This public Lesson Learned report is from the Dept of Energy’s system. The event occurred at West Valley, NY. The Lesson Learned can be repurposef to many research settings where commercial products are repurposed for unusual uses..

- Ralph

Operator Struck by Pressurized Drum Lid

LL448B - Lessons Learned WVLL-2022-007

Date: 07/14/2022
Site: WVDP
Facilities: Waste Operations

This WVDP Lessons Learned is being shared to inform employees of changes, guidance and lessons learned from the employee injury caused by pressurized drum lid.

Lessons Learned:

A non-vented 55-gallon drum containing two (2) Lead-Acid batteries (wet electrolyte) was being opened by a Decontamination & Decommissioning / Waste Management (DDWM) Operator. In the process of removing the lid, the operator was struck in elbow by the ring that secures the lid. This was due to a pressure buildup in the drum. Following this event, the lead-acid batteries were relocated into a vented 55-gallon drum.

Based on reviews of Safety Data Sheets, product data sheets, and other literature, it was not apparent that Lead-Acid batteries (wet electrolyte) may release gases that could buildup pressure and should not be stored in closed (sealed) containers. Information sources only indicated that significant gas release would be experienced when the batteries were being charged.

Generators of these safety warnings for battery storage address standard end-user configurations and may not address the special considerations that a user in a radiological field may require. In this case, most of the literature recommends storage on a shelf, in a vented area, that a standard end-user could easily institute. However, radiological aspects in this case require the storage of the batteries in a drum. It is highly unlikely that this aspect would have been anticipated when preparing the safety precautions in the manufacturers’ literature.

Therefore, when utilizing standard industrial safety precautions to establish site safety practices, those in the radiological field must be vigilant and take additional precautions when suggested precautions must be modified to meet the needs of the radiological facility.

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