ML20005B635
| ML20005B635 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/26/1981 |
| From: | Everett R, Wilborn L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20005B622 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-QA-99990004 99990004-81-02, 99990004-81-2, NUDOCS 8107080463 | |
| Download: ML20005B635 (7) | |
Text
U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIO.1 0FFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT REGION IV License: State of Texas License 12-2163 (Activities conducted under the General License established by Section 150.20 of 10'CFR 150)
Licensee: Southwest X-Ray Cortoration Rocky Mountain Division Home Office:
712 Soulsby Post Office Box 273 Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901 Kermit, Texas 79745 Investigation At: Rock Springs, Wyoming Investigation Con tucted: May 19, 1981 I
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7nzo Wilborn, Radiation Specialist Date
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Approved by:
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R. J. Everett, Materials Radiation Protection Section Date Sumar; Invest '3ation on May 19, 1981 (Report 99990004/81-02)
Areas Investigated: Sr ecial, unannounced investigation of allegations by a concerned citizen on May 5,1981, regarding activities of Southwest l
X-Ray Corporation's radiographers in Rock Springs, Wyoming, that ar2 con-sidered ca be radiological hazards.
This investigation involved four inspector-hours by one NRC inspector.
,Resul ts : The investiga; ion did not confirm any of the allegations.
ilo violations of NRC requirements were identified.
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'2 REASON FOR INVESTIGATION Region IV recef ved a telephone call on May 5,1981, from a concerned citizen alleging that there are r3diological hazards associated with radiographic operations of Southwest X-Ray while conducting activities in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION On May 19, 1981, a Region IV Radiation Specialist interviewed certain radio-graphers of Southwest X-Ray Corporation and an individual of Mountain Fuel, a compnay that contracts Southwest X-Ray C0rporation to conduct radiographic operations, concerning allegations of radiological hazards associated with radiographic operations of Southwest X-Ray Corporation.
The allegations were evaluated to determine if they could be confirmed.
ALLEGATIONS 1.
On numerous occasions, Southwest X-Ray radiographers would arrive at a jobsite with no key to the camera and would open the camera with a screwdriver and hammer. Specifically, on May 5,1981, the radiographer had no key to a camera that contained a 102 curie iridium-192 sealed source and opened the camera with a screwdriver and hammer at the Mountain Fuel Supply Company facility.
2.
On May 5,1981, a Southwest X-Ray radiographer performed radiographic i
operations at Mountain Fuel with a 102 curie iridium-192 sealed source for about 30 minutes with the alleger eating lunch approximately 20 feet away.
3.
On May.,1981, a radiographer performing radiographic operations neither surveyed the area, posted radiation warning signs nor asked the alleger, eating lunch in the area, to leave.
4.
On May 5,1981, when questioned about the radiological hazards associated with these radiographic operations, the radiographer replied that there were no hazards for he was not required to wear a film badge.
3 CONCLUSION The investigation did not confirm any of the allegations.
Several attempts were made to contact the alleger by telephone prior and subsequent to the investigation.
An attempt was also made to personally contact the alleger during the investigation.
All attempts to contact the alleger were futile.
During one of the telephone attempts, an acquaintance of the alleger informed the inspector that the alleger works by contract on a near daily basis and he lives in a mobile fashion. The inspector requested that the acquaintance, during his next contact with the alleger, inform him that he should contact the inspector at his earliest cravenience.
No further contcet from the alleger has been made to this date.
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4 DETAILS 1.
Persons Contacted Southwest X-Ray Corporation
- J. T. Smith, Manager, Rocky Mountain Division and Radiographer
- John Madison, Assistant Manager, Rocky Mountain Division and Radiographer Mountain Fuel Supply Comoany Robert J. Ramsey, Assistant Superintendent, Pipeline Concerned Citizen Anonymous (Not contacted during investigation - whereabouts unknown)
- Denotes those attending the exit interview on May 19, 1981.
2.
Interview with Alleger a.
On May 5,1981, the alleger was interviewed by the NRC inspector by telephone.
The alleger expressed concern and requested that his name be kept confidential.
b.
The alleger stated that the main office for Southwest X-Ray is located in Little Rock, Arkansas.
As long as radiographic operations are being conducted in the State of Arkansas, the company's name is Davis X-Ray, however, while the company is in Wyoming the name is Southwest X-Ray Corporation and this has led him to believe there is something fishy about it.
l c.
The alleger stated that Southwest X-Ray Corporation was conducting radiographic operations in the Rock Springs, Wyoming area in a manner that he believes are radiological hazards, d.
The alleger stated that on numerous occasions, Southwest X-Ray l
radiographers have shown up at jobsites with no key to the camera L
and open the camera with a screwdriver and hammer.
Specifically, on May 5,1981, at tbuntain Fuel Supply Company, the radiographer had no key to a camera that contained a 102 curie iridium-192 sealed source and opened the camera with a screwdriver and hammer, i
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5 e.
The alleger stated that on May 5,1981, at Mountain Fuel, a Southwest X-Ray radiographer performed radiographic operations with a 102 curie iridium-192 sealed source for about 30 minutes with the alleger eating lunch approximately 20 feet away.
f.
The alleger stated that on May 5,1981, the radiographer neither surveyed the area, posted radiation warning signs nor asked the alleger to leave the area, approximately 20 feet away.
g.
The alleger stated that when questioned about the radiological hazards associated with these radiographic operations, the radiographer replied that there were no hazards for he was not required to wear a film badge.
h.
The alleger stated that he had contacted the Wyoming Radiological Health Services and the Arkansas Department of Health, but no action was initiated out of either office and he hoped that the NRC would not follow suit. He could not recall any names of any of his contacts.
3.
Interview with Southwest X-Ray Corporation Personnel a.
On May 19, 1981, two Southwest X-Ray Corporation radiographers, whose names had been referenced by the alleger, were interviewed.
It was explained that if a lock on a camera is opened with a hammer and screwdriver, the lock is rendered useless and must be replaced.
The inspector did not observe any locks that appeared to have been replaced recently.
b.
The radiographers stated and the inspector observed from radiographer's l
source decay charts that the maximum strength sealed source on hand l
on May 5,1981, was approximately 58 curies.
c.
The radiographers acknowledged performing radiographic operations at l
Mountain Fuel on May 5,1981, and the operations were conducted during the noon break, however, it is the policy of Mountain Fuel to vacate the building in which radiography is scheduled and apparently the policy had been rigorously enforced because no one has ever been observed j
in the area when radiography is being conducted.
d.
The radiographers stated and the inspector observed from review of utilization logs that the area in which radiography is performed l
is always surveyed.
The inspector observed that the radiographers l
possessed imediately available warning signs and the radiographers vowed that they were being used.
6 e.
The radiocraphers stated that they always wear a film badge and a dosi. meter.
The inspector observed from utilization logs that a recarding is made for dosimeter readings each day that radio-graphy is performed.
f.
The inspector observed that a utilization log is completed each day whether the seal sources are used or just st,oreds 9
The radiographers stated that they always work iS paits as a precautionary measure against incidents.
h.
The radiographers stated that radiographic operations had been conducted in Wyoming since about June of 1980.
The inspector informed them that Sctivities conducted in Non-Agreement States i
under the General License 10 CFR 150.20 are limited to a total of 180 days in any calendar year.
4.
Interview with Mountain Fuel Supply Comoany Personnel a.
On May 19, 1981, an individual employed by Mountain Fuel, who purportedly has as part of his responsibilities the contracting of radiographic operations, was interviewed by the inspector.
b.
The individual stated that he had contracted several radiography companies in the past, however, Southwest X-Ray has been the only one under contract since about June 1980 because of their quality of work and safety record.
c.
The individual stated that it is a policy of Mountain Fuel to permit radiographic operations after duty hours when the premises i
are vacated, however, there are times when emergencies do come up and Mountain Fuel will permit radiographic operations during the lunch break at which time the building where the radiography l
is being conducted will be vacated.
He further stated that any l
employee who does not follow the policy of Fbuntain Fuel relieves l
Mountain Fuel of all liability, therefore, is personally responsible and the result is likely dismissal.
d.
The individual stated that it is also a policy of Fbuntain Fuel l
that unsafe working conditions or potential safety hazards be reported to Mountain Fuel Management.
Mou.1tain Fuel Management was not aware of the allegations.
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Telephonic Communication l
The Wyoming Radiological Health Services and the Arkansas Department l
of Health were contacted by telephone and they verified that they could 1
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neither recollect any contact from the alleger nor find any record of contact by the alleger.
6.
Exit Interview The inspector met with representatives denoted in paragraph 1 on May 19, 1981, and discussed the general nature of this investigation.
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