Challenge seeks safer glovebox gauntlets

Glovebox operator safety lies at the heart of a Sellafield challenge which has led to Game Changers funding for three organisations.

The Needlestick Resistant Gauntlet Challenge, launched via the Knowledge Transfer Network innovation Exchange (KTN iX), seeks innovative approaches to needlestick and puncture resistant materials for use in glovebox gauntlets during nuclear decommissioning.

Three organisations who stepped up to that challenge – First Graphene, Nanoregmed and Qinetiq – have been awarded Game Changers feasibility funding to develop their potential solutions. 

There are more than 700 gloveboxes on the Sellafield site. They are typically sealed, ventilated containers sometimes in an inert atmosphere. Long gloves (gauntlets) are attached to the gloveboxes and via these gauntlets operators access the gloveboxes. Gloveboxes being decommissioned often contain exposed wire, cropped cables, pipework or needlesticks, all of which may significantly endanger operators.

Glovebox access is via 6-inch entry ports where containment has to be maintained and manoeuvrability is difficult due to limited access, light and visibility.

Sellafield needs puncture-resistant gauntlets that will increase operator safety without significantly reducing dexterity or increasing the weight load for the operator.

All three organisations awarded funding will be working on innovative materials which may be used to make gauntlets to replace existing gauntlets and cut-proof inner or over gloves.