ML19254A683

Forwards IE Circular 79-09, Occurrences of Split or Punctured Regulator Diaphragms in Certain Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus. No Action Required

ML19254A683
Person / Time
Site:	Wood River Junction
Issue date:	06/22/1979
From:	Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	UNITED NUCLEAR CORP. (SUBS. OF UNC, INC.)
References
NUDOCS 7907240165
Download: ML19254A683 (1)

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,8 KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19406 June 22, 1979 Docket No. 70-00820 United Nuclear Corporation Wood River Junction, Rhode Island 02894 Gentlemen:

The enclosed Circular 79-09, is forwarded to you for information.

If there are any questions related to your understanding of the suggested actions, please notify the contact listed in the attachment to the circular.

Sincerely, m

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Boyce H. Grier

' Director

Enclosure:

1.

IE Circular Nc 79-09 2.

List of IE Circulars Issued in 1979 i

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ENCLOSURE 1 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 IE Circular No. 79-09 Date:

June 22, 1979 Page 1 of 1 OCCURRENCES OF SPLIT OR PUNCTURED REGULATOR DIAPHRAGMS IN CERTAIN SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS Description of Circumstances:

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has been informed by mailgram (copy enclosed) from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the high rate of regulator diaphragm failures in the Scott Air Pak II/ IIA and Presur-Pak II/ IIA self-contained breathing apparatus.

The failures, ranging from pin holes in the diaphragm to complete diaphragm rupture, have been identified in about 10 percent of the units by the NIOSH field survey. Tests of the Scott apparatus by NIOSH showed reduced respiratory protection in the Demand-Mode and a loss of service time (but no loss of protection) in the Pressure Demand-Mode.

Notice to Licensees:

Many major licensees use 'he types of Scott apparatus described above.

Users of the devices should t <e the following action:

1.

Establish a program for examination of the described respiratory devices in accordance with the attached NIOSH mailgram; or 2.

Incorporate the provisions of the NIOSH mailgram into your current program for inspection of the described devices.

No written response to this Circular is required.

If you require additional information regarding this subject, please contact the individual specified in the attached mailgram.

Attachment:

MAILGRAM DUPLICATE DOCUMENT Entire document previously entered into system under:

ANO 7 Y CS U Q 0 5' ] l No. of pages:

6

ENCLOSURE 2 IE Circular No. 79-09 Date:

June 22, 1979 Page 1 of 3 LISTING 0F IE CIRCULARS ISSUED IN LAST TWELVE MONTHS Ci rcula.-

Subject First Date Issued To No.

of Issue 78-12 HPCI Turbine Control 6/30/78 All Power Reactor Valve lift Rod Bending Facilities with an Operating License (OL) or Construction Pu.mit

' P) having a HPCI Terry Turbine 78-13 Inoperability of 7/10/78 All Power Reactor Multiple Service Facilities with an Water Pumps OL or CP, except those located in:

AL, AK, CA, FL, GA, LA, MS, SC 78-14 HPCI Turbine Reversing 7/17/78 All Power Reactor Chamber Hold Down Facilities with an Bolting OL or CP having a HPCI Terry Turbine excepting Duane Arnold and Monticello 78-15 Tilting Disk Check 7/24/78 All Power Reactor Valves Fail to Close Facilities with an with Gravity in Vertical OL or CP Position 78-16 Limitorque Valve 7/26/78 All Power Reactor Actuators Facilities with an OL or CP 78-17 Inadequate Guard 10/13/78 All Power Reactor Training / Qualification Facilities with an OL; and Falsified Training Susquehanna 1 & 2, Shoreham, Records and Salem 2

ENCLOSURE 2 2

IE Circular No. 79-09 Date:

June 22, 1979 Page 2 of 3 LISTING OF IE CIRCULARS ISSUED IN LAST TWELVE MONTHS Circular Subject First Date Issued To No.

of Issue 78-18 UL Fire Test 11/6/78 All Power Reactor Facilities with an OL or CP 78-19 Manuai Override (Bypass) 12/29/78 All Power Reactor of Safety Systems Facilities with a Actuation Signals CP 79-01 Administration of 1/12/79 Ali Medical Licensees, Unauthorized Byproduct except Teletherapy Material to Humans Medical Licensees, and all Licensed Radio-pharmaceutical Distributors 79-02 Failure of 120 Volt 1/16/79 All Power Reactor Vital AC Power Supplies Facilities with an OL or CP 79-03 Inadequate Guard 2/23/79 All Holders of and Training / Qualification Applicants for and Falsified Training Special Nuclear Records Material Licenses in Safeguards Group I 79-04 Loose Locking Nut on 3/16/79 All Power Reactor Limitorque Valve Facilities with an Operators OL or CP 79-05 Moisture Leakage in 3/20/79 All Power Reactor Stranded Wire Facilities with an Conductors OL or CP

ENCLOSURE 2 3

IE Circular No. 79-09 Date: June 22, 1979 Page 3 of 3 LISTING OF IE CIRCULARS ISSUED IN LAST TWELVE MONTHS Circular Subject First Date Issued To No.

of Issue 79-06 Failure to Use Syringe 4/19/79 All Holders of and Bottle Shields in Medical Licenses Nuclear Medicine Except Teletherapy Licenses 79-07 Unexpected Speed 5/2/79 All BWR Power Reactor Ir. crease of Reactor Facilities with an Recirculation MG Set OL or CP Resulted in Reactor Power Increase 79-08 Attempted Extortion-5/18/79 All Fuel Facilities Low Enriched Uranium and Licensed Reactors

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I-056166UI22014 05/02/79 ICS mA12139 WSMA 00592 MLTN VA 05/02/79 S

MR. JERRY CAPLIN USNRC NASHINGTUN, DC 20555 RESPIRAIGR USERS WARNING THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (NIUSMJ WANTS TO ADVISE USERS'0F SCOTT AIR PAK II/ IIA AND FRESUF *AK II/ IIA SLLF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS OF THE OCCORRt NCES OF SPLIT OR PUNCTURED REGULATOR DIAPHRAGMS, NIOSH T E S T-S INVLSTIGATING'.TME EFFLCT OF SUCH DEFECTS SM0wED REDUCEO

.= R E S P I R A T O R Y PROTECTION ON~DiMAND-MODE APPARATUS. THLSE SAME ftSTS ALSO SH0nED NO LOSS I.N PROTECTION, SUT A LOSS IN SERVICE TIME whEN IN TML PRESSURE DEMAND-MODE. NOTE: THE PREbSUNt DEMAND UNIT IS NOT APPROVED WHILE IN THE DEMAND MUDL; IHL DEMANU M00E IS TO BL UStu FOR DONNING PURPOSES

ONLY, N I O S.- etGAN iMIS INVESTIGLTION FULL 0 WING THL RECENT DEATH OF TmREE FIREFIGHTERS - aMO htRL WEARING THIS TYPE OF RESwIRA10R, ALTHOUGh IT HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT THE DEAinS nERE DUE TO DAMAGED REGULATOR DIAPMRAGMS, A SAMPLING OF THE APPARATUS 'IN TML FIELD HAS SHOWN AT LEAST 10% OF THE UNIls EXAMINLD MAvE HUPTURED OR PUNCTURED DIAPHRAGMS,

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UbERS SMOULD EXAMINE THEIk SCOTT APPARATUS FOR POSSIBLE DAMAGE 0 DIAPHRAGMS IN ACCORDANCE *ITH MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS. THE USER SHOULO CHECK THE DIAPHRAGM BEFORE

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EACM ubt BY CLOSING BOTH THE MAIN LINE AND BYPASS VALVES AND EL0w1NG THROUGH THE RLGULal"' OUTLET PORT. IT SHOULD bE POSSleLE TO MAINTAIN A SLIGHT POSITIVE PRESSURE IN THE REGULATOR, 1HL USER'SHOULD CHECK THE REGULATOR DIAPHRAGM AFTLR EACM USE AND DURING N0NTHLY INSPECTIONS Of THE COMPLETE APPANATUS. IT IS NOT'KNOWN IF FAILURL OCCURS DURING ASStMcLY, ST0nAGL, ~OR'USE OF.THE RESPIRATOR REGULATOR,

"= MNEREFUNE, LxTREME CAUSTION ~ MUST BE EMPLOYED nMth USING

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rF=: ME Rk.SPIRATOR. IN CHLCKING THE'0PERATION OF THE RESPIRATOR,

~ USERS AHL CAUTIONED"NOT TO' BLOCK THE FL0n Of AIN FROM THE REGULATUk > HEN TME eYPASS VALVE IS OPEN, BECAUSE SUBSTANTIAL O6STRUCTION MAY RUP10RE OR DISLUDGE THE DIAPHRAGM, IF THE USER 0=SERVLS A L00$E OR DISLODGED REGULATOR COVER, THE COVER

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OF TME REGULATOR.

NIO5h MAS REQUESTED THE MANUFACTURER STOP ALL SALES OF THE RESPIRATOR PENDING DETERMINATION OF_THE REASON FOR AND NECESSA4Y CURRECTIVE ACTION TO PREV!NT DIAPMRAGA FAILURE.

FOR FURTMER ILCHNICAL INFORMATION CONTACT: MR. RICHARD RONK, NIOSH, V44 CHESTNUT RIDGE ROADr MORGANTOWN, WV 26505.

PHONE:,C h ti99-7337.

3C9 ANTMONY ROBBINS, M.D.

DIRECTON, NIUSM ROCKVILLE MD (ARS RUEVFCZ 0-26-01-036683) 21:19 tST MGMCOMP MGM S

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