Information Notice 1988-18, Malfunction of Lockbox on Radiography Device

Malfunction of Lockbox on Radiography Device

ML031150297
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Three Mile Island, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000000, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	04/25/1988
From:	Cunningham R NRC/NMSS/IMNS
To:
References
IN-88-018, NUDOCS 8804180428
Download: ML031150297 (8)

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 April 25, 1988 INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 88-18: MALFUNCTION OF LOCKBOX ON RADIOGRAPHY DEVICE

Addressees

All NRC licensees authorized to manufacture, distribute, and/or operate radio- graphic exposure devices.

Purpose

This notice is to advise licensees about a radiography incident that could have

resulted in a significant radiation exposure to workers or members of the public.

It is expected that licensees review this information for applicability to their

program, distribute the notice to responsible radiation safety staff, and con- sider actions, If appropriate, to prevent a similar situation from occurring.

However, suggestions contained in this notice do not constitute new NRC require- ments, and no written response is required.

Description of Circumstances

The State of Louisiana has reported the failure of a lockbox on a Gamma Century

SA radiography camera at an offshore Texas Job site. The work involved radio- graphic examination of welds on an oil and gas production platform. After one

exposure, when the radiographer cranked the source back into the camera, the

fixed insert, spring, and movable insert, along with the source assembly, came

partially out of the lockbox. This left a partially unshielded radiography

source, which is hazardous and could cause a serious radiation injury in a

matter of seconds. The radiographer was able to secure the area and return

the insert and source to the device without any overexposure. The lockbox

was secured with tape and the camera returned to the manufacturer.

When the device was examined by the manufacturer, two of the roll pins that

hold the fixed insert in the lockbox were missing. The third roll pin had

partially come out, thus allowing the insert and the source assembly to come

out of the lockbox. Since two of the pins were missing, it is believed that

the other pin could have worked free due to the pivot action that might occur

when cranking the source assembly In and out of the device. No explanation is

offered for why two of the roll pins were missing.

Item number 2 of the attached diagram (Figure 1) shows the location of the

bottom roll pin. The two other roll pins, one on each side, were located at

a 450 angle from the bottom pin. The missing pins may have been identified

and replaced, if this item had been, added to the daily equipment checks.

IN 88-18 -I

April 25, 1988 Page 2 of ?

Discussion:

Section 34.28 of 10 CFR Part 34 requires daily radiographic equipment

for defects. Licensees should verify that they have appropriate programs checks

place to promptly identify equipment problems and correct them immediately.in

Also note that potential generic defects must be reported to the NRC

in

cordance with 10 CFR Part 21. Licensees may also wish to review their ac- procedures to assure that their radiographers will respond properly emergency

in any event such as the one described involving an unshielded and safely

source.

No written response is required by this information notice. If vou

have any

questions regarding this matter, please contact the person listed

below or the

appropriate NRC regional office.

Ifs

Richard E. Cunningham, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Technical Contacts: Steven L. Baggett, NMSS

(301) 492-0613 R. J. Doda, Region IV

(303) 236-2805 Attachments:

1. Diaaram of Affected Lockbox

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

to -'. C

DIAGRAM OF AFFECTED LOCEBOX  ; -_ 9 no

o on co t

Figure 1 Device, Showing Location of Bottom Roll Pin (No. 2) ._

co

'co

I0

IN 88-18 April 25. 1988 Page I of I

LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Information

Notice No. Subject Issuance to

88-17 Summary of Responses to NRC 4/22/88 Bulletin 87-0l. 'Thinning of All holders of OLs

Pipe Walls In Nuclear Power or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

Plants"

88-16 Identifying Waste Generators 4/22/88 Radioactive waste

In Shipments of Low-Level

Waste to Land Disposal collection and

Facilities service company

licensees handling

Prepackaged waste, and licensees operatina

low-level waste

disposal facilities.

88-15 Availability of U.S. Food 4/18/88 Medical. Academic.

and Drug Administration

(FDAI-Approved Potassium and

1 Conmercial

Iodide for Use In Emergencies 1censee5 who possess

Involvinp Radioactive Iodine radioactive iodine.

88-14 Potential Problems with 4/18/88 All holders of OLs

Electrical Relays

or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

88-13 Water Hanner and Possible 4/18/8P All holders of OLs

Piping Damage Caused by

Misapplication of 4erotest or CPs for nuclear

Packless Metal Diaphragm power reactors.

Globe Valves

88-12 Overgreasing of Electric '/12/88 All holders of OLs

Motor Bearings

or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

88-11 Potential Loss of Motor 4/7/88 All holders of OLs

Control Center and/or

Switchboard Function Due or CPs for nuclear

to Faulty Tie Bolts power reactors.

88-lo taut#P1aT9s-1cen-Sei _Lack 3/28/88 All NRClicensen

of Vanaqement Controls Over

Licensed Programs authorized to use

byproduct material.

OL - Operating License

CP

• Construction Permit

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FIRST CLASS MAIL

POSTAGE 6 FEES PAID

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 USNRC

PERMIT No. 0.67 OFFICIAL BUSINESS

PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300

IN 88- April ,1988 Discussion:

Section 34.28 of 10 CFR Part 34 requires daily radiographic equipment checks

for defects. Licensees should verify that they have appropriate programs in

place to promptly identify equipment problems and correct them immediately.

Also note that potential generic defects must be reported to the NRC in

accordance with 10 CFR Part 21. Licensees may also wish to review their

emergency procedures to assure that their radiographers will respond properly

and safely in any event such as the one described involving an unshielded

source.

No written response is required by this Information Notice. If you have any

questions regarding this matter, please contact the person listed below or the

appropriate NRC regional office.

Richard E. Cunningham, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Steven L. Baggett, NMSS

(301) 492-0613 R. J. Doda, Region IV

(303) 236-2805 Attachment:

1. Diagram of affected lockbox

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

IN 88-18 April 25, 1988 Discussion:

Section 34.28 of 10 CFR Part 34 requires daily radiographic equipment checks

for defects. Licensees should verify that they have appropriate programs in

place to promptly Identify equipment problems and correct them inmmediately.

Also note that potential generic defects must be reported to the NRC In ac- cordance with 10 CFR Part 21. Licensees may also wish to review their emergency

procedures to assure that their radlographers will respond properly and safely

in any event such as the one described involving an unshielded source.

No written response is required by this information notice. If you have any

questions regarding this matter, please contact the person listed below or the

appropriate NRC regional office.

Richard E. Cunningham, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Technical Contacts: Steven L. Baggett, NMSS

(301) 492-0613 R. J. Doda, Region IV

(303) 236-2805 Attachments:

1. Diagram of Affected Lockbox

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

(see previous concurrence*)

Editor* DOEA* IMAB* IMAB*

EKraus MKing MALamastra VLMiller

4/16/88 4/18/88 4/13/88 4/ /88 se====== ======= === := = ======= = -=====--- -==s;===

OFC: IMAB* :IMOB* :IMOB :IMAB* :IMNS :IMNS _'

NAME:SBaggett/ll:JRMetzger:DCool :JHickey :GSjoblom:iCu~nningham

_- ___- ___ _____ __- _ _____ __-_-__-_-____ _-__ ____ ___-_ _-__ _____ ____

DATE:4/17/88 :4 /13/88 :4/ /88 :4/14 /88: / 88 :4'/a'8 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

IN 88- April ,1988 Discussion:

Section 34.28 of 10 CFR Part 34 requires daily radiographic equipment checks

for defects. Licensees should verify that they have appropriate programs in

place to promptly identify equipment problems and correct them immediately.

Also note that potential generic defects must be reported to the NRC in

accordance with 10 CFR Part 21. Licensees may also wish to review their

emergency procedures to assure that their radiographers will respond properly

and safely in any event such as the one described involving an unshielded

source.

No written response is required by this Information Notice. If you have any

questions regarding this matter, please contact the person listed below or the

appropriate NRC regional office.

Richard E. Cunningham, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Steven L. Baggett, NMSS

(301) 492-0613 R. J. Doda, Region IV

(303) 236-2805 Attachment:

1. Diagram of affected lockbox

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

(see previous concurrence*)

Editor* DOEA* IMAB* IMAB*

EKraus MKing MALamastra VLMiller

4/16/88 4/ /88 4/13/88 4/ /88 OFC: IMAB* :IMOB* :IMOB :IMAB* :IMNNS _z"

NAME:SBaggett/ll:JRMetzger:DCool :JHickey : om:a

DATE:4/17/88 :4 /13/88 :4/ /88 :4/14 /88: 88 ::"//18 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

8 - ^ s

IN 88- April ,1988 Discussion:

Section 34.28 of 10 CFR Part 34 requires daily radiographic equipment checks

for defects. Licensees should verify that they have appropriate programs in

place to promptly identify equipment problems and correct them immediately.

Also note that potential generic defects must be reported to the NRC in

accordance with 10 CFR Part 21. Licensees may also wish to re lew their

emergency procedures to assure that their radiographers will espond properly

and safely in any event such as the one described involvin an unshielded

source.

No written response is required by this Information N ice. If you have any

questions regarding this matter, please contact the erson listed below or the

appropriate NRC regional office.

Richar E. Cunningham, Director

Divis on of Industrial and

M ical Nuclear Safety

Of ce of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Steven L. B ggett, NMSS

(301) 492- 613 R. J. Dqda, Region IV

(303) 6-2805 Attachment:

1) Diagram of affected lockbox

2) List of recently issued NRC

Information Notices

Editor<<: DOEA IMAB IMAB

EKraus MKing MALamastra LM I r

41/C /88 / 8/88 / /88 OFC: IMAB ':IMOB A IMOB :IMNS :IMNS

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NAME:SBa g tt/ll:JRe t er:DCoo :JHiwkey :GSjoblom:RECunningham

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DA/_%/88 88 / /88: 1488: / 88: / 88

- OFFICIAL RECORD COPY