MINIMIZING GLOVEBOX GLOVE FAILURES

Abstract

During the early 1990s, a series of glovebox failures caused by deterioration of glovebox gloves at the Los Alamos National Laboratory Plutonium Processing Facility were reported. As part of a proactive Lessons Learned Program, several glovebox glove failures have been reviewed. Numerous impacts in the areas of mechanical properties improvement, quality assurance, procurement, and polymer failure analysis techniques and methods have been made. The results of this effort are presented here. The main direct causes for these incidences were found to be the poor quality of the gloves received and the glovebox environment (aging). A quality program that includes access to the supplier facilities for review, audit, surveillance, witness, inspection, and/or testing activities addresses the poor quality issue. A thorough understanding of the environment and mechanical stresses to which glovebox gloves are subjected to over a glove’s lifetime was needed to reduce failures. The implementation of a glovebox glove changeout program manages aging issues. Glovebox gloves must be visually checked for cuts, tears, and blisters. In addition, guidance is given to operators on whether to use leaded glovebox gloves. The selection of leaded versus nonleaded gloves is not always obvious. As Low as Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) considerations must be balanced with glove durability and worker dexterity, both of which affect the final overall risk. As a result, excursions of contaminants into the operator’s breathing zone and excess exposure to radiological sources associated with unplanned breaches in the glovebox have been reduced.