Preparing DOE Sites to Respond to Emergencies Involving Radiological Materials
Multiple Sites, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Savannah River Site
Defense nuclear facilities must be prepared to respond to fires, explosions, spills, and other emergencies involving radioactive materials.
Adequacy of Emergency Management Systems
Our Work
The DNFSB found that DOE’s requirements for emergency management systems, and the implementation of these requirements, needed to be strengthened to adequately protect workers and the public and issued Recommendation 2014-1, Emergency Preparedness and Response, to the Secretary of Energy.
Our Safety Impact
Recommendation 2014-1 prompted DOE to issue new requirements for defense nuclear facilities to plan for and practice their response to severe events, including natural disasters. Following this, multiple sites, including Los Alamos National Laboratory, strengthened the realism of their emergency response training activities.
Emergency Preparedness for Tritium
Our Work
The DNFSB communicated concerns with the Savannah River Site’s ability to respond to a large-scale release of tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen with unique properties and health effects. The DNFSB’s concerns included that the site had not conducted emergency exercises that would adequately test these scenarios.
Our Safety Impact
In response to advice from the DNFSB, Savannah River Site personnel performed a series of assessments and emergency drills and exercises to test and improve their response.
Last Updated: March 23, 2026