ATTACHMENT 19


M. Kolodney
February 15, 1946

Proposed Standards

Health Protection of Plutonium Workers

The following standards are based on the recommendations of National 
Bureau of Standards Handbook HE7 "Safe Handling of Radioactive 
Luminous Compound" and Handbook H23 "Radium Protection."

1. New Personnel

New personnel shall be informed in detail of the hazards involved. 
They shall receive instruction in the rules and regulations for 
plutonium workers. New employees shall be required to read the project 
handbook on radioactive hazards. They shall not be promised permanent 
employment.

Applicants for work involving the handling of plutonium shall receive a 
rigid physical examination and complete blood count. No individual in 
poor health, or who has shown a history of such diseases as anemia or 
tuberculosis, shall be employed. Persons whose eyesight cannot be 
corrected by glasses shall not be employed. Individuals showing 
unaccountable abnormalities in blood count shall not be employed.

2. Daily Nose Counts

All workers exposed to plutonium shall receive a daily nose count. It 
shall be the responsibility of the employer to make each individual 
available for nose counting. It shall be the responsibility of the 
medical group to maintain a continuous check on all counts. Individuals 
whose nose count is above 50 <unreadable word> shall receive a urine 
assay within one week following the exposure which resulted in the high 
nose count.

3. Blood Counts

Before any individual begins work with plutonium he shall receive a 
complete blood count as specified in (1). In addition, each worker 
shall receive a complete blood count at least once each month. Blood 
counts shall be taken at the same time of day, particularly with 
respect to meals. A complete blood count shall include: hemoglobin test,
red white and differential counts, the latter including percentages of 
polymorphonuclear cells, small and large lymphocytes (separately), 
eosinophiles and basophiles. Blood platlet, sedimentation and coagulation 
tests may be made.

All blood counts shall be made under the direction of a skilled 
hematologist.

A downward trend of the white count and of the percentage of 
polymorphonuclear lymphocytes over a period of a few months shall be 
taken to indicate the probability of poisoning. The matter shall be 
checked immediately by successive urine assays.

It shall be the responsibility of the employer to schedule the times for 
blood counts for each individual and insure the presence of each worker 
for counting. Blood count samples shall be taken at the place of 
employment.

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4. Urine Assay

Individuals working with plutonium shall be classified by the employer 
in three categories dependent upon the degree of exposure.

1. Great
2. Moderate
3. Slight

Persons subject to "Great" exposure shall be tested by urine assay at 
one month intervals. Those subject to "Moderate" exposure shall be 
checked in the same manner at three month intervals. "Slight" exposure
shall require a urine assay each six months.

Any individual involved in a contaminated accident or with a nose count 
in excess of 50 c/m shall be checked by urine assay within one week after 
the exposure.

Any individual whose blood count displays indication of possible 
radioactive poisoning shall be immediately tested by urine assay.

A urine assay of 7 counts per minute shall be sufficient to immediately 
disqualify any individual from further exposure to plutonium. Such an 
individual may be again tested after the lapse of about one month to 
determine whether the assay represents permanent retention. A permanent 
assay of 7 counts per minute shall prohibit further employment of the 
individual in the handling of radioactive materials.

The employer shall be responsible for scheduling routine urine assays. 
The medical group shall provide the necessary hospitalization, shall 
perform the assays and require such special assays as it deems necessary.

5. Physical Examinations

All employees exposed to plutonium shall receive a thorough medical and 
dental examination at least once each year, and preferably once each six 
months. Employees in poor health or with diseases such as tuberculosis 
shall not be permitted to continue work with plutonium.

6. Vacations

All employees exposed to plutonium poisoning shall be required to take 
one two-week vacation during the first year of employment, and two 
two-week vacations each year thereafter. The latter shall be spaced at 
approximately six month intervals. The employer shall make no additional 
payment in lieu of such vacations.

M. Kolodney
February 15, 1946