| Building
Number/Name: Date prepared: Responsible Contractor: Contact: |
350 - Plant Operations and Maintenance Facility May 9, 2002, Updated February 7, 2003 PNNL Abby Nicholson |
PAST OPERATIONS
Beryllium brought in facility: Not knowingly except for trace amounts in certain welding rods (A number of AlcoTechnics Aluminum Welding rods and wires contain up to 0.0008wt% beryllium, including an Alloy 5356 aluminum filler rod used at PNNL). It is possible that beryllium might also be present in trace quantities in base metals on which welding has been preformed.
Form of beryllium: Trace levels in alloyed metals
Period of beryllium operations (dates): Unknown but potentially since 1980
Location(s) in facility that contained beryllium materials: Welding Booth 150C in SE Corner of shop.
Description of beryllium activities: It is unclear whether beryllium contamination came from welding rod or from the materials being welded.
Building monitoring data summary: None identified.
Personnel monitoring data summary: None identified.
Specify Engineering/Administrative controls used during
operations: Adjustable flexible exhaust duct is provided at the weld table where welding is done.
Maximum Estimated Past Be exposure: Air sampling is planned during use of aluminum filler rod with a maximum of 0.0008% beryllium is used to get an indication of potential airborne exposures. Tony Anderson, the safety contact for AlcoTechnics, stated that the allowable percentage of Be in Aluminum weld rod is being reduced to 0.0003 from 0.0008 (wt %) in their technical data sheet, because they have sufficient data to be confident that they do not exceed the 0.0003wt% beryllium concentration. Tony also stated that at these levels, he believed beryllium would be non-detectable in air sampling.
CURRENT OPERATIONS
Building still present: YES
Beryllium present: Only in certain one or two types of aluminum filler rods
Current building occupancy/activity: The Plant Operations and Maintenance Facility (350), built in 1980, is a central craft shop with offices for supervisory and support personnel. The facility's interior space was modified in 1994 to accommodate additional offices and space reconfiguration. The building contains a shop area for plastics, carpentry, electrical/instrument, machine, welding, grinding and pipefitter/millwright work. The facility is a single story, pre-engineered structural steel building with a 12-foot clear ceiling height. It contains various craft shops, change rooms, restrooms, a lunchroom and offices.
2002 Grinder/Welding Booth Investigation: Five samples were taken April 25, 2002 in the 350 Building to determine if aluminum filler rod that has trace amounts of beryllium (less than 0.0008%) might result in measurable beryllium contamination. One of the five samples taken on a drain pipe between the sink and a grinder on the east wall had removable contamination of 0.21 ug/100 cm2, just over the release criteria.
2002 Characterization: On May 15, 2002, a total of 62 samples were taken in the 350 Building including the two weld booths (150C and 150E), the fabrication shop, outside covered area, grinding shop and the electrical shop (154). One of the 62 samples, on a Hammond of Kalamzoo Grinder (SN 5434), was above the release criteria of 0.2 µg/100 cm2. All other samples were below the release criteria.
2002 Relamping Survey: In preparation for a relamping project in the 350 Building, 29 samples were taken from dusty horizontal surfaces on fluorescent lamp fixtures in the carpentry shop (Rms 151 & 153); the electrical shop (Rm 154); the welding shops (Rm 150C and 150E); and the main fabrication shop (One common area, but designated as Rms 150A and 150B). All samples were below the release criteria.
2002 Decontamination Sampling: The contaminated Hammond of Kalamzoo Grinder (SN 5434) in the fabrication shop and drain pipe in the 150C welding shop and adjacent surfaces were decontaminated September 19, 2002. Air sampling was conducted during the cleaning operation. One personal air sample had detectable beryllium with an airborne concentration at 0.023 µg/m3, well below the action limit of 0.2 µg/m3. The other personal air sample and area samples were below detection limits.
Maximum Estimated Current Be exposure: None except for invasive work.
Basis for above information:
PNNL Building Directory http://w3.pnl.gov/facops2/bldg/bldg_dir/bldg_dir.doc and PNNL IH Case #1531.
Comments, including any additional information needed (specify):
Based on the results of this sampling, additional sampling is planned for other welding and grinding areas, and throughout the shop space in Building 350.
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