On January 10, 1994, an airborne release of plutonium occurred within the Plutonium Oxide Facility at the Savannah River Site when nitric acid leaked out of two bags containing a pump. The pump was transferred from one area to another for repair work and placed on the floor on its end. When the pump was lifted off the floor, liquid acid containing plutonium leaked from the bags. The leaking acid evaporated causing the plutonium to become airborne and the High Volume Air Activity Monitor (HVAAM) to alarm. Personnel evacuated the area immediately. When Health Physics completed their surveys, a clean-up plan was developed, Contamination Area signs were posted, and a Radiological Work Permit was generated for the clean-up. (ORPS Report SR--WSRC-HBLINE-1994-0002)
Several hours later, personnel entered the maintenance rooms to begin decontamination of the spilled liquid. During the work, the HVAAM alarmed a second time, indicating high activity levels that exceeded the protection factor of the plastic air suits worn by the decontamination personnel. Based upon past experience, facility personnel did not expect the occurrence of high levels of airborne activity. After completing additional surveys and providing lapel air samplers to decontamination personnel, personnel re-entered the maintenance areas and completed the decontamination.
Even though no radiation overexposures occurred, one lesson learned from this event was to ensure that an appropriate container must be used for moving heavy or sharp-edged contaminated components and another was to exercise caution handling such components. A third lesson was to "expect the unexpected" when handling volatile radioactive liquids that rapidly become airborne contaminants if leaked, even when past experience indicates otherwise.