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A worker fell into a nuclear reactor pool

nrc.gov

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Re: A worker fell into a nuclear reactor pool

#81

Post by _blk »

LeifCarrotson wrote: post #41
parker-3461 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So if I understand this correctly (solely from reading the xkcd), then the person might actually be okay?

They're totally fine. I find it highly informative that the required PPE for working in that location is a life jacket so you float in case you fall in, rather than a tether and fall arrest harness so that it's not possible to fall in. 300 CPM is nothing, background levels might be 150.

Background is probably a bit lower depending on where you're at. My counter went through airport security luggage scans 'cause they wouldn't let me wear it through the metal detector. It beeps for a few seconds and then comes out about a days' dose of natural radiation higher. The count was higher than 300 CPM, but obviously only shortly. That poor bloke might stay at 300 (if ingested and he can't scrub it off) for a while but it's still not very discouraging long-term. Pilots have about that at cruising altitude.

Re: A worker fell into a nuclear reactor pool

#83

Post by robviren »

I greatly appreciate the nuclear industry. Nuclear field engineering was my first "real" job out of college and they really committ to safety. Transparency in this industry is inspiring because everyone involved knows that one screw up and that's the end of the US nuclear industry. Good luck getting oil and gas to be accountable and as transparent about incidents. I carry the culture into the rest of my work and appreciate being involved. Wish events like this didn't happen but it is not of significant danger and I find it great that they communicate even "smaller" issues.

Re: A worker fell into a nuclear reactor pool

#84

Post by robocat »

tt_dev wrote: post #10

This is bad but cavity water radiation is usually very weak. Ingestion could be bad but its not like he swallowed a uranium isotope which would be catastrophic.

FYI:

  the primary hazard from acute, high-dose uranium ingestion is chemical toxicity leading to acute kidney failure (nephrotoxicity), not radiation.

Re: A worker fell into a nuclear reactor pool

#85

Post by simoncion »

andy99 wrote: post #32
donatj wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because it's generally speaking, not that dangerous. Water is very good at blocking radiation. That's part of the reason why the pool is filled with it to begin with.

I personally consider an area dangerous if I need to undergo radiation decontamination after entering it, continue emitting radiation after decontamination, and need to seek medical attention. Maybe the nuclear regulatory bodies have differen definitions?

In addition to what most of the folks are saying:

0) If you've not read this chart, do carefully read it: https://xkcd.com/radiation/>. If you've read it before, take some time to carefully re-read it.

1) The guy's getting sent off to seek non-emergency medical attention. I bet you an entire American Nickle that that attention is almost entirely for injuries sustained in the fall, rather than for radiation exposure.

Re: A worker fell into a nuclear reactor pool

#87

Post by doubled112 »

foobar1962 wrote: post #64
hshdhdhehd wrote: post #7

> Non Emergency I guess in a nuclear reactor there is a lingual shift and the word emergency cant be used for just any old 911 call. Like how Australians apparently call a jellyfish bite "uncomfortable"

A bite requires teeth. Sharks bite. Snakes bite. Bees and wasps sting. Jellyfish and bluebottles sting. Not sure about spiders. Are their fangs considered to be teeth? Platypus have venomous spurs, not sure what that’s called.

Spiders bite. I've never heard it called anything else.

Re: A worker fell into a nuclear reactor pool

#88

Post by jojobas »

mlindner wrote: post #58
tt_dev wrote: post #10

This is bad but cavity water radiation is usually very weak. Ingestion could be bad but its not like he swallowed a uranium isotope which would be catastrophic.

I wouldn't even call it bad. Reactor pools have basically zero radiation at the surface. The water is constantly filtered and kept very pure to remove contaminants that can be activated by neutrons. Even drinking it I would think would be completely fine. The water itself doesn't get activated.

Water itself is activated by neutrons, even if slightly.

Re: A worker fell into a nuclear reactor pool

#89

Post by croemer »

Animats wrote: post #45

Palisades MI reactor. Currently shut down and de-fueled but a restart of this reactor is apparently underway, with new fuel assemblies being delivered.[1] Worker was wearing a life vest.[2] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palisades_Nuclear_Generating_S... [2] https://www.mlive.com/news/2025/10/michigan-nuclear-plant-wo...

Archive of [2] (blocked me): https://archive.ph/0pzuY

Re: A worker fell into a nuclear reactor pool

#90

Post by KPGv2 »

foobar1962 wrote: post #64
hshdhdhehd wrote: post #7

> Non Emergency I guess in a nuclear reactor there is a lingual shift and the word emergency cant be used for just any old 911 call. Like how Australians apparently call a jellyfish bite "uncomfortable"

A bite requires teeth. Sharks bite. Snakes bite. Bees and wasps sting. Jellyfish and bluebottles sting. Not sure about spiders. Are their fangs considered to be teeth? Platypus have venomous spurs, not sure what that’s called.

Spiders bite with their fangs, much like vampires bite with their fangs, they don't sting. I might call the tarantula "hair" that makes you itch a sting, but I would feel a bit silly calling it that.
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