A contractor at the Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan fell into the reactor cavity while on the job, swallowing some of the radioactive cooling water before being rescued and decontaminated. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission confirmed the incident, which took place around 9:30 a.m. on October 21, inside the plant’s containment building.
The worker, whose name has not been released, was performing maintenance when he slipped into the water-filled reactor cavity. Radiation protection staff immediately pulled him out and began decontamination. According to the NRC’s preliminary report, readings later showed about 300 counts per minute of contamination in the worker’s hair. By 4:30 p.m., he was sent offsite for medical evaluation.
Nick Culp, senior manager of Government Affairs and Communications for Holtec, the company that owns the plant, said all safety procedures were followed. “While performing work inside the containment building, a Palisades contractor fell into a pool of water located above the reactor,” Culp said in a statement. “The worker was promptly assisted from the water, evaluated, monitored, and decontaminated for removable contamination in accordance with established industry standards and safety procedures.”
Holtec noted that the employee had been wearing full protective gear, including a life vest, which is mandatory when working near the reactor cavity without a barrier. The company also emphasized that radiological assessments are ongoing, though exposure levels are expected to be well below regulatory safety limits.
A full review is now underway to determine what led to the accident. The NRC has confirmed that it was notified promptly, and that an investigation into human performance factors has begun.
The Palisades Nuclear Plant, located along Lake Michigan in Covert Township, has had an eventful few years. Once slated for permanent closure in 2022, the 800-megawatt reactor is now being revived under Holtec’s ownership. The company has been preparing the site for a full restart, describing the effort as a historic transition from decommissioning back to operations.
Just days before the accident, Palisades had received new nuclear fuel – 68 assemblies in total – marking a major step toward reactivation. The Department of Energy granted authorization for the plant’s restart in August 2025, allowing it to once again produce power after years of dormancy.
Holtec says progress continues despite the incident, with major equipment like the Main Turbine Generator undergoing final reassembly. The company also recently installed the second refurbished Primary Coolant Pump motor, essential for recirculating coolant through the reactor system once operations resume.
While no serious injury has been reported, the unusual mishap adds another twist to the Palisades comeback story. As investigators dig deeper, the episode serves as a reminder that bringing an aging nuclear plant back to life comes with more than a few risks – sometimes even a literal splash.
