THE ROLE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY IN NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT

The management of nuclear materials includes the goal of ensuring that such material can not experience an unauthorized change in form, composition, or location. Chemical safety can fulfill a significant role in accomplishing this goal. This report looks at the importance of chemical safety at facilities that handle, process, and store nuclear materials. It also provides information on protecting nuclear materials and nuclear material workers from chemical hazards, and controlling process chemistry to prevent misdirected material events. The identification of chemical hazards is addressed through the performance of an analysis of process and facility risks which can directly or indirectly affect nuclear materials. The management structures needed to establish initial and continued assurances of chemical safety are briefly discussed. The emphasis on chemical safety at facilities which process, handle, or store nuclear materials is expected to decrease the potential for worker, public, and environmental exposures and to help minimize misdirected material.