Yellow lab coats hang on the mesh walls of the right walkway, worn by personnel working on the top plate area to minimise the risk of radioactive contamination. ANSTO maintains a dedicated ‘active’ laundry facility to handle garments exposed to radiation, ensuring proper decontamination and continued safety.
When required, protective clothing is placed in designated containers for radiological clearance before being processed. These protocols were essential for maintaining strict safety standards within the reactor environment.
On the left side of the top plate, the silicon storage block is visible, where silicon ingots were prepared for irradiation. The smaller 125 kg-rated jib crane facilitated the careful loading of billets before they were exposed to neutron radiation within the reactor.
Silicon ingots arrived in Sydney, underwent 48 hours of controlled irradiation at ANSTO, and were then cleaned and shipped as radiologically stable, finished material, ready for use in semiconductor production.
This print appeals to those with an interest in nuclear science, industrial processes, and the technological advancements that shaped Australia’s role in semiconductor manufacturing.