RICHLAND, Wash. - A new program at the Hanford Site brings consistency and safety to a higher level for employees working in and entering radiological areas.
The program, called Sentinel, is a convenient, computer-based, self-entry process that verifies employees’ training, dosimetry, and medical qualifications before they are allowed to enter a radiological area.
Sentinel kiosks are located at or near work sites that require radiological access control. Employees who access these areas receive special training because of the potential for exposure to radiation and contamination. Workers check in at the kiosks to verify they meet the proper medical and training qualifications.
While the stations are sometimes staffed by personnel, qualified and trained radiological workers must ensure they have the proper prerequisites to enter radiological work areas. If a person without the proper credentials or with expired credentials logs in to Sentinel to enter the work zone, that person receives a red screen with an alert not to enter the area.
“I cannot say enough good things about the team and the incredible way that they worked together to bring the new radiological access control system online," said Wayne Schofield, director of worker protection at EM Richland Operations Office contractor Mission Support Alliance. “The team worked with representatives from the Waste Treatment Plant, Washington River Protection Solutions, and CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company to incorporate all the necessary Hanford-specific data, and guide the development process. It was a year-long effort by a dedicated team that worked hard to ensure that, once deployed, the program worked flawlessly."
Training on the new system is now available at the Volpentest Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response (HAMMER) Federal Training Center and will eventually be integrated into radiological worker, new employee, and other trainings.
“Having a program that verifies a worker’s medical and training qualifications streamlines the entry process and provides a safer entry program for all Hanford Site employees," said Bill Hamel, RL assistant manager for safety and environment.
Sentinel software has also been successfully implemented across the DOE complex including the Savannah River Site and Lawrence Livermore, Argonne, and Pacific Northwest national laboratories.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
