Information Notice 2009-21, Incomplete Medical Testing for Licensed Operators

Incomplete Medical Testing for Licensed Operators
	ML092520457
Person / Time
Issue date:	09/30/2009
From:	Mcginty T; Division of Policy and Rulemaking
To:	;
	David Beaulieu
References
	IN-09-021
	Download: ML092520457 (4)
	v • d • e

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON, DC 20555-0001 September 30, 2009 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 2009-21 INCOMPLETE MEDICAL TESTING FOR

LICENSED OPERATORS

ADDRESSEES

All holders of operating licenses for nuclear power reactors and research and test reactors, except those who have permanently ceased operations and have certified that fuel has been

permanently removed from the reactor vessel.

PURPOSE

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information notice (IN) to inform

addressees of recent examples where facility licensees did not meet NRC medical requirements

for applicants and holders of reactor operator and senior operator licenses (referred to

collectively as licensed operators from here forward). The NRC expects that recipients will

review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to

avoid similar problems. Suggestions contained in this IN are not NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.

DESCRIPTION OF CIRCUMSTANCES

Several recent examples have occurred where licensed operators did not meet NRC medical

requirements because the facility licensee failed to adequately perform the required medical

testing specified in American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Nuclear Society

(ANS)-3.4, Medical Certification and Monitoring of Personnel Requiring Operator Licenses for

Nuclear Power Plants. The examples are as follows:

In August 2009, a power reactor facility licensee identified that it had not completed the

olfactory sensitivity and neurological testing specified in ANSI/ANS-3.4 for its licensed

operators. Specifically, the olfactory sensitivity testing verifies the ability to detect the odor

of combustion products and of tracer or marker gases; the neurological testing verifies that

tactile discrimination is sufficient to distinguish among various shapes of control room knobs

and handles by touch. The facility licensee implemented immediate corrective action by

testing its operators before they were allowed back on shift.

In July 2009, at a second power reactor facility, an NRC inspector identified that the facility

licensee had not performed tactile discrimination testing on all licensed operators. The

facility licensee took action to ensure that its licensed operators were adequately tested and

the site physician reviewed and documented all results. All licensed operators were

satisfactorily tested with no failures.

In August 2008, at a third power reactor facility, NRC inspectors identified that some

licensed operators had not received an electrocardiogram (ECG) test as part of their

biennial medical examination. After a thorough review, the facility licensee identified several

additional licensed operators who had not received an ECG during their last physical

examination. The facility licensee promptly scheduled the required tests and verified that

licensed operators for the oncoming shift had received complete biennial medical

examinations.

BACKGROUND

Related NRC Generic Communications

NRC IN 2004-20, Recent Issues Associated with NRC Medical Requirements for Licensed

Operators, dated November 24, 2004, Agencywide Documents Access and Management

System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML042510509).

NRC IN 1994-14, Failure to Implement Requirements for Biennial Medical Examinations

and Notification to the NRC of Changes in Licensed Operator Medical Conditions, dated

February 24, 1994 (ADAMS Accession No. ML031060622), and Supplement 1 dated April

14, 1997 (ADAMS Accession No. ML031060468).

NRC IN 1991-08, Medical Examinations for Licensed Operators, dated February 5, 1991 (ADAMS Accession No. ML031190668).

DISCUSSION

The regulations in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 55.21, Medical

examination, require every NRC-licensed operator to be examined by a physician every

2 years. The purpose of this examination is to determine if the individual meets the

requirements of 10 CFR 55.33(a)(1), Health, which states that the operators (or applicants)

medical condition and general health will not adversely affect the performance of assigned

operator duties or cause operational errors that could endanger public health and safety.

Furthermore, 10 CFR 55.23, Certification, specifies that an authorized representative of the

facility licensee shall complete and sign NRC Form 396, Certification of Medical Examination

by Facility Licensee, to certify the licensed operators medical fitness every time he or she

submits a license application (i.e., for a new license under 10 CFR 55.31, How to apply, or to

renew an existing license under 10 CFR 55.57, Renewal of licenses). By signing NRC Form

396, the facility licensee certifies that (1) the guidance in ANSI/ANS-3.4 was followed in

determining the medical fitness of an operator for power reactors, or (2) the guidance in

ANSI/ANS-15.4, American National Standard for the Selection and Training of Personnel for

Research Reactors, was followed in determining the medical fitness of an operator for non- power reactors. If the guidance in these documents was not used, a facility licensee may certify

that an alternative method was used, and the NRC will consider the acceptability of that method.

The NRC relies upon the facility licensees certification against an accepted medical standard to

make a finding that a licensed operator's medical condition and general health will not adversely affect performance of assigned operator duties or cause operational errors that may endanger

public health and safety.

The 1983 and 1996 versions of ANSI/ANS-3.4, which the NRC endorsed with Revisions 2 and 3 of Regulatory Guide 1.134, Medical Evaluation of Licensed Personnel at Nuclear Power

Plants, describe a number of specific operator health requirements and disqualifying

conditions. In addition, these ANSI/ANS standards delineate specific minimum capacities

required for medical qualification. The ANSI/ANS standards also specify medical tests and

evaluations required to appropriately determine the medical fitness of licensed operators. If an

operator license applicants health does not meet the minimum standards, the facility licensee

may still certify that the individuals health is satisfactory for licensing if it is possible to

compensate for the individuals medical condition. However, in such cases, the facility licensee

must request a conditional license in accordance with 10 CFR 55.23(b) and submit the

appropriate medical evidence for evaluation with NRC Form 396. Following 10 CFR 55.33(b),

Conditional license, and 10 CFR 55.57(b), Renewal of licenses, as applicable, the NRC will

review the license application based on the facility licensees certification and include any

conditions on the license that might be necessary based on the facility licensees

recommendation and the supporting medical evidence.

CONTACT

S

Please direct any questions about this matter to the technical contacts listed below.

/RA/

Timothy J. McGinty, Director

Division of Policy and Rulemaking

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts: Sam Hansell, RI Malcolm Widmann, RII

610-337-5046 404-562-4550

E-mail: sam.hansell@nrc.gov E-mail: malcolm.widmann@nrc.gov

Hironori Peterson, RIII Ryan Lantz, RIV

630-829-9707 817-860-8159 E-mail: hironori.peterson@nrc.gov E-mail: ryan.lantz@nrc.gov

Note: NRC generic communications may be found on the NRC public Web site, http://www.nrc.gov, under Electronic Reading Room/Document Collections. affect performance of assigned operator duties or cause operational errors that may endanger