410101

MEMO ROUTE SUP
Form ERDA-93 (1-75) ERDAM 0240
TO (Name ind unit)

INITIALS

See me about this.

For concurrence.

For action.

Note md return.

For signature.

for Information.

REMARKS
TT^Yi

Bill

-trrv.-1-n

information.

Bair
DATE

TO (Nsme end unit)

INITIALS

REMARKS

DATE

TO (Nsme and unit)

INITIALS

REMARKS

DATE

y^l^JjSvX
M--'

FROM (Name and unit)

r

_ ,f i
; V, ■

REMARKS
'

T. F. MeCraw

{
.
1

: '..CP's'

*

d

-^y,

. 7/

\ '
RHONE NO.

'\
%
. A

*978/78
*"~11 1
use OTHER SIDE FOR ADDITION*. REMARKS

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED

GAO : 1975 O- 577-3*9

 SpffL
DEFENSE NUCLEAR AGENCY
Radiation Safety Audit and Inspection Team
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute
Bethesda, Maryland 20014
'
SUBJECT:
-

8 August 1978

5th Radiation Safety Audit and Inspection Team (RSAIT) Visit
to Enewetak Atoll
.

SEE DISTRIBUTION

1. The enclosed materials constitute the report of the Radiation Safety
Audit and Inspection Team (RSAIT). No further report will be generated
for this visit. Three (3) copies will be reproduced by the originators
on Enewetak. Copies for the team members will be reproduced and sent to
them after the team returns home. One copy will be given to the
Commander, Joint Task Group (JTG), before departure. The second and
third copies will be given to the Commander, Field Command, Defense
Nuclear Agency and the Director, Defense Nuclear Agency at their briefing
on 11 August 1578.
2. Disagreements with the contents, conclusions and/or recommendations
made in this report should be forwarded to this office before the next
anticipated RSAIT visit.
3. The RSAIT size has been reduced from ten members to seven. Full
representation by each of the uniformed services has been maintained.
Occupational safety and health review is still considered an integral
function of this team. A short overall summary with the most important
findings and recommendations by the Officer in Charge is followed by
short summaries and recommendations covered in each of the annexes.
The recommendations brought forward to the summary section are done so
only after thorough discussions by the team. 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.

 .FSAIT .
..
...
.
SUBJECT:'. 5th Radiation Safety Audit and Inspection Team Visit ....
to Enewetak Atoll
5.

The point of contact for all future inquiries remains the same.

Enel
as
DISTRIBUTION:
.
Director, Defense Nuclear Agency
Commander, FCDNA
Commander, JTG
Inspection Team Members (7)

DARRELL W. McINDOE
Colonel, USAF, MC
Officer in Charge
DNA Radiation Safety Audit and
Inspection Team

2

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

MISSION SUMMARY ..................................................

1

MISSION CONCLUSIONS ..............................................

2

MISSION RECOMMENDATIONS

2

Summaries - Annex A..............................

3

Annex B-l......................................... 4
Annex B-2......................................... 5
.

Annex 3-3......................................... 6
Annex C..........

INTRODUCTION
ANNEX A;

7

"....................................... 8

TRAINING & INDOCTRINATION.............................. 10

ANNEX B-l:

ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY.................................. 12

ANNEX B-2:

RADIATION SAFETY...................................... 13

ANNEX B-3:

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH........................ 18

ANNEX C:

RADIATION RECORDS...................................... 28

ATTACHMENT 1:

ENEWBTAX INSPECTION TEAM.......................... 33

ATTACHMENT 2:

INSPECTION TEAM BACKGROUND INFORMATION............ 34

ENCLOSURE

 SUMMARY

The fifth visit by the Radiation Safety Audit and Inspection Team
(RSAIT) was accomplished from 1-3 August 1978.
was reduced from ten to seven.
three major portions:

The size of the team

The areas of interest were divided into

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 into 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 environmental, radiological and occupational safety
as they apply to all phases 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 programs.

The current Commander, Joint Task Group

(JTG) and the element commanders are safety conscious.

No significant

changes have occured in the environmental protection program.
and training in this area still needs improvement.

Indoctrination

Radiological and

occupational hazards were reviewed during the debris and ground .removal
operations.

Radiation hazards appeared to be minimal as previously

noted on all our RSAIT visits.

Resuspension does not even appear to be

significant at the area of maximum dirt agitation and potential for

1

 resuspension, i.e., batch plant operation.

Occupational hazards abound

and have been mentioned in the "appropriate annex.

'

'

CONCLUSIONS

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
problem even at the batch olant operation.

V- ■

■

■

■

Second, the bulk haul of

contaminated soil is efficient and safe, and does not require any
. ' >
extraordinary degree of radiation protection. Third, occupational
hazards still are the predominant problem during this cleanup operation.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.

There is no need for personnel to wear surgical face masks at

Enjebi.
2.

"

.

Respiratory protection against plutonium is only logical at the

time earth is physically being moved about, but not during water
transit.
3.

_

Continued command emphasis on occupational safety and health is

essential for the completion of this operational program.

2

 SUMMARY - ANNEX A*:

TRAINING & INDOCTRINATION

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.

"

Recommendation:
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 lasting impact of this most important aspect of the
new arrivals' education and training.

Field Radiation Support Team Training:
quite satisfactory.

This program appears to be

The new change in format is felt to be beneficial

and no recommendations are made.

3

 SUMMARY - ANNEX B-l:

ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY

Environmental safety continues to be a significant problem on
the Atoll and should be included for review by the Atoll Safety
Committee at the. time of their deliberations each month.

4

7.4-

 SUMMARY - ANNEX B-2:

RADIATION SAFETY

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 worn, 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 progressing -smoothly with no significant problems.
Analysis of air sample data indicates that the average air concentrati
239
of
Pu on the bulk haul operation is approximately 1/5000 MPC and
approximately 1/500 of the action level.

5

 SUMMARY - ANNEX B-3:

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY

Overall, the occupational safety and health program is satisfactory.
Notable is the large improvement in the physical condition of the
working areas. -Safety deficiencies noted and recommended areas
of improvement are noted in the annex.

•

The major recommendation

relates to the somewhat dramatic increase in accidents leading to
work-related injuries (not necessarily just ,,lost-time"injuries).
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
Atoll.

'

6

 SUMMARY - ANNEX C:

RADIATION RECORDS

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.

Recommendations:
The two microwave ovens that are present on the Atoll must be
registered with RADCON so periodic safety checks can be done.

In

order for RADCON to do the required safety check on the microwave
ovens, it will be necessary for them to get the proper instrumentation.

7

 INTRODUCTION

One full year has passed since the first RSAIT visit.

Mobilization

has been completed and all aspects of the cleanup operation are in
full swing.

Lagoon dumping of. appropriate materials and crater. . .

.

.

entombment of radiological contaminated 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 supportive elements.

These new faces appear to have

brought a high degree of enthusiasm and dedication with them the t
manifests itself at the lowest echelons.

A "can-do" attitude pervades

this operation.

The JTG is well aware of the present concern by the Congress and
public at large of the safety and welfare of personnel associated
with this operation and are cognizant of the special concern about
radiation hazards.

The RSAIT visits and recommendations have been

well received and executed to the fullest extent possible.

EAIs,

SOPs, documentation and records are a dynamic process and have been
acconiplished with clarity and relevance.

The RCC has fulfilled its

function as intended and has become an extremely important managerial
tool.

The JTG Occupational Safety and Health Committee should gain

the same status and utilization.

Command emphasis on safety education

and compliance with all safety regulations is essential for an
effective safety program in all areas of concern.

8

 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 and debris.

The 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 manhours lost from the job.

Improvements in the

overall safety program are apparent everywhere, but still there is
a need for strong endorsement 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.

9

 ANNEX A:
I.

TRAINING 6 INDOCTRINATION

ORIENTATION TRAINING
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 Radiation 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
accomodated.
B.

Findings.

substantially:
not come across.

The indoctrination briefing has not changed

The import amt information in the briefing still does
Moreover, the first impression created in the minds

of the new arrivals detracts from the professionalism of the personnel
associated with the cleanup project.
C.

Recommendation.
Incorporate slides, filmstrips, charts, videotapes and/or

films into the indoctrination briefing.

II.

FRST TRAINING

hi

Discussion.

The Program of Instruction for arriving FRST

personnel 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.

10

In addition,

 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 members 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, formal end-of-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.

CRT Myers and SP6 Ruyter deserve special mention

for the excellent quality of the lesson plans they have written.
C.

Recommendation.
No recommendations are offered.

JOHN W. DULBY
LCDR, MSC, USN
Director
Radiological Training Department
Port Hueneme

11

 ANNEX B-l:

ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY

There has been no change in the environmental hazards during the
past year.

Orientation and inbriefings continue to emphasize the hazard

.from heat, humidity, the need for particular care to cuts and abrasions',
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.

Considerable improvement could be made in the indoctrination

lecture about poisonous fish by utilizing visual aids.

Environmental monitoring is an active, ongoing program handled
with diligence and dedication by the veterinary technician assigned
to the dispensary.

Water samples, food and kitchen utensil culturing

is an integral part of this program.

Both the camp at Lojwa and the

main base island, Enewetak, are covered on a routine basis and no
. major problem 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

significant problem on the Atoll and should be included for review by
the Atoll Safety Committee at the time of their deliberations each month

DARRELL W. MeINDOE
Colonel, USAF, MC
Director, AFRRI
12

 ANNEX B-2:

I.

RADIATION SAFETY

GENERAL
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.

II.

CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
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 were made to Runit, Lojwa, Aonon and Enjebi to

observe operation of hot lines and field radiological protection
procedures.

In addition, a trip was made on each bulk haul vessel

to observe loading, unloading, and transport procedures.

Discussions

were held concerning procedures with JTG RADCON personnel, FRST
senior NCOs, and with the monitors working the hot lines and bulk
haul boats.

III.

OBSERVATIONS
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,

13

 are now down to levels of 50 pCi/gm for 239^ ^ there is absolutely
no health physics basis for requiring surgical masks.

Vie agree that

respiratory protection should be provided when a soil moving operation
is started, but the requirement for all personnel to wear masks is
excessive.

in addition, the requirement for standard masks should

be at the discretion of the FRST member present based on an evaluation
of air sample measurements and the condition of the soil.

However,

as long as this command decision remains in effect, all personnel
,■y
■. • '
■
,
should wear masks. Several engineers were observed to don masks
as the inspection team approached and individuals in the soil moving
operation were seen to wear surgical masks instead of full face
respirators as required.

Personnel in the field must learn to comply

with command decisions whether 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 specific job knowledge of FRST members in the field is excellent.

14

 C.

The bulk haul operation has been monitored during all phases

as follows:

.

.

1.

Initial soil removal

2.

Loading on both the LCM-8 and I£U

3.

Transport to Runit

4.

Removal and transport to the shaker operation

5.

Operation of the batch plant

6.

Final crater deposition

'

We have been impressed with the smoothness of the operation and
with both the engineering .and radiation projection aspects of the
entire procedure.

The bulk haul operation is well administered and

we have observed no problems with it.

However, we recommend that

the soil be covered during transport and that personnel not be
required to wear positive pressure half face or full face respiratory
protection except during loading and unloading operations or when
an air sample is noted to be positive.

If the air sample count is

positive, or a hazard is perceived to exist by the FRST member
present, then everyone should acquire respiratory protection immediately.
Our- recommendation not to require respiratory protection during
the actual hauling operation is based on analyses of 89 air samples
collected between 26 March and 28 July 1978.

The results of these

analyses allow us to conclude that there has not been a radiological
inhalation hazard due to 239pu during this period.

The average air

concentration determined from these samples is 6.9 x 10~15yUCi/cc,
whereas the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) for insoluble

15

 plutonium for occupational radiation workers is 4 x 10~^^uCi/cc.
' This indicates that the average air concentration on the bulk haul
to date has been less than 1/5000 of the MPC and five hundred times
lower than the action level.
-

--D.'

.

The -current bioassay program has been" reviewed and still

T

‘

appears to be adequate for all field conditions observed during our
inspection.

A review of all returned analyses on urine samples show

no reason to suspect significant internal exposure to date.
E.

The Field Radiological Survey Team Operation Data Reports

for various islands have also been reviewed for the period JanuaryJuly 1978.

These reports generally give a complete picture of

operations and followup actions are typically noted.

Laboratory

results are generally not noted if they are negative although positive
results are noted.

This policy is probably adequate although the

casual reviewer might think that the case is still pending, whereas,
in fact, negative results have been obtained.
F.

When the team visited the Enjebi soil excision operation

it was noted that the air sampler was non-operational, although the
operation was still ongoing.

FCRR SOP 608-01 requires at least one

air sampler at an earth moving operation.

Although the operation

should have been halted by SOP, it is felt that the masks being worn
by all personnel provided sufficient protection so that the operation
could be continued.

Investigation indicates that of the 85 air

samplers provided, only 27 are operational, two (2) down for maintenance,
14 requiring parts, 24 requiring engines, and 18 salvaged.

16

It is

 clear that the problem is not the maintenance effort of the personnel
involved, but tha poor condition of the equipment and lack of parts
support.

An effort should be made to expedite the supply of parts

so that this condition can be corrected.

IV.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
A.

It is felt that surgical masks are not necessary on Enjebi.

and that this requirement is excessive and should be dropped immediately.
‘ B.

The FRST support in the field is excellent and the assignment

of FRST personnel to a job on a continuing basis has had a stabilizing
effect on the operation.
C.

Respiratory protection standards on the bulk haul should

be relaxed unless there is a positive indication of a hazard.

A

reasonable standard of radiation protection can be achieved by using
a disposable plastic sheet for covering the dirt during transit and
requiring respiratory protection only while loading or unloading.

RONALD E. GOANS, Ph.D.
Research Associate (Physicist)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
DOE Representative

Physicist-in-Charge, Reactor
AFRRI

17

 ANNEX 3-C:

I.

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

The following elements of the OSH program were reviewed:

program description, standards and instructions, accident reports,

r-.-vT-wV-

inspection activities, safety related training activities, hazards
review, and Safety Committee activities.
were held with the following individuals:

During this review, discussions
MAJ Lloyd Colio (JTG Safety

Officer), A.J. Bennett (HSN Safety Officer), Maj Thrash (USAF Element
Commanding Officer), Sgt Smith (USAF Element Safety Officer),
CDR Coulapides (USH Element Commander), Chief Waller (USN Element),
LCDR Rhamey (USN Element Deputy Commander), MAJ Birchfield (Acting
Commander, USA Element and Safety Officer), 1LT MacVeigh (USA Element
Operations Officer) , and Dick Powell (Eberline contractor).

II.

Overall, the safety program appears to be satisfactory.

A

number of Department of Defense (DOD), Defense Nuclear Agency (DMA)
and Service administrative requirements do not appear to be met.
These are discussed in detail below.

However, the basic elements

of a safety program are actively being pursued within the staffing
limitations existing on the Atoll.
"

Of paramount importance is the

concern and priority given to safety by the Atoll and Service element
commanders.

This was reflected both in the knowledge evidenced by

by the Service element commanders of the safety program requirements
and applicable safety standards and instructions and in the large
improvement in the safety conditions of the work environment on the
Atoll.

Also to be commended is the thoroughness of the medical

18

.

 detachment in documenting all instances of medical treatment.

This

serves as the primary source of information on accidents, particularly
minor accidents and injuries which do not result in lost time but
serve as important indicators of areas of activity possibly needing
additional attention.

The major recommendation here is that better

and more timely use be made of these reports than is presently being
done.

It is recommended that a daily review of this report be made

by the Atoll Safety Officer to assure that work-related reports are
brought to the attention of supervisors of related operations in a
timely manner.

It is also recommended these accident or injuries

which are not lost-time accidents but which are "non-trivial"* be
investigated and reviewed by the Atoll Safety Committee.
It must be recognized that a number of serious accidents have
been occurring on the Atoll.

These can only be reduced by alert

supervisory personnel, knowledgeable workers, and an aggressive safety
program.

This is especially true because of the hazardous environment,

long working hours, and old equipment in use on this project.

III.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
A.

The description of the Enewetak Safety Program is contained

in EAI 5601 (Program for Construction Safety) , EAI 5602 (Heat Injuries) ,
EAI 5603 (Occupational Safety and Health) , EAI 5604 (Report of Unsafe
and Unhealthful Working Conditions) and EAI 5605 (Water Safety).

* "Non-trivial" in the sense that they were not simply due to minor
lapse of attention and those that appear to have factors involved
which could easily have caused a more serious accident.

19

 B.

OPLAN 600-77 calls for "...detailed procedures for coordin­

ating the safety programs of the various' services."

These procedures

generally meet the requirements of the OPLAN and of the various DOD
instructions and directives.

The primary concern regarding this set

_ of instructions is the lack of a clear description and delineation
of safety responsibilities of the Service elements with regard to
various operations and various areas of the Atoll.

Although this

delineation seems to be clear in the minds of the Service element
commanders, this should nevertheless be defined in the appropriate
EAI, particularly because of the regular turnover in supervisory
personnel.

IV.

INSPECTION PROGRAM
EAI 5603 appears to require monthly safety inspections of all

Atoll activities together with reports of each to the Atoll Safety
Officer.

This is being done on Enewetak and Lojwa by H&N for fire

protection and for H&N activities.

Infrequent inspections are being

performed by other activities, but it does not appear that this
requirement is being net.

The Service elements in general emphasize

their use of the normal chain-of-command and supervisory respon­
sibilities to meet this end.

However, the usefulness of an inspection

program, particularly of ongoing activities and not just physical
facilities, is well established as well as required by DOD.

It is

recommended that this program be reviewed, particularly with regard
to the frequency requirement, and that a program appropriate to
the Atoll activities by instituted.

 V.
"

SAFETY TRAINING
EAI 5601 requires weekly training for engineer and demolition

personnel and reports of such to the Safety Officer.

This is being

done although the reports were not available at the time of this
inspection.

Special training classes are required by EAI 5603.

The Atoll Safety Coordinator (i.e., the K&N Safety Officer) has
offered his services for these but, to date, has presented only
one or two such sessions to non-H&N personnel.

It is recommended

that more such programs be held.

VI.

ACCIDENT.REPORTS AITD INVESTIGATIONS
The reports from the medical detachment appear to be the key

to a comprehensive overview of all incidents with seme injury involved.
In most cases the preliminary information collected by the medical
personnel provides a sound basis for followup by the appropriate
safety officer.

However, the reports are not being received by the

Atoll Safety Officer soon enough for a timely followup (e.g., they
are received monthly).

Further, reports are not being received by

the Service safety officers so that a matchup with the reports
forwarded up the chain-of-command is not possible.

Also, to be noted,

the Atoll Safety Officer is not receiving all the safety investigations
conducted by the Service elements.
A.

It is recommended that:

The routing of the injury reports from the medical detachment

be clarified so that the appropriate personnel receive them on a timely
basis.

21

 B.

Accidents and injuries which do not meet reporting criteria

but are "non-trivial" be investigated, be reviewed by the Safety
Committee, and significant findings be routed to all activities as
part of the education program.

It must be noted that these are not

incidents requiring formal documentation.

But some of these have

~ ;

great educational value because they serve as object lessons and
indicators of more serious incidents that could have happened.
C.

Accident and injury investigation findings be more widely

distributed so that all Atoll personnel can benefit from these results.

VII.

ATOLL SAFETY COMMITTEE
The Committee is being effectively used as an adjunct to normal

operations.

The Commanding Officer's daily svandup briefing is being

used to address immediate items of concern while the Committee
appropriately serves mote of a review and problem solving function.
It is suggested that Committee periodically perform a comprehensive
review of the safety program of all Service elements.

Also, a review

of the recent accident and injury experience and inspection findings
should be a part of every meeting.

VIII.

ATOLL SAFETY OFFICER AND ATOLL SAFETY COORDINATOR
The Atoll Safety Officer function is essentially a collateral

duty of the Atoll Assistant Operations Officer.

EAI 5603 indicates

that the Base Support Safety Officer will act as the Assistant Atoll
Safety Officer (this interpretation is supported by MAJ Toch's

22

 end-of-tour report) but, in fact, he has not been utilized for any
safety activities beyond those related to fire protection or H&N
activities.

The need for a recognized full-time safety officer is

very apparent.

It is recommended that a full-time military staff

officer (as identified in the OPLAN) be designated or that the
Atoll Safety Coordinator be utilized more fully (and formally) to
meet this need.

IX. 1 SAFETY STANDARDS
The question was raised of the applicability of the exemption
for "military unique” activities to the Atoll operations.

This

exemption has been interpreted to apply only to wartime activities.
It is obvious that the many items of equipment at Enewetak will not
be retrofitted to meet OSHA standards, thus, the use of that equipment
must be suitably modified to counteract those deficiencies.

For

instance, spotters must be used during backing movements of equipment
without backup signals and front-end loaders and bulldozers without
overhead protection should be restricted to operations where overhead
hazards are not present.

Compliance with those standards of safe

practice applicable to operations (e.g., personal protective equipment,
noise, dust, electrical, materiel handling, etc.) is mandatory.

X.

SAFETY OBSERVATIONS

.

In general, the condition of the Atoll with regard to the safety
of the operation is greatly improved since the last inspection.
especially significant observations are presented here.

23

Only

 A.

The arrangement for transit from the dock at Lojwa to land

continues to be a problem.

Because the ramp is not totally compatible

with the movements of the docking platform on some occasions it is
stored in the raised position.

This results in the necessity to

jump across a several foot gap to sloping and sometimes wet rocks.
B.

The table and radial arm saws cited in the last inspection

for lack of guards have been moved to Lojwa and are still without
guards.

These saws should be removed from service until such guards

are installed.
C.
noted.

.

Many deficiencies relating to electrical standards were
Examples are a power cord stretched as tight as a bowstring;

uncovered junction boxes; covers missing from plugs; wiring fed
through unprotected penetrations; etc.

The humid environment further

accentuates electrical problems on the Atoll.
have been electrically related.
evident on Lojwa.

Several recent accidents

This problem was particularly

It is recommended that a vigorous program of

electrical safety be instituted and made a continuing part of all
operations.

.

D. _The fire extinguisher program suffers from many deficiencies.
The command is having difficulties with unauthorized use (e.g., water
battles) of extinguishers, principally on Lojwa.

Many extinguishers

are not mounted, are in relatively inaccessible locations, or are '
in improper locations (e.g., too close to the fuel storage area).
Host extinguishers had not been checked in the last month and many
had been sporatically checked, if at all.

24

Given the general lack

 of fire fighting resources, the great abundance of fire extinguishers
is a necessity.

But they must be available (i.e., at convenient

and recognized locations) and operational.

It is recommended that

this program be thoroughly reviewed.
E.

A"number of leg injuries have been related to shallow

water debris removal.

Protective leggings have been ordered.

Given

the increasing work requirements of this nature, it is recommended
that this order be expedited.
F.

At the time of the inspection, the DOE contractor (Eberline)

could not ascertain what the current face velocities were for the
hoods.

Apparently they had been measured recently and found satis­

factory.

It is recommended that the face velocities be checked

regularly and the results posted by each hood.
G.

It was reported that the k-loader for air trainsport loading

and unloading had hydraulic problems which created difficulties with
vertical positioning.

This apparently has been reported up the Air

Force chain-of-command and a one-for-one replacement is being considered.
Given the potential consequences of an accident during aircraft
unloading, it is recommended that the condition of this loader be
reviewed.
H.

Due to a lack of proper facilities, the Naval detachment

must do a lot of open air welding.

The frequent rainstorms create

very wet conditions which make such welding very hazardous.

It is

recommended that proper facilities be provided for this activity.

25

 I.

The Naval detachment reported that the beach-and-haul

technique for hull work on the large vessels is hazardous.

It was

•

suggested that an underwater railway be constructed or regular
visits by Naval units capable of facilitating such repairs be planned.
-It is suggested that these requirements be reviewed and support be
requested for FCDNA, as required.
J.

Personnel were observed chipping cement off the mixers

on Runit without goggles.

It is strongly recommended that goggles

be worn for this activity.
K.

Improper footwear (e.g., sandles/flip-flops) were observed

on several persons invovled in activities requiring better protection
(e.g., beach debris cleanup, warehousing activities, forklift driving).
Although safety shoes are not apparently very available through Army
supply channels, it is strongly recommended that an active program
to enforce the wearing of military boots be instituted.
L.

Personnel were observed during the soil screening operation

on Runit working from a rather precarious footing.

It is recommended

that this be rectified.
M.

A storage"cabinet for gasoline is located immediately

adjacent to an oxygen cylinder storage area at the Navy scuba shop.
One of these must be relocated to maintain the proper separation
distance.
N.

.

.

A transfer of a small engine head from the water taxi to

an LCU was observed.

This was accomplished in a very hazardous

fashion by having four men manhandle it from one boat to the other

26

 in somewhat choppy seas, and with a several foot deck differential.
A small winch would have accomplished the job in a much safer and
easier fashion.

It is recommended that such transfer procedures

be reviewed and that an appropriate training program be instituted.
0.

Noise levels around the air samplers on the soil transports

and in the engine compartments of the LCMs appear to be sufficiently
high as to require hearing protection.

In both cases, personnel

were observed working without such protection (on the LCt-t one
individual was observed wearing protection).

It is recommended

that such protection be required until such time that a quantitative
evaluation can be done.

Even if the measurements indicate otherwise,

it is strongly suggested that hearing protectors be made available
for voluntary use.

LESTER A. SLABACK, JR.
Head, Radiological Safety Department
AFRRI

27

 ANNEX C:

I.

RADIATION RECORDS

INTRODUCTION
A.

Discussions'were held with LTC Dodd, CRT Myers and SP6 Ruyter

concerning administrative procedures and RADCON records.

The RADCON

Division is in compliance with guidance and requirements specified
in FCDNA OPLAN 600-77, relevant SOPs, EAIs, ARs and directive messages.
No major areas of discrepancies were noted.

II.

SPECIFIC COMMENTS
A.

Central Enewetak Island Files.

All 1977 RADCON records

are located at the Central Island Files maintained by the Administrative
Branch.

The FRST monitoring notes and logs are the only 1973 records

maintained at the Central Island Files.
B.

SOPs.

RADCON has published the following fourteen SOPs: .

1.
2.
3.

608-01,
608-02.1,
608-03.1,

21 Jul 77:
3 Dec 77:
12 Dec 77:

4.
5.
6.
7.

608-04,
608-05,
608-06,
608-07,

5
5
12
12

8.

608-03,

9 Nov 77:

9.

608-09,

2 Jun 78:

10.
11.

603-10,
608-11,

2 Jul 78:
17 Jul 78:

12.
13.

609-01,
609-03,

17 Jul 73:
17 Jul 78:

14.

609-04.1,

Jul
Jul
Oct
Oct

77:
77:
77:
77:

4 May 78:

Air Particulate Sampling Procedures
Debris Survey Procedures
Decontamination of Facilities and
Equipment
Hot Line Procedures
Respiratory Protection
Radioactive Source Test Procedures
Source Accountability and Control
Procedures
Radiological Guidelines for Ground
Zero Operations
Runit Contamination Control Area
Procedures
Decontamination Laundry Procedures
Disposal of Laboratory Generated
Radioactive Waste
Sample Data Records
Radiation Control Sample Identification
Procedures
Bioassay Procedures

28

 COMMENT; These SGPs are clearly written and interviews with several
NCOs of the FRST team indicate that the personnel in the filed have
no difficulty in understanding and applying then- SOPs are maintained
at RADCON and each FRST team chief maintains up-to-date SOPs on the
job for quick reference.
B.

EAIs (Enewetak Administrative Instructions).

RADCON has

published the following nine EAIs;

1.

5701, 15 Aug 77:

2.

5702, 15 Aug 77:

3.
4.
5.

5703, IS Aug 77:
5704, 29 Oct 77:
5705, 2 Feb 78:
5706, 29 Mar 78:

7.

5707, 3 Apr 78:
5708, 15 Jul 78:
5709, 5 Jun 78:

6.

8.
9.

Radiological Briefing for Arriving
Persons, Enewetak
Access to Radiologrically Controlled
Islands
Radiation Monitoring of Blast Operations
Radioactive Source Test Procedures
FRST Training
Administration of Personnel Dosimetry
Program
Personnel Protection Levels
Bulk Soil Haul Monitoring Procedure.Island Debris Removal Completion
Procedures

COMMENT: EAI 5705 - FRST Training has been expanded to include
audiovisual material. The mixture of the AV aids with the didactic
portion of the presentation is excellent.
C.

Records.

The records are maintained and filed in accordance

with the Army Functional File System.

Field Conmauid has sent a team

to set up and organize a Central Island File at Enewetak.

Records

included and maintained by RADCON are:
1.

Dosimetry Records and Logs.

The official personnel

dosimetry record is DD Form 1141, accomplished in accordance with
AR 40-14.

On 4 August 1978, RADCON received a directive from the

Office of the Surgeon General of the Army assigning an administrative
radiation whole body dose to those personnel assigned to Enewetak
during the period of 20 June - 20 November 1977.

29

 .

2.

Inventory of Radioactive Sources.

All radioactive

sources listed on the RADCON inventory sheet were found to be correct.
Quarterly inventory records are maintained and include type of source,
radionuclide, source strength, location and date of calibration.
"

r

3." Listing of radioactive debris and radioactive soil

for contaminated islands.

_

These records consist of maps of each

island on which annotations have been documented as to debris, level
of .contamination, etc.
4.

Registry of Ionizing Radiation Producing Devicesi

Two x-ray units are located at Enewetak; one Westinghouse diagnostic
x-ray unit and one S.S. White dental x-ray unit.

Both units were

• surveyed in February 1973 by a health physi'ist from Tripler Army
Hospital.
5.

Inventory of Non-Ionizing Producing Devices.

microwave ovens are now present on the Atoll.

Two'

"

Neither were listed

on the registry for non-ionizing producing devices and have not been
leak-tested.

RADCON does not have proper instrumentation to do

safety checks on microwave ovens.
~

6.

Radiological Survey Reports.

Copies of the radiological

safety survey reports provided by DOE are filed by island.
7.

Monitoring Notes/Logs and Island' Visitation Records.

Each FRST operation maintains a daily monitoring log and visitation
record.

These are submitted on a daily basis to RADCON where a

typed version of the hand written log is done, returned to the FRST
team leader for signature and then returned to RADCON where it is
filed.

A review of the reports from Runit, Aomon and Enjebi was

 done and a random sample of reports for this period revealed that
the information contained is fairly detailed and constitutes a
valuable record of each day's activities.
8.

Minutes of RCC Meetings and Documents.

Copies of

the minutes of RCC meetings were on file and current.
9.

SOPs and EAIs.

SOPs and EAIs were current and on

file.
10.

Training Materials.

Course outlines and lesson plans

for the training given to the FRST personnel were reviewed.

Records

are maintained indicating the type of training an individual recoi.ves
before going to work in a controlled area.

LCDR John Duley, MSC, u.:N

has covered this section in more detail.
11.. Radiation Accident or Incident Files.
radiation accidents and/or incidents are on file.

Records of
The latest incident

occurred on 10 July 1979 which involved a decontamination of an
individual's boots.

After decontamination, no observable or removable

activity -was noted.
12.

Instrument Calibration Files.

These files are maintained

by the^ contractor on Enewetak and by the FRST team on Lojwa.

Records

indicate the survey instruments are calibrated every six months.
13.

Radiation Analysis Files.

These files consist of three

bound journals in which the results of all radiological analyses are
recorded.

Examples of entries include:

air samples, etc.

decon swipes, soil samples,

Entries are chronological with entry codes specifying

type of sample, location,and date taken.

31

 .

14.

Inspection Files.

Copies of previous inspection reports

were on file.

JL—

;
:•

..." '
'

•' •

DAVID HUNTER
Capt, USAF, BSC
Health Physicist
USAF Representative

32

. .
' : - ' / -'

 ENEWETAK INSPECTION TEAM

OIC

Staff

D.W. MeINDOB, Colonel, USAF, MC

Armed Forces Radiobiology Research
Institute
Defense Nuclear Agency
Bethesda, MD 20014
AV 295-1210

L.A. SLABACX, JR., Civilian
R.E. SCHAFFER, CRT, CE, USA
■P.A. RYAN, Civilian

USN

J.W. DULEY, LCDR, MSC, USN

Naval Nuclear Power Unit
Port Hueneme, CA 93011
AV 360-4151

USAF

D. HUNTER, Capt, USAF, BSC

School of Aerospace Medic "’'.a
Brooks AFB, Texas 78235
A"' 536-3416

DOE

R.E. GOANS, Ph.D.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
(615) 483-8611 ext. 36786

ATTACHMENT 1
33

 Refer to 1st report of the DNA Radiation Safety Audit and Inspection Team
for background information on Colonel Mclndoe, LCDR Duley and CRT Schaffer.
Refer to 2d report, same subject, for background information on Dr. Goans.
Background information on Mr. Slaback and Capt Hunter attached.

ATTACHMENT 2

 LESTER A. SLABACK, JR., C.H.P.

EMPLOYMENT
Head, Safety Department, AFRRI
1977-present
Head, Radiological Safety Department
AFRRI
1971-1977
Head, Special Projects Division,
RADSAFE, AFRRI
1969-1971
Health Physicist, RADSAFE, AFRRI
1965-1969
Physical Science Assistant,
S&E Program, US Army
1963-1965

EDUCATION
BS (Physics) BS
Graduate work
•

Math

San Jose State College, 1962
Iowa State University, 1962-1963
American University, 1964-1966

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
Member, Health Physics Society
Member, American Association of Physicists in Medicine
Member, American Industrial Hygiene Association
Diplomate, American Board of Health Physics
Chairman, Continuing Education Panel, American Board of Health Physics
President, Baltimore-Washington Chapter, Health Physics Society (1974)

35

 PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED

DAVID HUNTER, Captain, USAF, BSC
DPOB:

'

EDUCATION
BS The Medical College of Georgia; Radiology, 1972
MS " Emory University; radiological Physics/Huclear Medicine Physics, 1974

EMPLOYMENT
Instructor, Department of Radiology/Huclear Medicine, Bowman Gray
School of Medicine, 1974-1977
Consultant, Nuclear Medicine, VA Hospital, Salisbury North Carolina,
1974-1977
Consultant, Canberra Industries, Meridan, Connecticut, 1975-1977
Health Physicist, USA? Brooks AFB, Texas, 1977-Present

RESEARCH AREAS
Radiation physics, instrumentation, internal dosimetry, computer
applications in nuclear-medicine.

PUBLICATIONS
Six publications and one book.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Society_of Nuclear Medicine
AAPM

"
;

 REPOBITORY PNN L.

COLLECTION
BOX No. (G

FOLDER

 

gt H78

DOCUMENT DOES NOT CONTAIN ECI

Reviewed f? 0/7 7