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News Releases Safety first during excavation of World War II landfill
Excavators with blast shields, HEPA air filtration
Infra-red imagery shows safety crews any hot spots in the landfill. The lighter the color, the hotter the object. Photos by Patricia Leyba.
July 6, 2010—The setup for work at Material Disposal Area B is a far cry from grandfather’s dump site.
Excavation started last week at MDA B, on the south side of DP Road, where workers will scoop out 22,000 cubic yards of dirt and LANL trash disposed from 1944 to 1948.
While LANL has excavated several landfills in the past—including MDA Y last year—MDA B has the added spotlight of Recovery Act dollars and proximity to Los Alamos businesses right across the street.
Infrared technology
Standard tools for this excavation include infrared cameras, remote chemical sensors, and multiple remote-controlled cameras.
The control room is the center of the work monitoring processes. Each control room is one part of the safety structure in place for the waste removal.
"Through these we monitor everything remotely,” said Andy Baumer, the project manager for the MDA B excavation, “and keep everyone safe.”
Limiting access for safety reasons
Excavation is taking place in large metal buildings. During digging, the excavator operator is the only person allowed in.
Within the control room are feeds from four cameras, and an infrared camera that monitors temperatures and potential explosive hazards. In case of a fire, the control rooms can also trigger fire suppression systems.
Safety is a primary concern when developing the excavation plan. Possible hazards for workers include chemicals, radiation exposure, and potential for an explosion.
Baumer explained that the explosion could be caused by crystallized chemicals in bottles disposed at MDA B, and sensitive to jarring or shock.
Conservative measures
“There is a very low possibility, but we have taken very conservative measures to prevent it,” Baumer said.
High-efficiency particulate air filters clean the air leaving each enclosure. Lower Explosive Limit sensors have been installed to protect workers from flashes or fire. Sensors will monitor oxygen, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide.
Within the structures, alarm lights alert the excavator operator of a potential threat so that he may evacuate the building. The control room operators have been trained for the majority of functions and aspects of the job, but specialized technicians will also be available.
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Each enclosure has at least four remote cameras. This images is from a camera mounted near the ceiling.
The enclosure cameras and remote sensing equipment are monitored in control rooms.
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