Page "Hanford Site" Paragraph 29

Another difficulty the engineers struggled with was how to deal with radioactive contamination.

Once the canyons began processing irradiated slugs, the machinery would become so radioactive that it would be unsafe for humans ever to come in contact with it.

The engineers therefore had to devise methods to allow for the replacement of any component via remote control.

They came up with a modular cell concept, which allowed major components to be removed and replaced by an operator sitting in a heavily shielded overhead crane.

This method required early practical application of two technologies that later gained widespread use: Teflon, used as a gasket material, and closed-circuit television, used to give the crane operator a better view of the process.