Worker at DOE site injured
By POST REGISTER
A stop-work order has been declared for some work at the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project facility after a cleanup employee was injured Tuesday evening.
A worker for Fluor Idaho, the contractor in charge of waste cleanup at the U.S. Department of Energy’s site in Eastern Idaho, was performing cleanup activities in a “glovebox,” or a sealed container designed to let a person manipulate radioactive material, and was reaching across the glovebox tray when “the worker felt a prick in the forearm,” the Department of Energy said in a news release Thursday.
The employee immediately stopped working and found a puncture wound that had penetrated their protective equipment. Medical attention was provided.
“Because the incident occurred in a radiological area, applicable protocols were initiated, including radiological monitoring,” DOE said in the release. “The employee was released back to work and will continue to be monitored.”
Fluor is investigating the incident. While Fluor investigates and evaluates its protective equipment and work methods, a stop-work order has been declared on radiological work in gloveboxes and in other radiologically contaminated locations that involve the use of sharp tools or the potential to come into contact with sharp objects or material, DOE said.
The AMWTP facility is located in the desert west of Idaho Falls and is currently compacting barrels of decades-old waste before they are transported out-of-state.
Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project
Since 2003, the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project (AMWTP) has used both conventional and unique retrieval concepts, high-tech characterization equipment – including real-time radiography and radioassay – robotics, and automated treatment processes to retrieve, treat, and ship above-ground CH-TRU and low-level wastes from an inventory of 65,000 cubic meters.
The signature piece of equipment at AMWTP is the Supercompactor, a giant hydraulic ram capable of exerting 4 million pounds of force that can reduce a 35-inch-tall, 55-gallon barrel to a five-inch puck. By compacting waste, DOE is capable of putting more waste in the limited storage space of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Compaction also reduces the number of trips required to transport waste to WIPP.
Having undergone millions of dollars of upgrades recently, AWMTP is prepared for a long-term mission. In a 2008 Record of Decision, DOE directed 8,700 cubic meters of waste from other sites to be treated at AMWTP. DOE is also nearing completion of a study that defines potential opportunities for AMWTP, most notable treating waste from Hanford, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and small-quantity generator sites.
Man working on rebar for I-85 construction project injured in accident
Worker's safety harness prevents fall, but pins him against rebar
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. —
A worker was injured Tuesday while he was working on rebar for the Gateway Project.
The accident happened just before 2 p.m., according to Donnie Porter, with Greenville police.
Tristan Johnson, with the Greenville Fire Department, said the man was working on a cage structure made of rebar that is used for concrete strengthening.
Johnson said when the support of the rebar cage started to give way, the man's safety harness kept him from falling, but it caused him to be "pinched" against the rebar.
When firefighters arrived at the scene, the man was dangling in the harness. Firefighters lowered him and stabilized his neck.
EMS took the worker, who was alert and breathing on his own, to the hospital, Johnson said.
The Gateway project is where I-85 and I-385 are being expanded and connected.
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Fire inspector: Construction worker injured in accident at Gateway Project
June 12, 2018
By Amanda Shaw
Gateway Project traffic camera (file/FOX Carolina)
x Gateway Project traffic camera (file/FOX Carolina) GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) -
The Greenville City Fire Department and other first responders were called to the scene of an incident near the 85-385 Gateway Project.
The incident was reported as an "accident involving construction debris" around 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Multiple fire engines and EMS were visible on scene.
Fire inspector Tristan Johnson said a worker working on a rebar steel cage was suspended in the air and the mechanism that stabilizes the cage began to fail. The cage shifted, pinching the worker who fell from the platform, Johnson said.
He had a harness on when he fell, Johnson said, and was lowered to the ground by a fellow worker.
The worker was transported via ambulance to the hospital in unknown condition.
UPDATE: International Paper identifies worker killed in boiler platform collapse
Tuesday, June 12th 2018
By WTOC Staff
International Paper identifies worker killed in boiler platform collapse
UPDATE: Worker killed after boiler platform collapses at International Paper
A worker died at International Paper Tuesday after a boiler platform collapsed as a demolition crew was working to cut through pipes to remove it.
According to Savannah Fire, first responders were dispatched at 8:26 a.m. to 1201 West Lathrop Ave.
Juan Medina was working in a manlift when he became trapped beneath the wreckage during the collapse.
Savannah Fire’s Technical Rescue Team cleared a passage through the mass of metal boiler pipes and cut through a metal plate to access the victim where they found him deceased.
Chatham County Police and International Paper’s Emergency Response Team are working to determine a safe method to recover the victim.
Officials with International Paper have provided a statement.
“We are saddened to learn of the loss of one of our contractor team members, Juan Medina. This is a difficult day for all of us here at the Savannah mill and our thoughts are with Juan’s family, friends and colleagues. We are working with authorities to determine the cause of this accident and we will share the findings once we are able to do so. Safety is paramount for all of us at International Paper, which makes today’s news that much more difficult to process.”?
