The high-density concrete cover blocks shielding the pipe trench in the hat-cell air lack of the 324 Building Radiochemical Engineering Cells had accumulated fixed radioactivity ranging from 1,100 to 22,000 mrad/hr. A corresponding increase in the radiation exposure to personnel entering the air lack, together with ALARA concerns, led to the removal of the contaminated concrete surface with a hydraulic spaller and the emplacement of a stainless steel covering over a layer of grout. The resultant saving in radiation exposure is estimated to be 7,200 mrad far personnel completing burial box runs for the 324 and 325 Building Hot Cell Cleanout Program. Radiation exposure to all staff members entering the air lack is now at least 50% lower.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.