ML20035F907
| ML20035F907 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/31/1992 |
| From: | Combs F NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Ronald Bellamy, Dan Collins, Grobe J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I), NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II), NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20034D437 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-92-565 NUDOCS 9304230045 | |
| Download: ML20035F907 (7) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 7
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JUL 311932 MEMORANDUM FOR:
Those on Attached List FROM:
Frederick C. Combs, Chief Operations Branch Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety, NMSS
SUBJECT:
ALARMING RATEMETERS The Operations Branch (IMOE) reviews a sampling of notices of violation, inspection reports, and NRC Form 591s that are generated by the regional offices and responses to notices of violation generated by the licensee as part of our oversight responsibilities for the materials inspection program.
During a routine review of these documents, we identified a technical issue that should be brought to your attention.
The identified issue relates to alarming ratemeters.
Specifically, an NRC inspector observed a radiographer using a Victoreen Model 885, Series 886 pert onal dosimeter as an alarming ratemeter.
The inspection report stated that "radiographers do not wear direct-reading pocket dosimeters since the type of alarm ratemeter used also incorporates the function of a self-reading poc'Ket dosimeter." The licensee was cited with two violations:
(1) a Severity Level IV violation of 10 CFR 34.33(f)(2) which requires each alarm ratemeter be set to give an alarm signal at a preset dose rate of 500 mR/hr, and (2) a Severity Level IV violation of 10 CFR 34.33(f)(3) which requires that special means be used to change the preset alarm function of each alarm ratemeter (in this case, the instrument setting could be changed externally by using a common screwdriver).
IMDB staff reviewed the technical specifications for the Victoreen Model 885, Series 886, personal dosimeter.
It was found that this meter does not meet the requirements for an alarming ratemeter since it cannot be set to alarm at a preset dose rate as required by 10 CFR 34.33(f)(2).
It " chirps" in proportion to the radiation intensity and accumulates the exposure like a direct-reading pocket dosimeter.
Based on the technical information, the licensee should have been cited with a Severity Level III violation against 10 CFR 34.33(a) for not o.'
an alarming a
ratemeter rather than 10 CFR 34.33(f)(2).
Although NMSS and the Office of Enforcement (OE) may rarely consider downgrading the severity level based upon unique facts and circumstances, this particular enforcement action was not discussed with either office.
In addition, although the Model 885 dosimeter does not meet the requirements for an alarming ratemeter, a screwdriver is 9304230045 930222 PDR FOIA DARRIN92-565 PDR
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i JUL 311992 Attached List for Memorandum dated:
i
SUBJECT:
ALARMING RATEMETERS i
Ronald R.
Bellamy, Chief Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Branch, RI j
Douglas M.
Collins, Chief Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Branch, RII l
John A. Grobe, Director Nuclear Materials Safety Branch, RIII L. Joe Callan, Director Division of Radiation Safety and Safeguards, RIV Gregory P.
Yuhas, Chief Nuclear Materials and Fuel Fabrication Branch, RV
.l John E.
Glenn, Chief Medical, Academic, and Commercial Use Safety Branch, NMSS
[
Charles J. Haughney, Chief l
Source Containment i
and Devices Branch, NMSS John Hickey, Chief Fuel Cycle Safety Branch, NMSS
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Carolina Pc aer & L+ghi Company i
SHEARON HARRIS NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
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PO BOY 165 NEW HILL NC 27562 l
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DEC-21-92 MON 10 09 034 FAX 10.1919 362 2400 P.02
.f f" RESRLTS OF "*
llWROG3P/AI ARA SURVEY ON TitKitSE OF EI.ECTROEIC DOSIMETERS NOVEMllER 1992 i
f SURVEY QUESTION YES NO Does your Utility use Electronic Dosimetry?
100 %
0%
Does your Utility use Electronic Dosimetry to supplement the 81 %
197c
{ TLD and pocket ion chamber?
' Does your Utility use the Electronic Dosimeter in place of the 41 %
59 %
pocket ion chamber?
l for a survey instrument in a high radiation / locked hig Do you use the Electronic Dosimeter to meet the requirement 64 %
36 %
area?
Does your Electronic Dosimeter have an audible alarm based on 86 %
14 %
dose rate?
Does your Electronic Dosimeter have an audible alarm based on 100 %
0%
accumulated exposure?
Do you require workers to exit the area anytime their Electronic 91 %
9%
Dosimeter alarms?
Do you allow a worker to remain in the area when his/her 30 %
70 %
Electronic Dosimeter alarms due to dose rate provided that the j individual moves to a lower dose area and clears the alarm?
l Does the individual wearing Electronic Dosimetry receive special 100 %
0%
training or instructions on its use and what to do if it alarnts?
Does your Utility address use of Electronic Dosimeters as part of 82 %
ISG General Employee Training?
Does your Utility have an advanced radiation worker training 18 %
82%.
program that addresses the use of Electronic Dosimeters?
Are you considering the possible future use of Electronic 19 %
Sl%
Dosimeters as a dosimeter of record which will replace the TLD?
IIave you placed extra precautions on the use of Electronic 45 %
55 %
Dosimetry in light of recent industry administrative everexposures?
Are you using or planning to use the telemetry feature of the 75 %
25 %
l electronic dosimeter?
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DEC-21-92 F.3t 4:10 05 FAX 140. 1 62 2400 P.03 i
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i CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES l
22 BWR sites responded representing 89% of the US BWR's and 90% of the e
RP/AIARA Committee members.
Type of Electronic Dosimeter being used and percent usage:
XETEC-12 %
i MERLIN GERIN -
32 %
EBERLINE -
4%
ALNOR -
28 %
DOSI fEC -
12 %
SAIC -
8%
STEPilENS -
4%
1 All responses were favorable for the Merlin Gerin, ALNOR, SAJC and Stephens l
Electronic Dosimeters.
All responding Utilities utdize Electronic Dosimeters.
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j All Electionic Dosimeters of responding Utilities have alarms based on accumulated e
I exposure.
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All users of Electronic Dosimeters receive special trai ' g or instructions with most e
Utilities utilizing GET as the mechanism for instruction.
Many Utilities are switching fnom the pocket ion chamber to the Electronic Dosimeter for all or part of their radiation workforce.
Approximately 2/3 of the responding Utilities do take credit for the Electronic l
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Dosimeter in place of a survey instrument for liigh Radiation Areas.
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Approximatelyone half of the responding Utilities have placed additionalprecautions <
on the use of Electronic Dosimeters in light of recen' industry overexposures.
Approximately 3/4 of the responding Utilities use, or intend to use, the telemetry -
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e feature.
l Approximately 1/5 of the responding Utilities are looking to the future for application of Electronic Dosimeters as a dosimeter of record.
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STATION POINT-OF-CONTACT PHONE NUMBER Browns Ferry Rob L Coleman (205) 729-2586 1
! Brunswick Robert Pennock (919) 457-6050 Clinton Gary S. Kephart (217) 935-8881 Ext. 3729
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j Cooper Brian Hall (402) 825-5679 Dresden Paul Horvat (815) 942-2920 Ext. 3553 Sigmund Cieszkiewicz (815) 942-2020 Ext. 2640 hDuane Arnold Bob IIite (319) 851-7625
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i Fermi 2 John Oetken (313) 586-1158 FitzPatrick Kurt Szeluga (315) 349-6713 Grand Gulf Lcster Freeman (601) 437-2161 Hatch Steve Cowan (912) 367-7857 Ext. 2568 Hope Creek Dave Mason (609) 339-3133 La.Salle Dave Daniels (815) 357-6761 Ext. 2661 i
Limerick Jim Flanagan (215) 327-1200 Ext. 2249 i Millstone I!ob Doherty (203) 444-4379 l
1 Monticello Warren Shinnick (612) 295-1235 i
l Nine Mile Point Skip Taylor (315) 349-4932 1
l l: _ Oyster Creek Bill Cooper (609) 971-4499 i
i Michael J. Slobodien (609) 971-4709
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Peach Bottom Dave Barron (717) 456-7014 Ext. 4829 i
Perry Dan Ipoletta (216) 259-3737 Ext. 5404 Quad Cities Mark 7irmen (309) 654-2241 Ext. 2743 l
Greg Powell (309) 654-2241 Ext. 2744 River Bend C. L. Fantacci (544) 381-4589 WSP2 Davin M. Truman (509) 377-2050 I
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.< TRANSACTION-REPORT >
12-21-1992 (t10N) 13:05 i
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C RECEIVE 3
70.
DATE T1r1E DESTINATION STATIOtJ PG.
DLRATION t10DE RESULT S2ES 12-21 13:02 1 919 362 2400 4
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