The Navy has shut down almost all nuclear propulsion-related work at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard after two incidents involving potentially contaminated material.
The Virginian-Pilot reported Wednesday that the work stoppage began on Sept. 13, and it is unclear when it will end. In violation of Navy safety rules, civilian workers had handled equipment potentially contaminated during work on naval reactors. A spokesman for the shipyard told the Pilot that both incidents were minor and did not result in injury to the employees. Nonetheless, the Navy suspended related work to study the incidents and establish corrective actions. The stoppage affected work on the Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and two submarines.
The Norfolk facility is one of the largest shipyards in the world and one of only six that maintain or build nuclear-powered craft for the Navy. The yard employs about 9,200 civilians and 500 military personnel. It takes part in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Voluntary Protection Programs, and its safety efforts have earned it a "Star site" designation since 2006, according to the yard's website.