Radiation Safety Management for Manned Underwater Operations at Nuclear Facilities Available to Purchase

Commercial divers are frequently utilized to perform critical work at commercial nuclear power plants, fuel reprocessing plants, waste storage facilities, and research institutions. Various types of tasks can be performed underwater including inspection, welding, mechanical modifications, repairs, coating, and work associated with decommissioning. Work may take place in areas such as the reactor vessel, equipment pool, spent fuel pool, and suppression chamber. Because water provides excellent shielding, divers are able to work in areas where radiological exposures would be prohibitive or even fatal to workers in dry conditions. To perform such work safely while minimizing exposure requires special equipment and techniques. This paper will provide an overview of the procedures and equipment necessary to perform work in radiation areas while meeting ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) goals. Careful planning and execution are necessary and require close cooperation with site personal. Dive teams must coordinate with operations, maintenance, radiation protection, radwaste disposal, chemistry, and other departments. Examples of representative projects are used to illustrate key points.