ENS 46245
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
07:00 Feb 22, 2010 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Broken Fixed Gauge Shutter |
| Event Description | The following information was received via facsimile:
Jeld-Wen Wood Fiber of Oregon located in Klamath Falls possesses 5 fixed gauges at their wood door manufacturing facility. In late December 2009, the Radiation Protection Services [RPS] office [State of Oregon] received a phone call from [the Jeld-Wen] Maintenance Manager, who talked to [the] RPS Licensing Manager and stated that he wished to report that there were two gauges at their facility that were having shutter mechanism problems. [The Maintenance Manager] stated he would elaborate on the issue in an email. On February 22, 2010, [the Maintenance Manager] emailed [the RPS Licensing Manager] and stated that the gauge with the broken shutter mechanism (Ronan, model SA-8, serial M2119, 20 mCi Cs-137, high level indicator gauge, installed 12-15-88) was operating in the open shutter position and unable to close. [The Maintenance Manager] stated that the licensee had manufactured a 1.5" thick shutter (by approximately 8 inches wide by approximately 1 meter long) that fits between the gauge and the vessel it is attached to. He also stated that this gauge is in a restricted access area that is roped off and the closest area of worker frequency is 20 feet away. [The Maintenance Manager] stated that the other gauge with the 'sticking' shutter (Ronan, model GS-200, serial 3401, 50 mCi Cs-137, digester level indicator, installed 12-15-88) is closable and is also operating. He stated that he would be scheduling a repair for the 50 mCi gauge and would be evaluating whether a replacement will be needed for the 20 mCi gauge. On March 15, 2010, [the Maintenance Manager's] email to [the RPS Licensing Manager] was given to [an RPS employee] in radioactive materials licensing. From [the RPS Licensing Manager's] email, another staff member may be working on this incident. [The RPS employee] phoned [the Maintenance Manager] and found that this was an event possibly not entered into the system but he would check with materials inspectors to see if that was the case. [The Maintenance Manager] stated that he was scheduling for repair of the 50 mCi gauge and possibly the 20 mCi gauge but not sure of the latter. [The Maintenance Manager] also stated that he would be submitting an amendment request naming him as Radiation Safety Officer. On May 21, 2010, [the RPS employee] requested an update on the repairs/actions by the licensee for the two gauges. No response was received. On June 9, 2010, [the Maintenance Manager] phoned [the RPS employee]. He stated that the company did not have the fiscal ability to replace the 20 mCi gauge and asked if the company could continue operating the gauge for approximately 2 more years. [The RPS employee] stated that the SS&D sheet would have to be reviewed as well as an onsite inspection of the gauge. On June 23, 2010, [the RPS employee] reviewed the SS&D for the 20 mCi device. For a 500 mCi Cs-137 source, exposure rates with the shutter open were listed as 43 mR per hr at 2 inches, 4.3 mR per hr at 1 foot, and 0.6 mR per hr at 1 meter. At 4 percent of maximum activity allowed, the 20 mCi source located in a restricted access area using 1 meter distance should give an exposure rate of approximately 300 microR per hr maximum. It was also determined that an inspection would be made of the facility in Klamath Falls in late July [in order] to verify exposure rates around the gauge with the shutter open. On July 27, 2010, an inspection of the facility was performed by [another employee of RPS]. [This other RPS employee] determined exposure rates around the 20 mCi gauge to be approximately 100 microR per hr at 1 meter. [This other RPS employee] also noted that the gauge is located at or below the catwalk that accesses that area. The licensee was allowed to continue operation with the shutter. [The other RPS employee] also discovered that the 50 mCi gauge with the sticking shutter was not actually sticking but merely hard to open and close due to residue/resin buildup. The licensee cleaned the residue off and covered the shutter mechanism and gauge with a metal canopy to prevent future buildup. Vendor work on this gauge was not performed as the licensee corrected the issue internally. Management approval for the modified shutter of the 20 mCi gauge will be sought at this time. [The Maintenance Manager] noted also during the inspection that the issues with the two gauges had been known by the licensee for approximately 2 years and was only then being reported because he was to become the new RSO and thought it should be. On September 10, 2010, a review of this incident was performed and it was found that the NRC HOO had not been notified. A copy of open NMED events for Oregon was also reviewed and no mention of this incident was found. NRC was notified of the incident at this time. Oregon RPS management has not made a final decision on the 20 mCi gauge with the broken shutter mechanism.
On October 1,2010, [the owner of] an Oregon-licensed fixed gauge service vendor company (RS&S Calibration LLC), Oregon license ORE-91083) contacted the Oregon Radiation Protection Services (RPS) office by email stating that he had cleaned and oiled the shutter mechanism on the gauge with the shutter stuck open (Ronan model SA-8, s/n M2119) and the unit is working properly. The handle is broken yet and [the vendor owner] stated that the customer is going to order a new handle. On October 25, 2010, Daryl Leon of RPS emailed the site RSO, Rob Reifel to determine status of handle repair. Mr. Reifel emailed that he was still trying to get a quote on the part and asked if his site maintenance personnel can manufacture a new handle. He also added that [the repair vendor] indicated he (Reifel) should use one provided by the manufacturer. Mr. Leon responded by email stating that the part should be obtained from the manufacturer since safety evaluation of the device was performed with parts originally from the manufacturer and a locally-manufactured part would not suffice. Mr. Reifel indicated that he would 'push harder' to get this done. On November 8, 2010, Mr. Reifel emailed Mr. Leon stating that the handle was fixed and that the fix was performed November 4,2010. This event is ready for closure for the HOO and NMED (incident 100458) Notified R4DO (Pick) and FSME EO (Villamar). |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Jeld-Wen Wood Fiber Of Oregon Klamath Falls, Oregon (NRC Region 4) | |
| Organization: | Or Dept Of Health Rad Protection |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+4811.48 h200.478 days <br />28.64 weeks <br />6.591 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Daryl Leon 17:29 Sep 10, 2010 |
| NRC Officer: | Donald Norwood |
| Last Updated: | Nov 19, 2010 |
| 46245 - NRC Website | |
Jeld-Wen Wood Fiber Of Oregon with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 462452010-02-22T07:00:00022 February 2010 07:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Broken Fixed Gauge Shutter 2010-02-22T07:00:00 | |