Alarm Sounds During Agent Draining Operations
at ABCDF
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. -- Yesterday afternoon an
alarm sounded at the Aberdeen Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (ABCDF) located
in the Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground as an operator was performing
routine mustard agent draining operations. At no time did any agent
vapor leave the buildingís engineering controls. At no time
was there a threat to the workers, community or environment.
The operator was attempting to attach a hose to an agent container located
inside a sealed enclosure when his outermost glove was torn, exposing the
second of three protective layers of gloves to agent. In accordance
with established procedures, he inspected his inner gloves for damage, did
not see any tears, and took the precaution of changing out the gloves. After
resuming normal operations, an alarm sounded indicating the presence of a
trace amount of agent.
The operator and his partner immediately put on their protective masks and
proceeded to a nearby decontamination shower. Technicians then monitored
and cleared both operators using a portable monitor. As a precaution,
the operators were sent to the ABCDF medical clinic for observation where
they were soon cleared.
Workers operating in the same area of the building temporarily evacuated
until the drain station returned to normal reading levels in less than 15
minutes. Drain operations continued later that evening.
ìThe precautions built into the draining procedure, having operators
wear three gloves, worked as it was designed. One glove tore, and the
operator remained protected from agent exposure,î said ABCDF Commander
Lt. Col. Gerald Gladney. ìThe operator reacted as he was trained,
and we will brief all our other operators on this incident as an example
of the right way to stay protected,î he added.
Since beginning disposal operations in April
2003, workers at the ABCDF have safely neutralized more than 60 percent of
the Aberdeen mustard agent stockpile. More information about storage
and disposal operations at ABCDF is available at the U.S. Army Chemical Materials
Agencyís Web site at http://www.cma.army.mil.
