Information Notice 1991-60, False Alarms of Alarm Ratemeters Because of Radiofrequency Interference
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
September 24, 1991 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 91-60:
FALSE ALARMS OF ALARM RATEMETERS
BECAUSE OF RADIOFREQUENCY INTERFERENCE
Addressees
All Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensees authorized to use sealed
sources for industrial radiography.
Purpose
This information notice is being issued to alert licensees to recently
reported false alarms of alarm ratemeters. These false alarms reportedly
occurred when the alarm ratemeters were exposed to radiofrequency
interference (RFI) originating from different sources, including a variety
of radar, welding machines, and hand-held radios. Except for permanent
radiography facilities where other appropriate alarming or warning devices
are in routine use, radiography personnel are required, by 10 CFR 34.33, to wear an alarm ratemeter when performing radiographic operations. It is
expected that licensees will review this notice, distribute it to responsible
staff, and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems.
However, suggestions contained in this information notice do not constitute
any new NRC requirements, and no written response is required.
Description of. Circumstances
An NRC licensee recently advised NRC of incidents in which alarm ratemeters
alarmed because of apparent RFI, not because of ionizing radiation levels
exceeding background. In one instance, alarm ratemeters worn by radiography
personnel began to continuously alarm as the individuals climbed onto an open
deck of a ship on their way to a work site.
No radiographic operations were
being conducted in the area. The individuals immediately surveyed their
radiography equipment with their radiation survey instruments and did not
detect high radiation levels.
The individuals' self-reading dosimeters also showed no apparent radiation
exposure. Licensee investigation determined that the likely source was
either shipboard radar or other RFI emitters. The licensee also reported
that there had been several other instances of false alarms that occurred
when alarm ratemeters were located: (1)
within 20 feet of hand-held two-way
radios operating at frequencies around 800 megahertz (MHz); (2) within 1 foot
of portable radios operating on frequencies ranging upward from about 130 MHz;
3) near welding machines; (4) in the vicinity of various radar systems; and
5) near various pieces of electronic office equipment.
91091 018I
NUCLEAR I
September 24, 1991
WA PENA
One alarm ratemeter manufacturer indicated to NRC that other users have
also reported RFI induced false alarms.
These reports all appear to
Involve the same ratemeter model.
This manufacturer also reported that
several returned alarm ratemeters appeared to have been purposely damaged
by users in an effort to defeat the devices.
Several manufacturers are already aware of the effects of RFI on alarm
ratemeters and are in the process of correcting the problem.
Licensees
who have questions concerning their alarm ratemeter's susceptibility to
RFI should contact the manufacturer directly.
Discussion
Licensee personnel should be instructed to be aware of the possible presence
of RFI sources, such as two-way radios, that may interfere with radiation
detection and measurement equipment, including alarm ratemeters.. Such RFI
sources may be found at temporary Job sites such as construction sites, shipyards, and aviation facilities.
Licensees should also familiarize themselves and their radiography
personnel with other operating aspects of their alarm ratemeters so that
they may recognize false alarms that could result from depleted batteries, a device malfunction, or other conditions.
Radiography personnel should be provided with guidance to be followed
in case an alarm ratemeter alarms. It is essential that radiography
personnel avoid complacency about false alarms, regard all alarms as the
result of elevated radiation exposure levels, and act accordingly until
they are able to assure themselves, through radiation surveys and examination
of self-reading dosimeters, that the alarm is not caused by ionizing radiation.
The manufacturer's report of possible intentional damage to alarm ratemeters
is of concern to NRC.
Intent
ionally damaging and then using the damaged
device when performing radiographic operations will be viewed as a willful
violation of NRC regulations and considered for appropriate enforcement action, including civil penalties; license modification, suspension, or revocation; or
orders to remove individuals from licensed operations.
Licensees are reminded that the recent amendment to 10 CFR 34.33 (effective
January 10, 1991) requires that radiography personnel use alarm ratemeters
that alarm at a preset dose rate of 500 mR/hr. This amendment also specifies
that ratemeters must be checked before use, to ensure that the alarm properly
functions (sounds).
Although the use of alarm ratemeters.wil.l help to alert personnel to possible
hazardous radiation levels, it is important that licensees emphasize to
radiography personnel that alarm ratemeters are NOT intended to replace the
use of survey meters or the performance of thorougi radiation surveys during
industrial radiography operations.
As was recently discussed in NRC InformatiO!
Notice No. 91-23, significant consequences, including serious-bodily injuriesol
death, may result from the failure to perform adequate radiation surveys and
properly handle industrial radiography equipment. Licensees are also reminded
0
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September 24, 1991 that failure to have present, or to use, radiographic equipment, radiation
survey instruments, and/or personnel monitoring devices, as required by 10 CFR
Part 34, will be cited as Severity Level III violations and may lead to civil
penalties.
NRC's enforcement policy in this area is further discussed in NRC
Information Notice 91-49, "Enforcement of Safety Requirements for Radiographers."
No written response is required. by this information notice.
If you have any
questions about this matter, please contact the appropriate Regional Office
or this Office.
Richard E. Cunningham, Director
Division of Industrial and
Medical Nuclear Safety
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Technical contacts: Torre Taylor, NMSS
301-492-0611
John M. Pelchat, Region II
404-331-5083 Attachments:
1. List of Recent NMSS Information Notices
2. List of Recent NRC Information Notices
Attachment 1
September 24, 1991 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NMSS INFORMATION NOTICES
. . . .
.. .
. . . . . .
......
Information
Date of
Notice No.
Subject
Issuance
Issued to
91-49
91-44 Enforcement of Safety Require- ments for Radiographers
Improper Control of Chemicals
in Nuclear Fuel Fabrication
Compliance with 10 CFR Part 21.
Reporting of Defects and
Noncompliance"
08/15/91 All Nuclear Regulatory Com- mission (NRC) licensees
authorized to use sealed
sources for industrial radi- ography.
07/07/91 All nuclear fuel facilities.
91-39
06/17/91
All Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) material
licensees.
91-35
Labeling Requirements for
Transporting Multi-Hazard
Radioactive Materials
06/07/91
All U.S. Nuclear
Commission (NRC)
Regulatory
licensees.
91-30
91-26
Inadequate Calibration of
Thermoluminescent Dosimeters
Utilized to Monitor Extremity
Dose at Uranium Processing and
Fabrication Facilities
Potential Nonconservative
Errors in the Working Format
Hansen-Roach Cross-Section
Set Provided with The Keno
and Scale Codes
Accidental Radiation Over- exposures to Personnel due
to Industrial Radiography
Accessory Equipment Malfunc- tions
Unmonitored Release Pathways
from Slightly Contaminated Re- cycle and Recirculation Water
Systems At A Fuel Facility
04/23/91
All fuel cycle licensees
routinely handling unshield- ed uranium materials.
04/02/91
All fuel cycle licensees
and other licensees, in- cluding all holders of
operating licenses for
nuclear power reactors, who use physics codes to
support criticality
safety in the use of
fissile material.
03/26/91 All Nuclear Regulatory Com- mission (NRC) licensees
authorized to use sealed
sources for industrial
radiography.
03/06/91 All fuel cycle facilities.
91-23
.. i
! x
. I
rI;4 I
.'
91-16
N
Attachment 2
September 24, 1991
Page I of I
LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
IIi
k,11
11
- wl
Information
Date of
Notice No.
Subject
Issuance
Issued to
91-59
91-58
91-57
91-56
91-55
85-18, Supp. 1
91-54
Problems with Access
Authorization Programs
Dependency of Offset
Disc Butterfly Valve's
Operation on Orientation
with Respect to Flow
Operational Experience
on Bus Transfers
Potential Radioactive
Leakage to Tank Vented
to Atmosphere
Failures Caused by An
Improperly Adjusted Test
Link In 4.16 KV General
Electric Switchgear
Failures of Undervoltage
Output Circuit Boards In
the Westinghouse-Designed
Solid State Protection
System
Foreign Experience Regard- ing Boron Dilution
Pressurizer Safety Valve
Lift Setpolnt Shift
Failure of Remote Shutdown
System Instrumentation
Because of Incorrectly
Installed Components
09/23/91
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
09/20/91
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
09/19/91
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
09/19/91
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
09/16/91
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
09/10/91
All holders of OLs or CPs for
Westinghouse (W)-designed
nuclear power reactors.
09/06/91
All holders of OLs or CPs
for pressurized water
reactors (PWRs).
0
89-90,
Supp. 2
91-53
09/05/91
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
09/04/91 All
for
nuclear power reactors.
0 Operating License
CP a Construction Permit
S
REGIONAL TITLES
-2- Attached List for Memorandum dated:
Subject:
Ronald R. Bellamy, Chief
Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards Branch, RI
Douglas M. Collins, Chief
Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards Branch, RH1
John A. Grobe, Chief
Nuclear Materials Safety Branch, RIII
L. Joe Callan, Director
Division of Radiation Safety and Safeguards, RIV
Robert J. Pate, Chief
Nuclear Materials and Fuel Fabrication Branch, RV
September 24, 1991
that failure to have present, or to use, radiographic equipment, radiation
survey instruments, and/or personnel monitoring devices, as required by 10 CFR
Part 34, will be cited as Severity Level III violations and may lead to civil
penalties.
NRC's enforcement policy in this area is further discussed in NRC
Information Notice 91-49, "Enforcement of Safety Requirements for Radiographers."
No written response is required by this information notice.
If you have any
questions about this matter, please contact the technical contacts listed
below, the appropriate Regional Office, or this Office.
Richard E. Cunningham, Director
Division of Industrial and
Medical Nuclear Safety
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Technical contacts:
Torre Taylor, NMSS
301-492-0611
John M. Pelchat, Region II
404-331-5083 Attachments:
1. List of Recent
2. List of Recent
NMSS Information Notices
NRC Information Notices
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IN 91- September
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that
ilure to have present, or to use, radiographic equipment, radiation
survey nstruments, and/or personnel monitoring devices, as required by 10 CFR
Part 34, will be cited as Severity Level III violations and may lead to civil
penalties. NRC's enforcement policy in this area Is further discussed in NRC
Informatio Notice 91-49, "Enforcement of Safety Requirements for Radiographers."
No written re onse is required by this Information notice. If you have any
questions abou this matter, please contact the appropriate Regional Office
or this Office.
Richard E. Cunningham, Director
Division of Industrial and
Medical Nuclear Safety
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Technical Contacts: Torre Taylo
301-492-0611
John M. Pelchat, Region II
404-331-5083 Attachments:
1. List of Recent NMSS Information Notlc s
2. List of Recent NRC Information Notices
DISTRIBTUION
IMNS Central Files
NRC File Center
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IN 91- August
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of
w s recently discussed in NRC Information Notice No. 91-23, significant
c h equences, including serious bodily injuries or death, may result
fro the failure to perform adequate radiation surveys and properly
handl
industrial radiography equipment. Licensees are also reminded
that fa ure to have present, or to use, radiographic equipment, radiation
survey in ruments, and/or personnel monitoring devices, as required by
10 CFR Part 4, will be cited as Severity Level III violations and may lead
to civil pena ies.
NRC's enforcement policy in this area is further discussed
in NRC Informat 'n Notice 91-49, "Enforcement of Safety Requirements for
Radiographers."
No written response
required by this information notice. If you have any
questions about this
tter, please contact the appropriate Regional Office
or this Office.
Richard E. Cunningham, Director
Division of Industrial and
Medical Nuclear Safety
0 ice of Nuclear Material Safety
a
Safeguards
Technical Contacts: Torre Taylor, NMSS
301-492-0611 John M. Pelchat, DRSS,
Region II
404-331-5083 Attachments:
1. List of Recent NMSS
Information Notices
2. List of Recent NRC
Information Notices
DISTRIBTUION
TTaylor
IMNS Central Files
NRC File Center
IMAB r/f
NMSS r/f
RECunningham
JGreeves
EGlenn
MLamastra
BCarrico
JPelchat
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CJones
JHickey
Tech Ed
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No written response is required by this information notice. If you have any
questions about this matter, please contact the appropriate regional office
or this sffi
ce.
Richard E. Cunningham, Director
Division of Industrial and
Medical Nuclear Safety
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Technical Co acts: .g
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, NMSS
43O1j-492- 86#
John M. Pelchat, DRSS, Region II
04-331-5083 Attachments:
1. List of Recent HNS
Information Notice
2. List of Recent NRC
Information Notices
DISTRIBTUION
TTaylor
IMNS Centra Files
NRC File Center
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DATE:07/
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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
IN 91XX MATEMETERS