Worker falls into US nuclear plant's reactor cavity, ingests pool water

A worker at the Palisades Nuclear Plant fell into the reactor cavity, which was filled with water, on October 21, 2025, while performing duties inside the containment building. Despite wearing all required personal protective equipment, including a life vest, the worker ingested some cavity water. Radiation protection personnel responded promptly, removing the worker from the water, decontaminating him, and monitoring contamination levels. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) confirmed the incident and noted the worker had 300 counts per minute detected in their hair before being sent off-site for medical evaluation. Ongoing radiological assessments indicate that exposure levels remain well below regulatory limits. The Palisades facility, an 800-megawatt single-unit pressurized water reactor located near Lake Michigan, is currently transitioning from decommissioning to operational status after being shut down in May 2022. Recently, the plant received 68 new nuclear fuel assemblies, marking a significant step toward restarting operations following NRC