1976 Hanford americium exposure incident: decontamination and treatment facility

Health Phys. 1983 Oct;45(4):883-92. doi: 10.1097/00004032-198310000-00006.

Abstract

An injured worker, contaminated with more than 6 mCi of 241Am required special treatment and housing for 4 months. This paper is a description of the design and management of the facility in which most of the treatment and housing occurred. The problems associated with contamination control, waste handling, supplies and radiological concerns during the two-stage transfer of the patient from a controlled situation to his normal living environment are discussed in detail.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Occupational*
  • Americium / adverse effects*
  • Decontamination*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / organization & administration*
  • Hospital Design and Construction
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nuclear Reactors*
  • Patients' Rooms / organization & administration
  • Radiation Monitoring
  • Radiation Protection
  • Surgery Department, Hospital / organization & administration
  • Washington
  • Workforce

Substances

  • Americium