Routing Slip to B Bair, No Subject (Encl: Memo, Subject: 5TH Radiation Safety Audit and Inspection Team (Rsait) Visit to Enewetak Atoll; Summary re the Same)

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Form El.DA-93 (1-75) El.DAM 0240 Note an<t return. For slrnature. For Information. TO (Name and unit) INITIALS REMARKS BEST COPY AVAILABLE PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED

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DEFENSE NUCLEAR AGENCY Radiation Safety Audit and Inspection Team Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute SUBJECT: 5th ·Radiation Safety Audit and Inspection Team (RSAIT) Visit 1. The enclosed naterials constitute the report of the Radiation Safety Audit and !ns?ection Te~~ (RSAIT). No further report will be generated for this visit.. ~.ree (3) copies will be reproduced by the originator:; on Enewetak. Copies for the team mafnbers will be reproduced and sent to them after the tea~ ~e~ur~s home. One copy will be given to the third copies will ~e given to the Commander, Field Com.~and, Defense made in t~is report stoulj be forwarded to this office before the next anticipated PSAIT visit. 3. The PSAIT size has been reduced from ten members to seven. Full representation by eacn of the uniformed services has been maintained. occupational safety a~d health review is still considered an integral function of this tefu~. A short overall summary with the ~ost important findings and recom.~enda~ions by the Officer in Charge is followed by short sum.':'laries and recoI:'!!!lendations covered in each of the annexes. The recommendations brought forward to the summary section are cone so only after thorough discussions by the te~~. Ideas brought up for consideration, but not thought to be substantive remain in the body of the annex. 4. The next anticipated visit of the team will be from 5-13 December 1978.

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to Enewetak Atoll 5. The point of contact for all future inquiries remains the same • Director, Defense Nuclear Agency Inspection Team Members (7) DNA Radiation Safety Audit and

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TABLE OF CONTENTS ATTACHMENT 2: INSPECTION TEAM BACKGROUND INFORMATION • • 34

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The fifth visit by the P..adiation Safety Audit and Inspection Team (RSAIT) was accomplished fr.om 1-8 August 1978. The size of the team was reduced from ten to seven. Tha araas of interest were divided into three major portions: training and indoctrination, operational safety, and records keeping. The mobilization phase has been completed and the operational cleanup phase is now at full effort. Previous Audit and Inspection activities were divided i~to six or seven general areas. Planned during this visit was to look at the operation as a whole entity and observe and comment on those aspects of e~~irorunental, radiological and occupational safety as they apply ~o all p~ases of the operation. Particular emphasis was paid to the chain of events from debris or earth removal through dumping, stockpiling or crater containment. Considerable activity has taken place over the last four months in the areas of safety prog:::-ams. The current Conunander, Joint Task Group (JTG) and the element co:rnmanders are safety conscious. No significant changes have occured in the environmental protection program. Indoctrination and training in this area still needs improvement. Radiological and occupational hazards were reviewed during the debris and ground.removal operations. P..adiation hazards appeared to be minimal as previously noted on all pur RSAIT visits. Resuspension does not even appear to be significant at the area of maximum dirt agitation and potential for

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resuspension, i.e., batch plant operation. Occupational hazards abound The RSAIT arrived at three conclusions of note. First, resuspension of plutonium has not been a problem and does not now appear to be a prob~em even at tjle oatch plant operation. Second, the bulk haul of contaminated soil is efficient and safe, and does not require any extraordina.cy degr~ of radiation protection. Third, occupational hazards still are the predominant problem during this cleanup operation. 1. There is no need for personnel to wear surgical face masks at 2. Respiratory protec~ion against plutonium is only logical at the .time· earth is physically being moved about, but not during water 3. ContI.nued conmand e.~phasis on occupational safety and health is essential for the completion of this operational program.

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Arrival orientation and indoctrination still leaves much to be desired. This has been mentioned on each of the previous visits and the basic format.is _essentially the same. The audience is fatigued and retains little of the presented material.· Audio-visual aids should be used to the maximum possible. A more dynamic approach at a more favorable time in a more favorable· location are essential for lasti.~g impact of this most important aspect of the new arrivals' education and training. Field Radiation Support Team Training: This program appears to be .CfJite satisfactoi-y. The new change in format is felt to be beneficial

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Environmental safety continues to be a signi~icant problem on the Atoll and should be included for review by the Atoll Safety

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All aspects of the health physics operation here have been reviewed by this team. Field operations are going well due to the competence of the FRST team and the RADCON staff. The requirement that all personnel wear surgical masks on Enjebi is excessive since an inhalation hazard cannot be demonstrated there. However, respiratory protection should continue to be wort". on all islands during earth moving operations until· it has been demonstrated at a particular site that no hazard exists. It should then be removed at that site. The bulk haul operation is ~regressing -smoothly with no significant problems. Analysis of air sample data indicates that the average air concentrati .,.._ of Pu on the bulk haul operation is approxi,ately 1/5000 ?..fi>C and approximately 1/500 of the action level.

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overall, the occupational safety and health program is satisfactory. Notable is the large improvement in the physical condition of the of improvement are noted in the annex. The major recommendation relates to the somewhat dramatic increase in accidents leading to Most of these are related to the manner in which the individuals do their·work. This indicates a need for a more intensive training program, more safety conscious supervision, and an effective inspection program. Most notable was the need for better and more timely use of injury reports. These do not appear to be reviewed on a timely basis nor are they being coordinated through all elements on the

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The recordkeeping function of RADCON is being handled adequately. There was no difficulty in locating or retrieving any of the records. SP6 Ruyter has done an outstanding job. in organizing the file system. The two microwave ovens that are present on the Atoll must be registered with RADC0N so periodic safety checks can be done. In order for RADCON to do the required safety chec.~ on the microwave ovens, it will be necess~ for them to get the proper ir.stru.'tlenta•:ion.

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One full year has passed since the first RSAIT visit. Mobilization has been completed and all aspects of the cleanup operation are in entombment of radiological conta.~inated materials are ongoing procedures.· A cohesiveness to the operation is now apparent. There has been a change of command in the JTG and multiple changes of command in the sup,?Orti,,e elements. These new faces appear to have brought a high degree of enthusiasm and dedication with them th~t manifests itself at the lowest echelons. A "can-do" attitude perv .~des The JTG is well aware of the present concern by the Congress and public at large of t.~e safety and welfare of personnel associated with this operation a.,d are cognizant of the special concern about radiation hazards. The RSAIT visits and recommendations have been well received a.~d executed to the fullest extent possible. EAis, SOPs, documentation and records are a dynamic process and have been accoml>1ished with clarity and relevance. The RCC has fulfilled its function as intended and has become an extremely i.~portant managerial tool. The JTG Occupational Safety and Health Committee should gain the same status and utilization. Command emphas£s on safety education and compliance with all safety regulations iR ess·ential for an effective safety prograr:i. in all areas of concern_

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The Director, DNA has requested the RSAIT address several aspects of the radiation safety program, especially the command decision to wear surgical masks on Enjebi and the radiological safety of the bulk haul contaminated earth aod debris. T~e unanimous concensus of the RSAIT. is that there is no need for_ surgical masks on Enjebi and the respiratory protection be guided by EAI 5707. The bulk haul operation was evaluated by the RSAIT in July and again this month. Again, the unanimous opinion is that the procedure is radiologically safe·-and respiratory protection only be used during loading and unloading with continuous air monitoring during all phases of the operation. Accidents, both occupational and recreational, continue to be the major source of ~anhours lost from the job. Improvements in the overall safety program are apparent everywhere, but still there is a need for strong endorsetdent and support by the JTG Commander and element commanders for all safety programs. A rise in the number of accidents which have occurred over the last three months attests to the need for continued surveillance.

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A. Discussion. The orientation briefing given to all personnel arriving on Enewetak provides general information and safety precautions peculiar to the Atoll.- Since the first visit of the Ra?iati?n Safety Audit and Inspection Team in August 1977, continuing recommendations have been made to include audio/visual aids to improve the impact of the inbriefing and use of the Pau Hana Club when·arriving numbers can B. Findings. The indoctrination briefing has not changed substantially; The important information in the briefing still does not come across. Moreover, the first impression created in the minds of the new arrivals de~acts from the professional.ism of the personnel associated with t.~e cleanup project. Incorporate slides, filmstrips, charts, videotapes and/or films into the indoctrination briefing. A• Discussion. The Program of Instruction for arriving FRST person~el combines a forty hour didactic training phase and two weeks of on-the-job training (OJT). During the last visit of the Radiation - Safety Audit and Inspection Team visit,· a need to improve the attitude of some of the members of the departing team, and presumably the effectiveness' of the OJT experience, was highlighted. In addition,

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all FRST members interviewed felt that a review and critique after the OJT would be highly beneficial. B. Findings. Replacement FRST training and overlap schedule for the August/September period are scheduled for three groups of approximately equal size at two week intervals. This scheduling pattern is preferred ·over the previous FRST turnover with frequent arrivals of a few ~embers at a time. The scheduling of larger groups has ·allowed the flexibility to plan for periodic RADCON Division Officer supervision of the OJT phase of the training. In addition, a full day, f?:rmal end-6£-course review and critique session has been scheduled with the RADCON Division Staff. The lesson plans for the didactic phase of the training are nearly completed. CPT ~yers and SP6 Ruyter deserve special mention for the excellent quality of the lesson plans they have written. No recommendations are offered. Radiological Training Department

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There has been no change in the environmental hazards during the past year. orientation and inbriefings continue to emphasize the hazard the· problems of heat stabile toxins in the lagoon algae that are passed up the food chain to edible fish, the need for water safety are all adequately emphasized. A handout on the signs, symptoms and prevention of.heat exhaustion and heat stroke are made available to all incoming personnel. Conside=able improvement could be made in the indoctrination lecture about poisonous fish by utilizing visuai aids. Environmental. monitoring is an active, ongoing program handled with diligence and deC.ication by the veterinary technician assigned to the dispensary. Water sarnoles, food and kitchen utensil culturing•. - is an integral part o! this pl!Ogram. Both the camp at Lojwa and the main base island, Enewetak, are covered on a routine basis and no .major proble.~ areas have been elucidated, other than the rodent infestation on Lojwa which is an ongoing problem but appears to be under reasonable control. Environmental monitoring appears to be adequately handled and no recommendations are made. Environmental safety continues to be a siqnificant problem on the Atoll and ·should be included for review by the Atoll Safety Committee at the time of their dgliberations each month.

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ANNEX B-2: RADIATION SAFETY This area of interest represents the combination of various .. specific_annexes in previous reports. Since the operation is now fully functional, the time has passed for considering individual aspects and the entire operation must be considered as a whole. The method used to evaluate the Radiation Safety Program was to interview personnel responsible for the program at all levels to determine their interpretation of instructions and methods of operation. Visits we~e made to Runit, Lojwa, Aornon and Enjebi to observe C?eration of hot lines and field radiological protection procedures. In addi~ion, a trip was made on each bulk haul vessel to observe loading, u."'\loading, and transport procedures. Discussions senior NCOs, and with the monitors working the hot lines and bulk A. It is felt that the requirement for surgical masks on Enjebi in areas other than soil moving operations is an unnecessary burden on the workers and detracts from the credibility of the remainder of the program. All areas,· except the plow experiment,

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are now down to levels of 50 pCi/gm for 239Pu and there is absolutely ·no· health physics basis for requiring surgical masks. we agree that ·· - · respiratory protection should be provided when a soil moving operation is started, but the requirement for all personnel to wear masks is be at the discretion of the FRST member present based on an evaluation of air sample measure.-:ients ·and the condition of the soil. However, as.long as this command decision remains 'in effect, all personnel should wear masks. Several.engineers were observed to don masks as t~e inspection tean approa~hed and individuals in the soil moving operation were seen to wear surgical masks instead of full face respirators as requi=ed. Personnel in the field must learn to comply with ccrnmar.d decisions wheth~r they agree or not. B. In general, the FRST operation is excellent. The morale of individual members seems high and their attitude toward their jobs is excellent. The probable cause of this is the stabilization of missions which has occurred since the operation has gone into full swing. In general, FRST personnel are assigned to a job on a continuing basis now and have a chance to learn the peculiarities . of-their individual mission and to build a rapport with the personnel they are supporting. The availability of SOPs, EAis and specific instructions for the job being done at the job site is a vast· improvement over what has been observed in the past. The general and specifi~ job knowledge of FRST members in the field is excellent.

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c. The bulk haul operation has been monitored during all phases 1. Initial soil removal 2. Loading o~ both the LCM-8 and LCU 4. Removal and transport to the shaker operation S. Operation of the batch plant We have been impressed with the smoothness of the operation and entire procedure. ~he bulk haul operation is well administered and we have observed no proble~s with it. However. we recommend that the soil ;,e covered curi~g …