Battelle Team 

Dose Reconstruction 

Project for NIOSH

Document Title: 

Site Profiles for Atomic Weapons Employers that 

Worked Uranium and Thorium Metals 

Appendix BD – Heald Machine Company 

Document Number: Battelle-TBD-6000 

Appendix BD

Revision: 0 

Effective Date: 7/16/2007 

Type of Document: TBD Appendix

Supersedes: None 

Subject Experts: R.I. Scherpelz, M.S. Yencken 

Document Owner 

Approval: Signature on file Approval Date: 6/29/2007 

Robert I. Scherpelz, Staff Scientist 

Approval Signature on file Approval Date: 6/29/2007 

Jay A. MacLellan, Battelle PNWD Task Manager 

Concurrence: Signature on file Concurrence Date: 6/29/2007 

Richard J. Traub, Staff Scientist 

Approval: Signature on file Approval Date: 7/16/2007 

James W. Neton, Associate Director of Science 

 New Total Rewrite Revision Page Change 

FOR DOCUMENTS MARKED AS A TOTAL REWRITE, REVISION, OR PAGE CHANGE, REPLACE THE PRIOR 

REVISION AND DISCARD / DESTROY ALL COPIES OF THE PRIOR REVISION. 
Document No. Battelle-TBD-6000; 

Appendix BD 

Revision No. 0 Effective Date: 7/16/2007 Page 2 

Heald Machine Company 

BD.1 Introduction 

This document serves as an appendix to Battelle-TBD-6000, Site Profiles for Atomic 

Weapons Employers that Worked Uranium and Thorium Metals. This appendix 

describes the results of document research specific to this site. Where specific 

information is lacking, research into similar facilities described in the body of this Site 

Profile is used. 

BD.2 Site Description 

The Heald Machine Company located in Worcester, Massachusetts was subcontracted in 

June 1959 by National Lead of Ohio (NLO) to produce 1 precision drilling machine to 

perform centerless grinding of uranium slugs. The contract included a performance test 

of the drilling machine before delivery to NLO, the test to be performed at Heald 

Machine Company. This acceptance test occurred on one occasion over 4 days. 

BD.2.1 Site Activities 

In May, 1960 an engineering acceptance test was conducted at Heald Machine Company 

to demonstrate the capability of a “multi-bore” drilling machine to drill four uranium 

slugs at a time. 100 solid uranium cylinder test pieces were contracted to be run, provided 

by NLO, along with the drill bits. There are no records of the actual number tested. 

There also are no records of any other work involving uranium at this site other than the 

May 1960 period. The actual test dates where uranium was processed are May 17-19, 

1960. Decontamination was conducted from May 19-20, 1960, and is described as 

having no contamination above background level. 

Campaign Process Details 

Weeks prior to the tests with uranium, an engineer from NLO visited Heald Machine and 

observed the operation of the precision drilling machine, confirming its proper operation 

using cast iron slugs. 

 

March 16,1960: Background air sampling was also performed on this date. 

May 17-19, 1960: The slug drilling test commenced and continued until noon on 

Thursday, May 19. Air samples were collected on May 18 during the test. The drilling 

machine was partially decontaminated and the floor vacuumed at the end of each working 

period. The drilling machine was located in an unventilated enclosure. Air monitoring 

results were essentially the same as the background samples collected prior to these tests. 

May 19-20, 1960: Full decontamination of the area and equipment was performed. All 

coolant with chips was collected and sealed in 30 gallon drums which were packed into 

55 gal drums and returned to NLO. A survey of the area and equipment was performed 

to confirm no radiation levels above background. This work was completed at 3 PM on 

the 20th. All materials associated with the test were under the control of NLO and 

returned to NLO. 
Document No. Battelle-TBD-6000; 

Appendix BD 

Revision No. 0 Effective Date: 7/16/2007 Page 3 

BD.2.2 Job Categories 

Each claim will be evaluated to determine the most appropriate Job Category from the list 

below. 

MACHINING – Centerless Grinding (1960) 

Plant Floor High (Involved directly in operations—dose based on site specific data) 

Plant Floor Low (Involved in support of operations—dose based on 50% of plant 

floor high above) 

Supervisor (Assumed to spend some time in the production areas—internal dose 

based on 25% of plant floor high above) 

Clerk (Assumed to have minimal exposure—dose based on exposure to 

2.5% of plant floor high above) 

Employed after AWE period 

 Assumed to have no exposure based upon FUSRAP surveys. 

BD.3 Occupational Medical Dose 

No information regarding occupational medical dose specific to Heald Machine 

Company was found. Information to be used in dose reconstructions for which no 

specific information is available is provided in ORAUT-OTIB-0006, the dose 

reconstruction project technical information bulletin covering diagnostic x-ray 

procedures. 

BD.4 Occupational Internal Dose 

Air monitoring data are available from two air sampling campaigns, pre- and postengineering acceptance test. Samples were collected by National Lead of Ohio. All 

samples were general area samples. There is a summary report which discusses the 

engineering test and the results of the air monitoring. The conclusions of the report state 

that the air monitoring results were not significantly different from the background levels 

measured two months previously when no uranium was present and that after 

decontamination and a radiation survey there was no residual radiation contamination 

above background levels. The background-corrected geometric mean air concentration 

during the machining test was 0.42 dpm/m3

. 

The operation occurred in an enclosure with no ventilation. Metalworking fluids were 

employed. 

These values were used to derive the inhalation values presented in Table BD.1. The 

values in the table present these values as a pCi per calendar day inhalation. These 

values were used to determine an ingestion intake in accordance with this TBD. Those 

values are presented as a pCi per calendar day ingestion in Table BD.2. 

BD.5 Occupational External Dose 

No data were found in the Site Research database related to occupational external dose 

during AWE work. The work performed at Heald Machine Company involved a 3-day 
Document No. Battelle-TBD-6000; 

Appendix BD 

Revision No. 0 Effective Date: 7/16/2007 Page 4 

centerless grinder engineering performance test and 1 day of decontamination. 

Therefore, the external dose values in the TBD for centerless grinding should be used. 

Tables BD.4 and BD.5 present these values as a mrem per calendar day value to be used 

for each calendar year listed. 

BD.6 Residual Contamination 

On May 19 & 20, 1960, after the engineering performance test had been completed a 

complete decontamination of the machine and surrounding area was performed. A 

radiation survey showed no radiation present above background levels. In 1990, the 

Department of Energy formally eliminated Heald Machine Company from the list of 

FUSRAP sites. It was deemed unlikely that any significant residual contamination was 

present due to the small quantities handled and the documented decontamination efforts, 

therefore there was little potential for exposure to residual contamination2

. 

BD.7 References 

1. DOE Office of Health, Safety and Security, EEOICPA web site. 

http://www.hss.energy.gov/healthsafety/fwsp/advocacy/faclist/findfacility.cfm 

2. Report on Residual Radioactive and Beryllium Contamination at Atomic Weapons 

Employer Facilities and Beryllium Vender Facilities. 

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas/pdfs/tbd/rescon/rcontam1206.pdf & 

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas/pdfs/tbd/rescon/appen-a2.pdf
Document No. Battelle-TBD-6000; Appendix BD Revision No. 0 Effective Date: 7/16/2007 

Table BD.1 INTERNAL DOSE PATHWAYS - Inhalation of Airborne Radionuclides Assumptions: Operational Period Daily Weighted Average Air Concentration, Plant Floor High: 0.42 dpm/m3

Residual Period Daily Weighted Average Air Concentration: 0 dpm/m3

Conversion Factor: 2.22 dpm/pCi Breathing Rate: 1.2 m^3/hour All intakes assume full-time employment for the exposure time period of five days. 

Total intake values represent the Geometric Mean of a lognormal distribution 

Job Category Year 

Operation 

Phase Hr/Yr 

Relevant 

Nuclide 

Total 

Intake 

(pCi) GSD TBD Reference or Research Justific

Plant Floor High 1960 Operations 40 U234 9.01E+00 2.8 Measured air samples Plant Floor Low 1960 Operations 40 U234 4.50E+00 2.8 Measured air samples Supervisor 1960 Operations 40 U234 2.25E+00 2.8 Measured air samples Clerical 1960 Operations 40 U234 2.25E-01 2.8 Measured air samples 
Document No. Battelle-TBD-6000; Appendix BD Revision No. 0 Effective Date: 7/16/2007 

Table BD.2 INTERNAL DOSE PATHWAYS - Ingestion of Airborne Radionuclides Assumptions: Air Concentration to Intake Conversion Factor: 3.06E-05 (M^3/d)/(hr/y) - see 7.1.6 TBD-6000 Deposition velocity: 0.00075 m/s Resuspension Factor: 1.00E-06 1/m Total intake values represent the Geometric Mean of a lognormal distribution 

Job Category Year 

Operation 

Phase Hr/Yr 

Relevant 

Nuclide 

Total Intake 

(pCi) GSD TBD Reference or Research Justific

Plant Floor High 1960 Operations 40 U234 2.30E-04 2.8 Measured air samples Plant Floor Low 1960 Operations 40 U234 1.15E-04 2.8 Measured air samples Supervisor 1960 Operations 40 U234 5.75E-05 2.8 Measured air samples Clerical 1960 Operations 40 U234 5.75E-06 2.8 Measured air samples 
Document No. Battelle-TBD-6000; Appendix BD Revision No. 0 Effective Date: 7/16/2007 

Table BD.3 EXTERNAL DOSE PATHWAYS - Whole Body Asumptions: Submersion Dose Conversion Factor: 2.462E-09 mrem/h/dpm/m^3 

Deposition velocity: 0.00075 m/s 

Contaminated Surface Dose Conversion Factor: 5.615E-10 mrem/h/dpm/m^2 

All external dose from estimated exposure to uranium slugs Residual period: Assume no handling of U metal - only exposure is from residual contamination on floor and in air 

Job Category Year 

Operation 

Phase Hr/Yr 

Relevant 

Nuclide 

External 

Whole 

Body 

Dose 

(mR) GSD TBD Reference or Research Justific

Plant Floor High 1960 Operations 40 U234 2.10E+00 5 Generic Metal TBD, Section 6.3 Plant Floor Low 1960 Operations 40 U234 1.05E+00 5 Generic Metal TBD, Section 6.3 Supervisor 1960 Operations 40 U234 1.05E-01 5 Generic Metal TBD, Section 6.3 Clerical 1960 Operations 40 U234 2.63E-08 5 Generic Metal TBD, Section 6.3 
Document No. Battelle-TBD-6000; Appendix BD Revision No. 0 Effective Date: 7/16/2007 

Table BD.4 EXTERNAL DOSE PATHWAYS - Skin 

Assumptions: All assumptions from TBD-6000 Section 6.3 Operational Period: Non-penetrating dose to skin 115 mR/hour (hands and forearms) 10.4 mR/hour (other) 

Plant Floor High: Assume hands in contact with metal 50% of time. Other skin is 100% of dose rate at 1-f

Plant Floor Low: 50% of Plant Floor High Supervisor: assume 10% of Plant Floor Low for time in contact with metal Clerical: assume no handling of U metal. 

Residual Period: Non-penetrating dose to skin 3.9E-06 mr/hour 

Assume no handling of U metal. Assume 10x the photon whole body dose rate 

Job Category Year 

Operation 

Phase Hr/Yr 

Relevant 

Nuclide 

Skin 

Dose: 

Hands & 

Forearms 

(mR) 

Skin 

Dose: 

Other 

(mR) GSD TBD Reference or Res

Plant Floor High 1960 Operations 40 U234 4.60E+03 4.16E+02 5 Generic Metal TBD, Section Plant Floor Low 1960 Operations 40 U234 2.30E+03 2.08E+02 5 Generic Metal TBD, Section Supervisor 1960 Operations 40 U234 2.30E+02 2.08E+01 5 Generic Metal TBD, Section Clerical 1960 Operations 40 U234 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 5 Generic Metal TBD, Section