Environment, Safety, and Health INTEGRATED HAZARD APPRAISAL of the BERKELEY LAB NUCLEAR SCIENCE DIVISION
for Work and Hazards Identification to Define the Necessary and Sufficient Standards Set and Direct Appraisal Efforts

September 25, 1996

IDENTIFICATION TEAM

PROJECT TIMELINE

ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT

Organization and Administrative Responsibilities and Authority. The Division Director, who has overall responsibility for all aspects of the Division program, is assisted by the Division Deputy Director, Division Administrator, and scientific program and project heads. Scientific program and project heads report to the Division Director and are responsible for overseeing Division research programs and projects. Senior scientists, program and project heads and group leaders are responsible for providing effective leadership in the planning and conducting of research work.

The Division Director is responsible not only for the nature and quality of the nuclear science research program, but also for assuring that research activities are planned and conducted in accordance with DOE, UC, and LBL policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements in areas such as environmental protection, occupational safety, fiscal and personnel administration, and quality assurance. The Division Deputy Director assists the Director in all areas and substitutes for the Director in his absence. The Division Administrator is charged with overall fiscal and personnel administration for the Division. The Division Deputy Director and Division Administrator are variously assigned primary oversight at the Division level for such matters as ES&H quality assurance, space management, and technology transfer. A Professional Staff Committee provides guidance in personnel selection. The Safety Committee strengthens the Division's commitment to ES&H by periodically assessing the Division's activities and facilities and by offering assistance to line management.

Line managers are responsible for providing effective scientific leadership, supervision, and educational guidance, for sound fiscal management of projects and research programs, for performing administrative tasks for the Division, and for conducting all work safely and with consideration for protection of the environment. Individual employees are responsible for the quality of their work and for conducting that work in compliance with LBNL personnel, quality assurance, and EH&S policies and procedures.

The Division ES&H program consists of two separate but coordinated parts - the Division ES&H Committee and the 88-inch Cyclotron Safety Committee, respectively. Each has representatives on the other committee. The Division ES&H Committee Chair is responsible for coordinating the self-assessment program; and committee members lead self-assessment teams. The Chair of the Nuclear Science Division's Environment, Safety & Health Committee reports directly to the Division Director, Lee Schroeder or the Division Deputy Director , Janis Dairiki . The current chair is R.J. McDonald. Membership of the committee includes representatives of the groups. The Division ES&H Coordinator is a member of both committees and administers many of the compliance and safety documentation activities.

For purposes of this hazard analysis, the activities of the Division were grouped into the following functional areas:

• 88 Inch Cyclotron operations and experimental areas.

• Laboratory spaces

• Office Spaces

Operations on the University of California Berkeley (UCB) campus consist of only one activity located in Building 19A. The work was not evaluated for this PHA.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS AND OBJECTIVES

Line Management is responsible for the protection of the public, the workers, and the environment.

At the Berkeley Laboratory the following documents establish the policy and provide the implementation guidance that makes line management effectively accountable for protection of workers, the public and the environment:

• Operations Assurance Plan, OAP (1996)

• Self Assessment Manual (1992) and Supplement (1996)

• Publication 3000, Environment Health and Safety Manual (1995)

• Chemical Hygiene and Safety Plan (1992)

• Waste Generator Guidelines (1996)

• Employee Performance/Progress Review, Section III (1996)

Clear Roles and Responsibilities

Clear and unambiguous lines of authority and responsibility for ensuring safety are established and maintained at all organizational levels within the Department (DOE) and its contractors.

Each Division making up the Berkeley Laboratory has clearly defined lines of responsibility down to the working level. Each division designates a research investigator to represent its views and concerns on the Laboratory Safety Review Committee and a full time employee to act as the ES&H Coordinator. This Coordinator acts as the interface between ES&H concerns and compliance in the workplace and the EH&S technical professionals.

Competence Commensurate with Responsibilities

Personnel possess the experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities that are necessary to discharge their responsibilities.

Job assignments, including hires, are reviewed by line management and by the compensation group within Human Resources to ensure that the requirements and responsibilities of a job are matched by the experience, knowledge and skills of individuals selected for assignment.

The Laboratory's training program ensures that each staff member, including participating guests, is adequately trained to participate safely in Laboratory activities. Staff, with supervisor participation, fill out the Jobs Hazards Questionnaire (JHQ) describing the hazards associated with their job assignment and work area. Evaluation of the responses by the Training Coordinator and the cognizant supervisor determines the training regimen needed to carry out work in a manner that protects the employee, co-workers, the public and the environment.

Balanced Priorities

Resources are effectively allocated to address safety, programmatic, and operational considerations. Protecting the public, the workers, and the environment is a priority whenever activities are planned and performed.

All environment, safety and health activities in the Laboratory are described in technical terms with budgetary information included. Each year this information is updated, reviewed and prioritized on the basis of risk to workers, public, and the environment by a Laboratory wide committee selected to represent programmatic line management and ES & H professionals. This document is utilized by Laboratory Senior Management in strategically planning the immediate focus and long term goals of the environment, safety and health program at the Laboratory.

Hazard Controls Tailored to Work Being Performed

Administrative and engineering controls to prevent and mitigate hazards are tailored to the work and associated hazards being performed.

Chapter 6 of the Environment, Health and Safety Manual clearly defines the steps for each line manager to develop the appropriate engineering and administrative controls to mitigate hazards in the workplace. The Laboratory's Self Assessment Program, including Functional Appraisals by ES & H professionals, and the UC/DOE Contract 98 Performance Measures provide assurance that implementation of hazards control is adequate to protection the worker, the public and the environment.

Identification of Safety Standards and Requirements

Before work is performed, the associated hazards are evaluated and an agreed-upon set of safety standards and requirements are established which, if properly implemented, provide adequate assurance that the public, the workers, and the environment are protected from adverse consequences.

The Laboratory is dedicated to following the Necessary and Sufficient Closure Process (DOE 450.3) on an iterative basis at all levels of activities in the Laboratory to ensure the Safety Standards are adequate to provide protection to workers, the public and the environment. This process is completed by commencement of work in those situations where current work is significantly modified, new work is proposed or substantial facility modifications are being made (Chapter 6, Environment Health and Safety Manual).

Operations Authorization

The conditions and requirements to be satisfied for operations to be initiated and conducted are clearly established and agreed-upon.

Conditions and requirements for facilities determined to be of higher risk based on the Preliminary Hazards Analysis are contained in a Safety Analysis Document. Activity Hazard Documents are the basis for meeting this requirement for specific operations and activities falling into the higher risk category at the Berkeley Laboratory. Internal Agreements describing the performance expectations by each party are used for operations between two functional areas where the quality of performance might adversely impact the Laboratory's ability to meet its responsibility to protect workers, the public and the environment.

ACTIONS TO BE PERFORMED

The Nuclear Science Division's principal activity is basic research in theoretical and experimental nuclear science aimed at understanding the structure and interactions of nuclei and the forces of nature as manifested in the nuclear medium. Applications and impact of these studies on other areas of science, e.g., astrophysics and high energy physics, are also part of this activity. Other responsibilities include operation of the 88-Inch Cyclotron as a national facility, education and training of future generations of scientists, and transfer of knowledge and technological innovations and fostering of productive relationships among the Division, universities, and industry. The Division research programs support the LBL mission, the national nuclear physics goals, and the mission of the Department of Energy.

1. The Division maintains programs and expertise encompassing a broad range of nuclear science--relativistic heavy-ion physics, low-energy nuclear physics, nuclear theory, nuclear astrophysics and weak interactions, nuclear chemistry, nuclear data evaluation, and detector development. Division members participate in national and international collaborations and have a leadership role in many of them, for example, STAR (Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC), Gammasphere, and the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO). Knowledge gained is made available through publication in national and international journals and in the Isotopes Project's Table of Isotopes.

2. The 88-Inch Cyclotron is operated as a national facility in support of DOE programs in basic nuclear science. The Cyclotron serves researchers from LBL, the other national laboratories, universities, and foreign institutions. In addition to basic research, the Cyclotron provides a crucial service to organizations involved in the U.S. space program.

3. The Division has a commitment to graduate and postdoctoral training and to the broader educational objectives of the Laboratory. The Division offers opportunities for graduate training in the theoretical and experimental programs. The Division regularly employs about 20 postdoctoral fellows. Division members who hold faculty appointments at the University of California also participate directly in undergraduate education. The Division participates in the activities of LBL's Center for Science and Engineering Education, which undertakes a broad program of precollege, college, and teacher education, with an emphasis on women and minorities. In addition, the Division has established an Education Committee to further its educational activities in the community.

4. Technology transfer is an integral part of the Division's efforts, and formal and informal collaborations, workshops, and visits provide ongoing interactions with universities, industry, and other research institutions. The Division encourages the development of new opportunities for technology transfer. The Division works with the LBL Technology Transfer Department in such areas as information transfer, patenting and licensing, and contractual arrangements for research sponsored by agencies other than DOE.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS
WITHIN WHICH THE WORK WILL BE PERFORMED

Building 19 located on the University of California, Berkeley campus. NSD occupies laboratory and office space in this facility. LBNL and UC, Berkeley have a MOU that places EH&S services under the jurisdiction of the University and therefore NSD operations at Building 19 were not considered in this PHA.

Building 50 Complex

Nuclear Science Division occupies a portion of this complex (50, 50A, 50B and 50E). Currently the administrative offices of the Division are located in 50E. Nuclear Astrophysics/Weak Interactions group, Isotope Projects group, SNO, and Relativistic Nuclear Collisions group offices are located in building 50, 50A and 50B complex. In addition there is one laboratory located in building 50.

Building 51

Building 51 is the former Bevatron accelerator facility. NSD conducts a laser operation in room 101, B51F in the EPB Hall in support of the Relativistic Nuclear Collisions Group.

Building 70

Building 70 is a three story laboratory building. NSD occupies laboratories, including wet chemistry, counting facilities and office space for support of nuclear chemistry and the Heavy Elements group on the second floor. There are two laser operations currently occupying laboratory and office suites on the first and second floors in support of the Relativistic Nuclear Collisions group. Office space for STAR, and Theoretical Nuclear Physics staff is also located in Building 70.

Building 71

Building 71 is a two story AFRD Facility and contains the old decommissioned Super Hilac accelerator, office space, Laser laboratories, shop areas and general purpose laboratories. NSD utilizes only one general purpose laboratory, Room 140 in support of the Heavy Elements group.

Building 72

Building 72 is a multistoried facility housing the National Electron Microscopy Center. NSD operates a low background counting facility in two rooms on the first floor.

Building 88

Building 88 houses an 88 inch cyclotron (particle accelerator), with associated laboratory and office space in support of low energy nuclear physics. It is a user facility with experimenters from other DOE laboratories, universities, and industry utilizing particle beams for a variety of experimental protocols. The main cyclotron and 8 experimental areas are shielded for radiation protection and access interlocked to prevent unauthorized personnel access. There is a laser laboratory located in Cave 5. Shops and engineering space are used in support of experiments and operations at the Cyclotron.

MATERIALS AND CONDITIONS THAT COULD CAUSE ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES

The Nuclear Science Division (NSD) includes approximately 25 laboratories and the 88-inch Cyclotron Shielded Experimental Complex in which hazardous chemicals are used. Several of the laboratories and accelerator beam facilities make use of ionizing radiation sources, lasers, cryogenics, magnetic fields and noisy equipment. Vacuum systems and compressed gasses are used throughout the accelerator complex and in limited ways in the other laser and laboratory's in NSD.

Electrical and Mechanical Hazards

The 88 -inch Cyclotron and direct support areas utilize high voltage, high current, RF and magnetic systems which constitute potential hazards. A limited array of electrical and mechanical hazards in addition to the Cyclotron facility are present in the NSD. These include high voltage electrical systems, repetitive trauma associated with office work, vacuum systems, some pressurized gas systems, belt driven equipment, centrifuges, ovens, engineered enclosures and cryogenics.

• Electrical Hazards
  • The primary electrical hazard associated with NSD is the use of high voltage in the accelerator and in laser laboratories .

  • High voltage power is also associated with other equipment, such as RF sources, stored energy capacitors and a variety of power supplies

  • The overall level of concern associated with high voltage equipment is low. There is a moderate concern at the 88-inch Cyclotron. This arises because of the custom nature and maintenance of high current and high voltage used in the cyclotron ion sources.

• Pressure and Vacuum Hazards
  • The overall level of concern associated with pressure and vacuum systems in NSD is low.

  • The main pressure hazards are the compressed gas cylinders, mostly nitrogen, helium, oxygen, and argon.

  • There are no significant pressure systems in NSD.

  • There are a few glass systems that are filled from a compressed gas cylinder.

  • The main cyclotron and associated beam lines are under vacuum. The main vacuum concern is the loss of vacuum integrity of the system and under normal conditions would not directly result in injury to persons.

  • There is a large cryogenic nitrogen system for use in cooling and back filling the cyclotron. There is also a system for cooling the detectors for the gamma sphere experiment.

• Ovens
  • The overall level of concern associated with the use of ovens in NSD is very low.

  • Low temperature (<100 degrees C) ovens are used in NSD.

  • High temperature ovens (2000 degrees C) are used in the 88-inch cyclotron ECR source.

• Centrifuges
  • The level of concern associated with the use of centrifuges is low in NSD.

  • Special high speed centrifuges are used at the cyclotron and many more small centrifuges are used in NSD facilities.

• Confined Space/Oxygen Depletion
  • The level of concern is low in NSD and arises from the Cave 4C (Gamma Sphere) and the RF tank in the cyclotron vault.

  • Cave 4C contains 6 240L dewers and 2 110L dewers of LN

• Repetitive Mechanical Trauma
  • Office operations include the usual array of ergonomic issues, notably those associated with the use of computers and workstations. This issue is of moderate concern based on the NSD accident injury performance summary reports.

A variety of toxic, flammable, corrosive, reactive or otherwise dangerous chemicals are used in the NSD. In almost all cases, the quantities used at any time are quite small, consistent with typical machine shop, maintenance and laboratory operations. Examples of hazardous chemicals in use in NSD are provided below.

• Flammable Gases
  • The level of concern relating to the use of flammable gasses in NSD is low to moderate.

  • The methane/argon installation present in Cave 2 poses a relatively moderate level of concern due to its communication with an adjoining space (Cave 1).

  • Flammable gases are not widely used in NSD. One cylinder of compressed hydrogen was identified in a laboratory in Building 88 and a cylinder of di-methyl ether in a lab in Building 70.

• Flammable Liquids
  • The level of concern associated with the use of flammable liquids in NSD is low overall, except in Building 71, Rm. 140 and Building 70 Rms. 203 and 209 where the concern is moderate.

  • Flammable liquids are used throughout NSD, normally in small quantities.

  • Three rooms were identified as having a moderate level of concern associated with flammable liquids, in all cases because the quantities in storage.

  • Typical flammable liquids include ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, toluene and acetone.

• Inert Cryogens
  • The level of concern associated with the use of inert cryogens is low.

  • Liquid nitrogen is used widely in dewers up to 210L.

  • The 88-inch cyclotron has dewers directly plumbed to experimental apparatus or equipment.

• Corrosives
  • The level of concern associated with the use of corrosives in NSD is low overall

  • Most of the NSD laboratories store or use small amounts of corrosive materials.

  • Common corrosives include acids associated with bright dip tanks, hydrochloric acid, and sodium hydroxide.

  • Dilute boric acid containers are used for shielding in Cave 2 at the 88-inch Cyclotron.

• Reactives
  • The level of concern associated with the use of reactives in NSD is moderate.

  • Small amounts (550 mg per squib) of reactive chemicals (pistol powder) is used as squibs for the 2 quick closure devices (slammer valve) in the accelerator beam lines.

• Reproductive Toxins
  • The overall level of concern associated with the use of reproductive toxins in NSD is low.

  • No labs were identified with a level of concern of moderate to high.

  • Common reproductive toxins include benzene, formaldehyde and toluene.

  • Laser dyes were identified in a few laboratories

• Carcinogens
  • The overall level of concern associated with the use of carcinogens in NSD is low.

  • A lab in Building 88 was identified as having Beryllium stored in a glove box.

  • Small quantities of organic carcinogens such as ethylene dichloride, chloroform, benzene, RGG dye and carbon tetrachloride are used.

• Pyrophorics
  • The overall level of concern associated with the use of pyrophorics in NSD is moderate due to the use and storage of lithium.

  • Lithium was only identified in a few labs.

  • Pyrophoric gas (SiH4) is used with the ECR ion source in Building 88. A special toxic gas cabinet is used for storage.

• Toxic Materials
  • The overall level of concern associated with the use of toxic and extremely toxic materials in NSD is low.

  • Only one facility was identified as having a moderate level of concern associated with the use or storage of large quantities of borax used for shielding at the cyclotron.

  • Typical inorganic toxic compounds include borax, beryllium. potassium cyanide and mercury.

  • Typical organic toxic compounds include methanol, ethylene glycol and laser dyes.

  • Typical highly toxic chemicals include cyanide salts and chloroform.

• Health Hazard Gases
  • The overall level of concern associated with health hazard gases in NSD is low.

  • Very few toxic gases are used in NSD. Toxic gases were only found in building 88 in 2 lab rooms.

  • Toxic gases in use include: hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, and sulfur dioxide.

• Oxidizers
  • The overall level of concern associated with the use of oxidizers in NSD is low.

  • No laboratories were identified as having a moderate level of concern associated with oxidizers.

  • Typical oxidizers include compressed oxygen and nitric acid.

Physical agents in addition to electrical and mechanical hazards present in NSD include accelerators, lasers, noise, magnetic fields and RF radiation. Each of these is discussed below.

• Radiofrequency/Microwave Radiation
  • The overall level of concern associated with the use of radiofrequency/microwave radiation in NSD is low.

  • The only use of RF/MW besides commercial food-type ovens is the cyclotron.

• Lasers
  • The overall level of concern associated with the use of lasers in NSD is low.

  • Most of the lasers in use are very low power units.

  • There are a couple of class 3 or class 4 lasers in use .

• Noise
  • The overall level of concern associated with noise in the NSD is low.

  • The primary source of noise exposure is the pumps in the cyclotron high bay and caves, and machinery noise in the machine shops.

  • Ear plugs were worn by machinists when applicable.

• Magnetic Fields/RF Radiation
  • The overall level of concern associated with magnetic fields and RF radiation in NSD is low. Strong DC magnetic fields are present in the cyclotron and associated beam lines for steering particle beams into the various cave experimental areas.

NSD has several types of activities which have radiation hazards. Research and development includes actinide chemistry and target preparation in Building 70. The Building 88 cyclotron is a user facility with activities which include heavy elements chemistry, proton decay, laser beam, cell biology, materials effects, cosmic ray interaction studies, and gamma sphere nuclear physics.

Actinide Chemistry

Radioactive materials are used in fume hood and glove box work using both standard and advance chemical methods. These operations take place in both building 70 and 88. Because of the higher levels of radioactive materials used in conjunction with this research the concern is moderate. The Radiation Work Authorization for these operations are Class III.

Accelerator

The 88- inch cyclotron is located in Building 88 and can accelerate ion beams from hydrogen to uranium. It can accelerate protons to 55 MeV and alpha particles to 130 MeV. The maximum heavy-ion beam energy is 32.5 MeV/nucleon. Maximum current is less than 100 uA for all beams. The overall level of concern for accelerator operations is low. For maintenance operations, because of the potential for contamination and for elevated radiation levels, the concern is moderate. Operations at the 88-inch Cyclotron are covered by the following safety documents: Safety Analysis Document (SAD) which incorporates the safety envelope for machine operation, AHD's for the larger and more comprehensive experiments, and either RWA's or RWP's for radiological work.

Approved radioactive material and sealed sources are also handled at the 88 inch Cyclotron.

Effluent from research activities and the accelerator is monitored according to NESHAPS requirements.

UNCERTAINTIES ABOUT THE WORK

There are no unique uncertainties which will impact hazard identification and selection of applicable and appropriate standards and requirements. At the 88 Inch Cyclotron, the GammaSphere program located in Cave 4C is scheduled to move to ANL East in FY 1997. This move is not anticipated to change appropriate standards and requirements.

RESOURCE AVAILABILITY AND CONSTRAINTS

No significant changes in NSD resources devoted to ES&H activities are planned.

Representatives of the NSD (Janis Dairiki, Darlene Hoffman and Claude Lyneis) offered the following evaluation of the EH&S Division past and future resources and support:

• The need for EH&S resources and support for the coming year should be roughly the same as last year.

• NSD is satisfied with EH&S support (except as listed below) during the past year. NSD is pleased with the continued improvement of close customer contact and support from EH&S professionals.

• NSD is "highly" confident that EH&S will meet NSD needs in the coming year.

The following support needs/issues were raised by NSD:

• One area of need expressed was for consistent Radiological Control.

• Technician at the 88 inch Cyclotron.

• Hazardous waste and environmental rules are rapidly changing and there will be a need for additional attention to customer assistance from EH&S in the future.

Suggestions for improvements:

• Continued integration of NSD's EH&S activities with the EH&S Field Support Departments activities.

STAKEHOLDER CONCERNS

There are no stakeholder concerns unique to NSD. NSD has managed, controlled, and permitted (as required) air, water, hazardous, and solid waste streams.