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Mishap aboard
Pearl nuke sub
injures worker
At least two workers were
By Gregg K. Kakesako
exposed to radioactivity
Star-BulletinOne shipyard worker was injured during an accident on the nuclear attack submarine USS Olympia this morning at Pearl Harbor.
The accident, which occurred at 5:37 a.m., injured one civilian shipyard worker who was taken to Tripler Army Medical Center, treated and released.
The sub's nuclear reactor was not operating at the time and had been shut down for two weeks.
Shipyard workers were working on the sub's propulsion plant when a leak was detected, and water was being diverted to the Olympia's bilges.
The shipyard worker was injured when a valve on the main coolant water line blew and he backed away, bumping into another object, hurting his head.
At least two shipyard workers received small amounts of radioactive material on their skin which the Navy said was removed by washing, and there was no significant radiation exposure.
The main coolant water was rerouted from the propulsion plant to the ship's bilge. Shipyard employees said about 300 gallons of main coolant water had to be pumped into the ship's bilges, and it was not known if the water had been contaminated.
Valerie Leong, Pearl Harbor spokeswoman, said she did not have information on the report.
The 360-foot Olympia is one of 21 Los Angeles-class attack submarines home-ported at Pearl Harbor. It is the Navy's 104th nuclear-powered submarine and the 29th of the Los Angeles class.
The Olympia, which is commanded by Cmdr. Robert Brennan, returned from its latest six-month western Pacific deployment in December. It has been at Pearl Harbor for 13 years.
The state Department of Health's Noise, Radiation and Indoor Air Quality Branch was on standby this morning after it was determined that the incident posed no general public danger, said branch manager Russell Takata.
Navy's USS Olympia page
