Report of the committee of inquiry into a fire which occurred on 18 March 1987 in a radioisotope processing cell, Building 54 at the Lucas Heights Research Laboratories

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorAustralian Atomic Energy Commission Research Establishment Lucas Heightsen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2022-05-05T01:10:49Zen_AU
dc.date.available2022-05-05T01:10:49Zen_AU
dc.date.issued1987-03-25en_AU
dc.date.statistics2022-05-04en_AU
dc.descriptionPhysical copies held by ANSTO Library at 363.376509441/1(RSCA) and 363.376509441/1(R)en_AU
dc.description.abstractl. At about 1745 hours on Wednesday, l8 March 1987 a fire occurred in a small charcoal filter inside a processing cell (hot cell) in Building 54 at the Lucas Heights Research Laboratories (LHRL). This cell was being used to process irradiated uranium to separate the radioactive isotope molybdenum—99. 2. The fire was not related to either of the two research reactors at the LHRL site. It was confined to the charcoal filter in the above mentioned cell, which is about 500 metres from the nuclear reactor HIFAR. 3. Some radioactive contamination escaped from the hot cell into the operating area and three AAEC officers were found to have minor radioactive contamination on their skin/hair. A fourth AAEC officer had a spot of contamination on his trousers. The contamination was short-lived and was quickly and easily removed by washing with soap and water. 4. The majority of the radioactive material released from the fire was trapped by the main filters outside the cell. The total amounts of radioactive noble gas and of radioiodine released to the environment during the week in which the fire occurred were within the normal range of discharge and were 53% and 2.1%, respectively, of the weekly limit authorised by the NSW Department of Health. 5. Early advice on the accident was provided to the Minister for Resources and Energy and to relevant State and Local Government Authorities. A representative of the NSW Department of Health was present at the Lucas Heights Research Laboratories on the evening of 18 March. 6. The Committee noted that the response to the accident by personnel of the AAEC and of NSW emergency organisations was prompt and effective. 7. A number of recommendations have been made by the Committee to avoid a similar occurrence and to make further improvements in the effectiveness of the emergency response. 8. On the evidence available to it, the Committee: . concludes that the fire was caused by spontaneous combustion in the charcoal filter used to trap radioactive gases released by the operations in the hot cell, . concludes that the mechanism causing the fire cannot be clearly established at this stage and some further research and investigation is necessary to clarify the mechanism, . believes that no member of AAEC staff, NSW emergency services personnel or the general public suffered, or will suffer, any adverse health effects from radioactivity as a result of the accident.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationAustralian Atomic Energy Commission Research Establishment Lucas Heights (1987). Report of the committee of inquiry into a fire which occurred on 18 March 1987 in a radioisotope processing cell, Building 54 at the Lucas Heights Research Laboratories. Lucas Heights, NSW : Australian Atomic Energy Commission Research Establishment, Lucas Heights.en_AU
dc.identifier.placeofpublicationLucas Heights, New South Walesen_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/13104en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherAustralian Atomic Energy Commission Research Establishment Lucas Heightsen_AU
dc.subjectANSTOen_AU
dc.subjectAccidentsen_AU
dc.subjectNew South Walesen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectChemicalsen_AU
dc.subjectUraniumen_AU
dc.subjectIrradiationen_AU
dc.subjectFiltersen_AU
dc.subjectFiresen_AU
dc.subjectContaminationen_AU
dc.subjectRemedial actionen_AU
dc.subjectDecontaminationen_AU
dc.titleReport of the committee of inquiry into a fire which occurred on 18 March 1987 in a radioisotope processing cell, Building 54 at the Lucas Heights Research Laboratoriesen_AU
dc.typeBooken_AU
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Fire inquiry Lucas Heights.pdf
Size:
5.39 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.63 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Scientific and Technical Reports