Contractor Still Conducting Analysis of Chemical Spill Accident
Mike Nartker
WC Monitor
5/8/2015
B&W Conversion Services, LLC, is so far holding off on setting a schedule for the resumption of full operations at the Portsmouth depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF) conversion plant in the wake of a chemical spill accident, saying late this week that the incident is still under investigation. BWCS is in the midst of a “highly detailed Causal Factors Analysis (CFA)” expected to take “several weeks to complete,” BWCS Business and Legal Services Director Foy Meyer said in a written response. “In parallel with the CFA, we have enhanced certain processes and procedures based on the initial fact finding and investigation. Our collective focus remains on safety, not dates or deadlines,” Meyer said.
The Portsmouth DUF6 plant, along with a sister facility at the Department of Energy’s Paducah site, is intended to help disposition more than 700,000 metric tons of material stored in thousands of cylinders at the two sites. Conversion operations at the Portsmouth plant have largely been halted, though, since an accident occurred in late March as operators were performing post-maintenance testing. Two employees were splashed with potassium hydroxide, and one was required to be airlifted to a hospital for treatment. DOE has said that worker has since been released to return to work.
In a written response late last week, BWCS said, “Maintenance work and limited system operations have resumed at the Portsmouth DUF6 conversion plant on a phased basis following senior management reviews to ensure safe controlled performance. Additional reviews to clarify hazards and risk level are in progress with further staff training on procedural changes expected leading to eventual resumption of conversion operations.” It remains to be seen if DOE’s Office of Enforcement intends to open a formal investigation into the accident, which could lead to financial penalties for BWCS.
Paducah Manager Injures Hand After Getting ‘Frustrated’ With Operators
The Portsmouth accident is not the only incident likely to raise eyebrows that has occurred at the DUF6 plants in recent weeks. According to a DOE occurrence report posted online last week, the Facility Manager at the Paducah plant suffered a self-inflicted bone fracture to his hand after becoming “frustrated” following a meeting with plant operators. “The Facility Manager became frustrated. While alone at his desk and upon reflection of the previous conversation the FM struck his hand on his desk and experienced pain in his right hand. Management did not provide sufficient training and support to help the FM address the situation in a more positive manner,” the DOE report states.
Meyer late this week largely declined to comment on the Paducah incident. “The self-inflicted injury that occurred at Paducah was addressed at the appropriate internal level. In accordance with BWCS policy, we do not publicly discuss details regarding internal personnel matters. The individual involved returned to work with no lost work days,” Meyer said.
