Battelle Team 

Dose Reconstruction 

Project for NIOSH

Document Title: 

Site Profiles for Atomic Weapons Employers that 

Worked Uranium and Thorium Metals 

Appendix BP – Landis Machine Tool Co. 

Document Number: Battelle-TBD-6000 

Appendix BP

Revision: 0 

Effective Date: 7/31/2007 

Type of Document: TBD Appendix

Supersedes: None 

Subject Experts: R.I. Scherpelz, J.D. Catalano 

Document Owner 

Approval: Signature on file Approval Date: 07/02/2007 

Robert I. Scherpelz, Staff Scientist 

Approval Signature on file Approval Date: 07/02/2007 

Jay A. MacLellan, Battelle PNWD Task Manager 

Concurrence: Signature on file Concurrence Date: 07/02/2007 

Richard J. Traub, Staff Scientist 

Approval: Signature on file Approval Date: 07/23/2007 

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 BP 

Revision No. 0 Effective Date: 7/31/2007 Page 2 

Landis Machine Tool Company 

BP.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. 

According to information found in the DOE facility database1

, the work performed at 

Landis Machine Tool, was undertaken by National Lead of Ohio (Fernald) personnel. It 

appears that these individuals used Landis equipment for two days in 1952 to perform 

tests involving the machining of uranium slugs. 

BP.2 Site Description 

In 1952, National Lead of Ohio (Fernald) personnel performed tests involving the 

machining of uranium slugs at Landis Machine Tool Company. The tests were performed 

over a two day period.1

BP.2.1 Site Activities 

National Lead of Ohio (Fernald) personnel performed tests involving the machining of 

uranium slugs at Landis Machine Tool Company. The tests were performed over a two 

day period in 1952. Based on the sample data sheets found in the site research database, it 

appears the work took place on September 18 and 19 and involved centerless grinding of 

uranium slugs. 

Although there is no information regarding the specifics of the work performed at Landis 

Machine Tool, the following quote from the Bethlehem Steel Technical Basis Document 

describes the process as performed at Bethlehem Steel during this approximate time 

period (1949-52): 

The canning process required a precision ground uranium piece. AEC 

1949f describes the process of centerless grinding using a No. 3 

Cincinnati Centerless Grinder using initial (rough) pass removing 

0.005”-0.010” with finishing passes removing 0.001”-0.002”. The basic 

principle was for the cutting pressure of the grinding wheel to keep the 

rod in contact with the rest blade and the regulating wheel The rotation 

of the regulating wheel axis causes the rod to rotate at a constant 

peripheral speed and the inclination of the regulating wheel axis moves 

the work from the front to the rear of the machine. The operation of 

grinding uranium required the use of a constant flow of water to prevent 

the uranium from burning and sparking which in turn significantly 

reduces the airborne hazard as evidenced by the air monitoring data.2

We were unable to find any specific information as to the number of uranium slugs processed at 

Landis Machine Tool, but given the 2-day work period, the number is likely to be relatively 

small. 
Document No. Battelle-TBD-6000; 

Appendix BP 

Revision No. 0 Effective Date: 7/31/2007 Page 3 

BP.2.2 Job Categories 

Table BP.1 assigns Landis Machine Tool Company claimants’ job titles as of the 

effective date of this appendix to the Job Category listed in Bold Text below. The 

claimant had a support job (Inspector). As such, he may have had occasion to be in the 

work area during the machining tests, but would not have been directly involved in 

handling the slugs or operating the grinder. As such, his work location during the 

grinding would likely not have placed him in the area where dust concentrations were 

greatest (as with plant floor high job titles). 

Plant Floor High (Involved directly in operations) 

Plant Floor Low (Involved in support of operations) 

Supervisor (Assumed to spend some time in the production areas) 

Clerk (Assumed to have minimal exposure) 

Claims forwarded to NIOSH by the Department of Labor after the effective date of this 

appendix will be evaluated during the dose reconstruction process to determine the most 

appropriate of the four Job Categories. 

BP.3 Occupational Medical Dose 

No information regarding occupational medical dose specific to Landis Machine Tool 

Company was found. Given the short-term nature of the AWE work at this site, it is 

unlikely that medical X-rays would have been required. Nevertheless, 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. 

BP.4 Occupational Internal Dose 

Air sampling was conducted during the performance of the tests on April 18-19, 1952. 

There is reference to handling 2-3 slugs at a time in various processes during the 

monitoring, it must be assumed that the measurements are representative of the 

conditions throughout the 2-day operation period. It is favorable to assume that 

centerless grinding was performed continuously during the two-day period and that the 

breathing zone air sampling data collected represents the exposure of personnel 

performing the grinding operations. The exposures for other personnel, such as 

inspectors, supervisors and clerical, are calculated by multiplying the grinders’ exposures 

adjusting the grinders’ exposures accordingly: 

• Plant floor low: 0.5. This category includes inspectors, helpers, tool repair, and other 

ancillary job titles in which employees may be in the work area, but not directly 

involved in the grinding operation; 

• Supervisors: 0.25. This category includes managers, foremen, observers, etc. 

• Clerical: 0.025. This category includes office personnel. Those who spend minimal 

time in the work area. 

To estimate the hours per year of exposure, it is assumed that grinding tests took place 

throughout the two-day testing period (April 18-19, 1952). There is no information in the 

file regarding how many shifts operated at this facility. Absent any information to the 

contrary, assume grinding tests occurred on all shifts. 

Tables BP.2 and BP.3 contain inhalation and ingestion intakes in terms of total pCi for 

the entire exposure period, compiled for each job category and each year. 
Document No. Battelle-TBD-6000; 

Appendix BP 

Revision No. 0 Effective Date: 7/31/2007 Page 4 

BP.5 Occupational External Dose 

There was no information in the site research database with respect to external exposures. 

No radiation surveys were performed during or after the tests. Therefore, external doses 

must be calculated based on airborne contamination levels (the results of the breathing 

zone samples). This Battelle TBD provides guidance for calculating external doses 

associated with submersion and surface loading based on airborne contamination levels. 

Beta radiation doses are based on direct handling of natural uranium metal slugs as 

shown on table 3.4 in the TBD. 

Tables BP.4 and BP.5 contain external doses, in terms of total mR for the duration of the 

exposure period. 

BP.6 Residual Contamination 

There were no tests performed to verify the site had been decontaminated after the tests, 

but given the fact that the grinding work at the site was performed by National Lead of 

Ohio personnel, it would be unlikely that clean-up would not have occurred. Further, 

given the short-term nature of the work at this site, NIOSH concluded that the potential 

for residual contamination at this site is minimal.3

 

BP.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. Technical Basis Document: Basis for Development of an Exposure Matrix for 

Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Lackawanna, NY. Period of Operation 1949-1952. p.6 

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas/pdfs/tbd/ocastbd3r0.pdf 

3. 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 BP 

Revision No. 0 Effective Date: 7/31/2007 Page 5 

Table BP.1. Job Categories for all current claimants who worked at Landis Machine Tool Company 

Job Title Exposure Category 

Service Department Mechanic 2 

Electrical Assembler 2 

. 
Document No. Battelle-TBD-6000; Appendix BP Revision No. 0 Effective Date: 7/31/2007 

Table BP.2 INTERNAL DOSE PATHWAYS - Inhalation of Airborne Radionuclides Assumptions: Operational Period Daily Weighted Average Air Concentration, Plant Floor High: 46 dpm/m3

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

GSD is 7.5 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 two days. 

Intake value is 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 1952 Operations 16 U234 3.98E+02 7.5 Based on Measured air samples, BZ & Plant Floor Low 1952 Operations 16 U234 1.99E+02 7.5 Based on Measured air samples, BZ & Supervisor 1952 Operations 16 U234 9.96E+01 7.5 Based on Measured air samples, BZ & Clerical 1952 Operations 16 U234 9.96E+00 7.5 Based on Measured air samples, BZ & 
Document No. Battelle-TBD-6000; Appendix BP Revision No. 0 Effective Date: 7/31/2007 

Table BP.3 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 All intakes assume full-time employment for the exposure time period of two days. Intake value is 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 1952 Operations 16 U234 1.02E-02 7.5 Based on Measured air samples, BZ & Plant Floor Low 1952 Operations 16 U234 5.08E-03 7.5 Based on Measured air samples, BZ & Supervisor 1952 Operations 16 U234 2.54E-03 7.5 Based on Measured air samples, BZ & Clerical 1952 Operations 16 U234 2.54E-04 7.5 Based on Measured air samples, BZ & 
Document No. Battelle-TBD-6000; Appendix BP Revision No. 0 Effective Date: 7/31/2007 

Table BP.4 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 1952 Operations 16 U234 8.38E-01 5.0 Generic Metal TBD, Section 6.3 Plant Floor Low 1952 Operations 16 U234 4.19E-01 5.0 Generic Metal TBD, Section 6.3 Supervisor 1952 Operations 16 U234 4.19E-02 5.0 Generic Metal TBD, Section 6.3 Clerical 1952 Operations 16 U234 4.92E-07 5.0 Generic Metal TBD, Section 6.3 
Document No. Battelle-TBD-6000; Appendix BP Revision No. 0 Effective Date: 7/31/2007 

Table BP.5 EXTERNAL DOSE PATHWAYS - Skin Assumptions: All assumptions from TBD-6000 Section 6.3 Operational Period: Non-penetrating dose to skin 230 mR/hour (hands and forearms) 20.8 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 1952 Operations 16 U234 1.84E+03 1.66E+02 5.0 Generic Metal TBD, Section Plant Floor Low 1952 Operations 16 U234 9.20E+02 8.32E+01 5.0 Generic Metal TBD, Section Supervisor 1952 Operations 16 U234 9.20E+01 8.32E+00 5.0 Generic Metal TBD, Section Clerical 1952 Operations 16 U234 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 5.0 Generic Metal TBD, Section