a |            |
|                           |                             | t |            |
|                           |                             | e |            |
|                           |                             | * |            |
|                           |                             | * |            |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| Steve Wender (LANSCE-3    |                             |   |            |
| GL)                       |                             |   |            |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+
| **Next Authorization      |                             |   |            |
| Review Date:**            |                             |   |            |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+---+------------+

#### Handling of Special Pu Samples at Lujan FP5:

**Work definition:**

This Hazard Control Plan (HCP) outlines hazards and safe procedures for
handling Pu samples for use on Lujan FP5 TA-53, MPF7, Room ER1. The work
involves mounting and dismounting and extended use of
doubly-encapsulated ^242^Pu samples. These samples are irradiated in the
Lujan neutron beam for science based stockpile stewardship experiments.

**Potential hazards:**

##### Pu Release

\(A\) Unmonitored release and subsequent contamination of personnel and
equipment with Pu is a concern during shipping and storage of these
samples. This could occur due to the unexpected failure of the
encapsulation containers.

\(B\) Release of Pu during use in the experiment and subsequent
contamination of personnel and equipment due to encapsulation damage
from mechanical shock or unexpected failure of the containers.

The primary concern with a Pu sample is a breach of the containment
causing exposure of personnel to Pu, a radiotoxin. The ingestion or
inhalation of Pu are the prime dangers. Although these samples are solid
metal, Pu readily oxidizes on exposure to air, and the oxide tends to
separate from the metal and can easily spread.

**Initial Risk:**

The initial risk posed by the quantities of solid metallic ^242^Pu in
these samples as a radiological poison is estimated as "**high**".

**Operational requirements:**

The following requirements apply to the operations described here and
have been used as guidance in developing this HCP.

-   [ALARA](http://labreq.lanl.gov/pdfs/ops/lir/LIR40270201.pdf)
    \[LIR 402‑702‑01.1\]

-   Radiological Access Control \[LIR402-701-01.2\]

-   Contamination Control \[LIR402-704-01.2\]

-   Radiological Posting \[LIR402-712-01.1\]

-   Radiation Hazard Communication \[LIR402-713-01.1\]

-   Storage and Labeling \[LPR402-717.0 \]

-   Safeguards and Security Manual, [Chapter 12, Nuclear Materials
    Control and
    Accountability](http://int.lanl.gov/orgs/s/documents/12-mc_a.pdf)

**Controls:**

[Engineering controls]{.underline}:

The encapsulations of these samples, designed to prevent the release and
spread of the ^242^Pu material, are the primary controls that reduce the
hazard of working with them.

[Sample Handling and Monitoring:]{.underline}

To minimize the chance for exposure to Pu in the event of a seal failure
on the sample encapsulation, and to minimize the chance of an
encapsulation breach, the following procedures must be followed:

[Transportation:]{.underline}

Government Transportation will be used and packaging and transportation
requirements will be coordinated with BUS-4 Packaging and
Transportation; Special Nuclear Materials /Safe & Secure Transport.
Bus-4 will determine if road closures are necessary. Arrangements for
the transfer will be made according to LANSCE SOP 453 at least 24 hours
in advance and the LANSCE Nuclear Materials Custodian or Alternate will
be made aware of the transaction and be available to receive or send the
material. ESH-1 will be notified as soon as the arrival and /or
departure date of the sample is known.

[Storage;]{.underline}

The sample will be stored in a locked safe designated for radioactive
storage when not mounted in the instrument or under immediate positive
control of someone working on the experiment. The LANSCE Central Control
Room (CCR) (75729) and ESH-1 (77069) will be notified before the sample
is moved.

[Experiment procedures:]{.underline}

An ESH-1 technician will be present when the sample is moved from the
instrument or safe. ESH-1 will swipe-test each sample each time it is
removed from storage or replaced in storage, and will check its
radiation level after it has been irradiated.

If required by the RWP for an experiment, an alpha CAM monitor will be
installed and the following procedures will be in place.

An alpha CAM will be used to monitor the sample while it is in use in
the experiment. If the LANSCE accelerator is operating, the alpha-CAM Pu
alarm must be functional in the Central Control Room (CCR). The CAM will
be powered by an uninterruptable power supply to minimize false alarms.
The filter paper in the CAM will be changed once per day during regular
working days. Changing the filter paper during holidays and weekends is
optional unless false alarms result from this practice. CCR will be
informed before any operation that will trigger an alpha CAM alarm.

[Experiment Environment:]{.underline}

The sample will be mounted in a Displex Refrigerator and operated at
temperatures between 15  K and 300 K. The vacuum pump exhaust will be
monitored using a continuous air monitor (CAM) as described above. The
sample will not be exposed to other than ambient atmospheric pressure.

[Posting:]{.underline}

A copy of this HCP will be posted at FP-5.

[Protective clothing requirements:]{.underline}

Gloves must be worn when handling the sample. PPE requirements for
experiment operations shall be addressed in an RWP.

[Required Knowledge Skills & Abilities:]{.underline}

Only designated personnel, listed in Appendix A, will be allowed to
mount, dismount or handle the samples. The designated personnel must
have read and must follow the procedures in this HCP.

**EMERGENCY PROCEDURES:**

The alpha CAM in use has both "CAM-failure" and "Plutonium" alarms. The
"CAM-failure" alarm has only a faint local alarm tone and indicates a
problem with the equipment such as low air flow, high background
counting rate detection (sometimes caused by noise pickup), or power
disturbances, etc. The true "Plutonium" alarm has, locally, a loud
ringing bell and high-pitched tone. CAM-failure alarms should be
reported to ESH-1 (667-7069) for checkout and correction. (See "CAM
Failure" below). Plutonium alarms always must be taken seriously and the
procedure below must be followed.

[CAM Plutonium Alarm or Breach of Containment:]{.underline}

If the Pu sample is dropped or otherwise mechanically shocked, or there
is reason to suspect that the sample is leaking, all personnel should
leave the building immediately and ESH-1 (667-7069) should be called to
monitor the sample.

\(1\) In the event of an alpha CAM Plutonium alarm (locally, a loud bell
and high-pitched tone), a CCR operator will announce three times
"evacuate ER-1 and wait at the exit". All personnel will evacuate the
building and wait near the exits. Anyone involved with the experiment
that is in the area will inform the CCR operator and arriving ESH
personnel of the circumstances. With or without a CAM plutonium alarm,
if there is a suspected breach of the containment due to an accident or
other unusual occurrence, the CCR operator (7-5729) should be informed
and asked to follow this emergency procedure. Personnel in the room at
the time of any such occurrence should evacuate the room immediately.

\(2\) A CCR operator will call ESH-1 personnel and inform them that
there is a Plutonium alarm in ER-1. CCR will then call one of the
following people and notify them of the situation.

Walter Trela 665-4123, 662-9482

Luke Daemen

\(3\) When ESH-1 personnel arrive, all evacuated personnel will be
monitored for contamination, and released if no contamination is found.

\(4\) If no contamination is found on personnel, then ESH-1 will enter
ER-1 wearing respirators and protective clothing and survey for
contamination.

\(5\) If no contamination is found outside the experimental cave, then
authorized personnel (Appendix A) will close the shutter and allow ESH-1
to monitor the experimental cave for contamination.

\(6\) If no contamination is found in the cave, then the CAM will be
evaluated for proper operation. If the CAM is found to have
malfunctioned, it will be repaired or replaced. If the CAM is working
correctly, then authorized personnel (Appendix A) will remove the sample
for examination. If no contamination is found and the CAM is working
properly, then normal operations may be resumed.

\(7\) If contamination is found, then ESH-1 will post barricades and
signs prohibiting entrance to the affected area except under ESH-1
supervision. Only ESH-1 will remove the signs and barricades.

\(8\) When contamination is found, the CCR operator will be notified and
the operator will inform the LANSCE facility manager and safety officer
and call the responsible experimenter.

\(9\) When safe procedures have been determined and approved by the
LANSCE facility safety officer and ESH-1, experiment personnel will
secure the sample and clean up all contamination. ESH-1 will monitor and
support this cleanup operation. The sample will be repackaged and
shipped back to the originator.

\(10\) The Lujan operations officer and the facility operations officer
in consultation with ESH-1 will determine when normal operations may be
resumed.

[Failure of CAM:]{.underline}

\(1\) When a CAM-failure alarm occurs, the CCR operator will notify
ESH-1 (667-7069) that there is a CAM-failure alarm on the alpha CAM on
FP5 in ER-1. If other personnel discover an alpha CAM failure they
should report it to ESH-1.

\(2\) ESH-1 will determine the cause of failure, estimate the time
needed to restore reliable operation, and inform the experimenters.

\(3\) Repair or replacement of the alpha CAM should commence as soon as
practicable. If the alpha CAM cannot be restored to operation or
replaced in a timely manner then, at the earliest suitable opportunity,
the sample will be removed and placed in storage as detailed above in
safe procedures. Without a working CAM, ESH-1 personnel must provide
alternate alpha particle monitoring before the sample is handled to
ensure that no contamination hazard exists.

[Fire and Evacuation While Pu Sample Is in Use:]{.underline}

\(1\) Do not attempt to remove sample from the experiment.

\(2\) If sample was being moved, evacuate building with sample and
notify the NM custodian and the CCR operator (7-5729). ESH-1 or the NM
custodian will assist in obtaining safe storage until the sample can be
returned to its designated storage location.

\(3\) The evacuation will proceed according to the TA-53 Emergency
Procedures.

\(4\) Personnel at the site should remain and inform arriving firemen of
the location of the Pu sample if it is still in the building.

**Wastes:**

No waste is generated by using these samples. If the samples are no
longer needed, transfer or disposal must be arranged according to
laboratory procedures. If contamination is encountered, consult with
ESH-1 and the LANSCE Waste Coordinator for disposal of PPE as
radioactive waste.

**Residual Risk:**

The residual risk of using these samples with implementation of the
above engineering and administrative controls is estimated as "**low**".

**Change Control Process:**

This document must be reviewed at least annually. The latest version
will be available on the LANSCE-3 web site, in the LANSCE-3 group
office, and a copy will be in ER-1.

**Description of the Samples:**

The samples covered by this HCP consist of thin sheets of solid Pu
metal. The quantities of Pu in each sample are below the nuclear
facility Category 3 limits as specified in DOE-STD-1027-92
(LA-12981-MS). Schematic drawings of the encapsulations are shown in the
Appendices. Samples covered by this HCP are fabricated at LANL. The Pu
is encapsulated in a stainless steel container that is welded shut and
He leak tested and inspected to insure the integrity of the weld. This
container is the placed in a similar but larger container and this
second container is similarly welded and tested. Before fabrication, the
sample encapsulation design was extensively reviewed by personnel from
both TA-55 and TA-53 with members of ESH, NMT, MST, P, and LANSCE
divisions involved.

Alpha decay of the Pu generates He gas that can build up pressure in the
encapsulation. The rate of increase in pressure in the encapsulation can
be reduced by increasing the available expansion volume inside the
encapsulation. This has been done in the design and fabrication process.

**Storage and security:**

The samples will be stored in Materials Balance Area that is already
established at the Manuel Lujan Neutron Scattering Center. Only one
sample will be left unattended in the experiment at any given time.

**Properties of ^242^Pu**: ^242^Pu is an alpha emitter. There are
gamma-rays associated with the decay, but they are rather low in energy
and hence not very penetrating. The half-life of ^242^Pu is 307,000
years.

**Responsible Individuals:**

The handling and monitoring of the special Pu samples is the
responsibility of personnel from LANSCE-3 and LANSCE 12. The LANSCE-3
Group Office is located at TA-53, MPF-1, Room C138, telephone number
(505) 667-5377.

The designated Instrument Responsible is responsible for safe operation
of Lujan FP-5 and maintenance of this HCP. The Instrument Responsible
will be the primary contact for users of the flight path and safety
personnel. Additional personnel from LANSCE-3, LANSCE-12 and
collaborators, as listed in Appendix A, also will be responsible for
handling of these samples. ALL users of Flight Path 5, as well as
visitors, are responsible for following the applicable procedures
outlined in this HCP.

A list of associated personnel is given below:

*Staff member:*

Walter Trela (LANSCE-3), 665-4123, home 6629482

Luke Daemen (LANSCE-12)

*Technician:*

Lloyd Hunt (LANSCE-3), 665-6300, pager 104-8738

*LANSCE-3 Group Leader:*

Steve Wender, 667-1344, pager 104-2185, home 983-3634

*LANSCE-3 Operations Team Leader:*

Bruce Takala, 665-2029, pager 104-8827

**Attachment**

**APPENDIX A**

###### Authorized Sample Handlers

Walter Trela 665- 4123

Luke Daemen

Lloyd Hunt (LANL, LANSCE-3) 665-6300, 104-8738 (digital)

By signing below Sample Handlers certify that they have read and
understood this HCP and meet the training and clearance requirements
specified:

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Walter Trela (LANSCE-3) Date

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Luke Daemen Date

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Lloyd Hunt (LANSCE-3) Date

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

> Date