The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says one person required medical attention after falling into the reactor cavity at the Palisades nuclear power plant on Tuesday.
According to NRC records, the incident happened around 9:30 a.m. when the person fell into the cavity full of water. They ingested some of that water and were decontaminated by radiation protection personnel, who detected 300 counts per minute in their hair. The person was then transported for treatment offsite.
The Palisades resident inspector has been notified. The NRC says the incident had no impact on the health and safety of the public or plant personnel.
We’ve reached out to Palisades owner, Holtec International, for more information, and the company has released the following statement:
“While performing work inside the containment building, a Palisades contractor fell into a pool of water located above the reactor. The contractor was wearing all required personal protective equipment, including a life vest, which is standard when working near the pool without a barrier in place. The worker was promptly assisted from the water, evaluated, monitored, and decontaminated for removable contamination in accordance with established industry standards and safety procedures. Radiological assessments are ongoing and are expected to confirm exposure well below regulatory and administrative dose limits. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was properly notified, and a review of human performance factors contributing to the incident is underway. The worker sustained minor injuries from their fall and has since returned to work.”
