ML20095D599

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Transcript of Na Britton 840818 Prefiled Testimony Re Backfitting of Protective Coating Insps
ML20095D599
Person / Time
Site: Comanche Peak  Luminant icon.png
Issue date: 08/18/1984
From: Britton N
BROWN & ROOT, INC. (SUBS. OF HALLIBURTON CO.)
To:
Shared Package
ML20095D591 List:
References
OL-2, NUDOCS 8408230405
Download: ML20095D599 (33)
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1. UNITED' STATES OF AMERICA h,-; ~ '

' NUCLEAR REOULATORY CONHISSION k,) 2 BEFORE'THE ATOHIC SAFETY,& LICENSINO -BOAD ,

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~4 TEXAS UTILITIES ELECTRIC' ). DOCKET NOS. .

COMPANY, ET AL. e) 50-445 5' ~'

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(CONANC11E PEAK. STEAM )

6 ' ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS. ) , m 1 AND'2). ) /\ Of ,

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, PREFILED.TECTlHONY O 11; .HEILL AUSTIN BRITTON 1

  • AUOUST.18, 1984
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17' PREFILED TESTIMONY OF NEILL AUSTIN BRITTON, 18' taken on the luth day'of August,: 1904, in the y ,

. 19 above-st.yled.and numbered cause, at Olen. Rose Hotor 20 - knn.. located.at Highway 67'E FM Road 201, in the City 21l of Glen Rome, County of Somervell and State of 22 . Texas, bufore' David D.' Jackson, a certified 23 Shorthand: R ep o r t.e r in and- for the State of Texas.

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8408230405 840821 PDR ADOCK 05000445 l_

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LE_ FEDERAL COURT-REPORTERS

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. APPEARANCES:

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.y V- 2- BISHOP,'LIBERHAN,_ COOK, PURCELL'& REYNOLDS E- - Attorneys at Law 3 1200 seventeenth Street,

-H.W.

Washington, D.C. 20036-4-

DUS - ' Bruce L. Downey, . Esq.

, 15 APPEARING-FOR APPLICANTS

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2 WITNEGS: NEILL-AUSTIN BRITTON; Examination by Mr.-Downey' .

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-DEPOSITION (N.-BRITTON) EXXIBITS 5

Exhibit Number 1 ,

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FEDERAL COURT REPORTERS'

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'l -NEILL AUSTIN BRITTON, U?) . the witness:horeinbefore named, having been first Ok/ 2' i3! duly'cautionedfand sworn to tell the truth, th e. *

-l i L4 whole truth'and nothing but the truth, testified;on 5 .h'is oath as'. follows :

6: HR. DOWNEY: This deposition is being 7' taken as partLof the licensing proceeding for the 8 Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station, which

9. proceeding is now pending before? th's ASLD. Pursuant.

. 10 'to the order of the ASLB, this deposition is being 11 taken-upon directuexamination. _

Cross-examination of

~12 the witness has been deferred until the hearing ,

j 13 .before the Board,-which is now scheduled for 14 September'10, 1984.

15 EXAMINATION

'16 BY HR. DOWNEY:

17 C. Hr. britton, will you please state your 18 full name for the record.

19 A. Neili Austin Britton.

20 0.- And by whom are you employed? +

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'21 A. Brown ~& Root.

0.; And in what capacity are you employed by-23 Drown E Root?

- 24 A. At the present I am a Level.III quality 25 engincor in the P'otective r coatings Department'.

1 FEDERAL COURT REPORTERS

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Q'. (Is yourtemployment,at-.the" Comanche' Peak ,

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N_h -4 2  : Steam Electric Station?

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?4 Q. Mr. Brittoni;.did you': first -- when didlyo'u

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1 51 first'b'egin, work,at: Comanche Peak?.

6 A'. . . March:1976.-

7- - Q.. In?what" capacity werenyou-employed at that 8 time?

9m 'A.. I came'.in.asfan inspector,Cand later.on'I

-10 was promoted to lead inspector.-

11 , ' Q '. In whatidiscipline did.you;1nitially work?

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'12 A. Civil.

("Y: 13 Q. In whati. position was your principal-job g) .

14 function, to' inspect concrete?

?.

15 A. Yes. ,

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,16 Q.- Itow long did you stay in the civil area?

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17 A. Until-approximatelyfJune 1978.- '

18 -Q. 'At that time were you transferred to a'new' 1

19 1 discipline?'

20 A. Yes, sir. *

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21 Q. To'which discipline uure you transferred?

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'22 A. Protective coatings.

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And in what- capacity did you begin working

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~24 in the protective coatings area?

25 'A. As an inspector Level II.

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!1 - Q. ~ 1Iow long did you remain as a coatings

N.W[ T2 ' finspector..at Comanche Peak?

'3- iA. 'Until'Harch 1979.

4' Q.- At:that time were.you transferred?

hem.

!$ -A. 'ILwas transferred to the south Texas

6- projectnin Bay City, Texas.

. ~ 7' O.- To what position were you assigned at the 8 south Texas project?

9 A. ' Quality engineer for civil and protective 10 coatings.

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11 -Q. How long did you remain'in that position?:

12 A. For approximately nine months.. i 77 13 Q. So you worked as a QE.at south Texas until .

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.14 September or october.1979r is-that. correct? t J

15 A. Correct.

-16 Q.- At that time what' position did you assume?

-17 A. QC superintundent at the' south Texas

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-18 project.

19 Q. Ilow long did you. remain in'that position?-

20 A. Until November 1981.

21, '

Q. As1the QC'contings' superintendent at south

' l22 . Texas, approximately how many people did you 23 supervise?

1 24 A. Approximately ton.

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~25 Q. What were your responsibilities in that-FEDERAL COURT REPORTERS

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A.. I. supervised the day-to-day' activities'of:

b 3' -the protective coatings inspectors on the site. I

~4 also had administrative: responsibility for all of

( .5 ' tho' employees in: the department.-

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'6 Q. - You testifled that you. remained iri that

7. ' position until November of 19813- ' i's that_right?-

o A. res. .

9 Q. And at that-time what position did you' 1(L assume? _

l1 A. I returned to Comanche Peakto work'on'the 12' backfit program in the coatings area.

rN 13 Q. And what was the status of the'backfit

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14 program at the' time you returned to Comanche Peak?

' 15 A. The backfit-program'had.just begun a few 16 weeks earlier.

17 'O. What-responsibilities did you assume for

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.that program?

A. I assumed responsibility for implementing

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20 the'backfit procedures, performing backfit tests, 4

21. preparing and reviewing backfit inspection 22 ' documentation And interfacing with an engineer for 23- resolution of-unsatisfactory items.

24 Q. Approximately how many persons did you

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25 supervise in that position?

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'l A. -Approximately six.

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'd ^t 2 Q.- Who was your supervisor when you first.took '

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4 A. Ron Michaels. ,

S Q. Was Mr. Michaels associated with ongoing 6- coatings' inspection efforts?-

7, A. No . - Just the backfit program.- 4 -

8 Q.- What.is the= difference between the backfit 9- inspection program and the ongoing inspect' ion 10 program?

1 1' A. Dackfit inspectors conduct special ,

'12 destructive tests on coatings that had been applied

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13 several months or even years before. .The ongoing lV(N 14 inspectors conduct inspections of. painting 15 activities that are being performed at the time.

16 0.- Did there come a. time when,the backfit 17 coatings inspection-program was consolidated with-l 16 the ongoing coatings inspection program?!

19 A. Yes.

20 0 When did that occur?

21- A. March hth, 1982.

- 22 c. What position did you assume as of that 23 date?

' 2:4 A. QC supervisor for ongoing protective ,

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FEDERAL COURT REPORTERS

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-1 JQ. Socat that'timeHyou assumed responsibility

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- ( ,/ 2' for-the entire inspection effort-in the coatings 13 arear'is that right?

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. 4 A.- Yes.

S' O. Approximately how manyLemployees were under

. iG your1 supervision at that time?' _

7- A. 12. -

8 Q. How many of~those were' assigned to the '

9- backfit' area?

10 A. Six.

11 Q. Were the rest assigned to ongoing

-12 . inspection activities?

13 A .~ Yes.

- v-14 '- Q. Who were the. ongoing inspectors?

Joe' Krolak,.. Sherm'an? Sheldon,. Bob Hamilton,;

15 A.- -

16 Houston Gunn and a clerk, Cordella Birdwell.'

17- O. Were all'of these peopic assigned.to the ~

10 day shift?

19' A. Yes. .

20 Q. Did you have any responsibilities f o r ; a n y._

l211 night shift inspectors?

22 A. -Yes, I did.

L 23 :Q. Who' worked-on the night shiit?

j 24 .A. Bill Dunham and-Joe Fasi.

(T 25' Did they do ongoing inspections or backfit

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FEDERAL-COURT REPORTERS

10 1 inspectiono?

(I 2 A. They did ongoing inspections.

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is that 3 O. Go you had six ongoing inspectors 4 right?

5 A. Correct.

6 O. You testified earlier-you had supervisory 7 responsibilities for approxinately six backfit 8 inspectora; is that correct?

9 A. That's correct.

10 4 On what date was this consolidation 11 effective?

12 A. March bth, 1902.

13 O. What activity van Hr. Gunn assigned to

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14 perform at this time?

15 A. Ito was ansigned to perform inspections of 16 ongoing work in the paint shop.

17 Q. What activity is conducted at the paint 18 shop?

19 A. Coating of structural steel, hangora and 20 components for installation in the reactor area.

21 Q. Do you know why Mr. Gunn was assigned to 22 the paint shop?

A. Yes. lie was acrophobic.

23 24 Q. Why did that require hin assignment to the O 25 paint shop?

FEDEBbl, COURT REPORTERS -

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1~ A.- ( Alli othe r. iin spec tion activities in the

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1) 2' ~ coatings area: required inspectors to work in-high 3l places-on a regular basis.

'4 Q.- Was/he required to do any. climbing in the .

.5 paint.. shop?

.G: A._ No, sir, he~wasn't.

j7 . Q. Ilow'long had Mr. Gunn been assigned to.the 8 paint shop?

9 A. For several-years..

10 Q. Was'ho assigned.there when.you first.became-11' a' coatings inspector in July 19767 12 'A. Yes, sir.

N 13 Q. To your knowledge, did Mr. Qunn. perform any 1(d 14 . field' inspections?

15 A. 1:ot to my knowledge.

16 Q. Was working in the paint shopja full-time 17 activity?

18 A. Yes, it was.

19 Q. Hr. Britton, do you recall the events that.

20 led to the termination of the employment of Bob

-21 Ilamilton, Joe Krolak and Sherman Shelton?

22 A. Yes, sir.

23 Q. On what date were they' terminated?

24 A. March-9,-1982.

25 Q. What's your first recollection of the

_ FEDERAL COURT REPORTERS

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~ 1' - events that led-to.their termination?

fy The.first' recollection I have is a phone

.s :2 A.  :

3' call I received that morning from a supervisor ~in 4- Lthe paintLdepartment..  ;

5 Q. Do_you. recall who made,that call?

- G A. I believe-it was either Charles Oxley or

.7 Jim Brackin.

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8 Q. What'did the paint supervisor tell you?

9 A. lie said construction had an inspection v , .

' ~ 210 ready on the CARP.

11 Q. -What-is the' CARP? ,-

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121 'A . .The Containment Access Rotattag Pl'a t f o rm.

13 lie said-they had an. inspection on the-liner plate.

14 Q. Did the peint supervisor indicate._there was t

15- any problem?

iX 16_ A. .Yes,'he did.  !!e said the inspectors would 17 not come up to perform thefinspection because they!

18: thought'it was unsafe.

l'9 O'. When you say'they thought'it was.. unsafe,-do a

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you mean the-inspectors? . -

21 A. Yes. I mean Hr. Ilamilton, Mr. Krolak and o

22 Mr. Shelton.

23- u. What did you ~say to the paint supervisor to 24 ,whom you spoko?

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25 ,A. I told him~I would look into it and get DR@RRAL COURT REPORTERS

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5[f 0.- 'W'here'was the ' inspection to belperformed?- -

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'A.- ^0n t h e.. ;1 i n e r plate at approximately.'a r ,

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-8 : a z i ra u t h , ' b u t, '.i t was'around azimuth 20. . n m ,

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11 0', A. Roughly:20 percent. m 11

[0. . Il o w does one get- to this particular g x 12i ',l o c a t i o n to make~an inspection? '"

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2' A. At'that til me you would take1the el e va to r-

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14' ifrom ' elevation'808 to elevation 905'.s pt itha t[ poi n t.'

15' you.would a send a scaffold.in a' series of' ladders -

i  : 16 ' fto theiCARP rail, which-is located.at elevation 1006. ,

17 lNL th'c top of the last. Iedder there was a rest

, - .c 18l platform. When you got off.the rest platform, th'ere-r 19- was a safetyJcable' mounted approximately four feet; .

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The cable,and the rail run 360 20 Dabove t h e , r a i l '.

21 d eg rese' :-a r o uhid the entire Containment Bull. ding. ,

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22L From the rect platform, the inspector,-would

- ~2 3 - hook his lanyardato the cable and step onto the rail.

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Q. , llow far(from the liner plate is the CARP .

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1- A. The: liner' plate is.approximately six feet

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.s a~3 - Q.- And how wide is the CARP = rail?

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.A.- Appfoximate'ly ' two ' f ee t'.: ^

  • 5- Q. to understand this: correctly. On

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l 6 the(CARP' rail was a track-that is two. feet' wide that:

< - ; 7 .you.can use to walk around the entire' Containment' W- Building?

.9 A. Correct.

10 Q. .What safety apparatus la used when you walk

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11 ~ .on ' this- track ?'- ,

12 . A. Safety -- the safety apparatus'on this' .

Drq 13 track.is a life line~'which is composed of v4 14 -three-eighths inch cable attached permanently to.the .

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15 liner plate. You attach one end of your lanyard to ,

3-I . - 16 your safety. belt and<one into;the cable. You then -

'17 walk around to the area of your inspection work

- 10 : activity.

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  • Q. Now,_you said ' this'1 particular=. inspection

[20 actdvity,was ap$)roximately 60 degrees? ,

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- ! ; 21 A. Right. ,

22 Q. hhen you arrived at.the work area, from 23' 'what base do you work? -

24 A. You work from a swing stage, which is a >

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25 platform with rails that is' hung between tho' CARP 4

_ a:. _ _ FEDERA1, COURT; REPORTERS _ _ _ , __

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-rail; supports.'

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2 0.' So'there is a scaffolding lthat.is placed 3 ;between --

4 A. . Between the two? supports.

5' 'Q.- -- between.thertwo. supports.

6- tGo you get of f' of :the . rail.f at this point 7- and into the scaffolding? ,

8 A. Yes.

9: 'Q. When working in this area, painters'and 10 paint inspectors worked off of scaffolding'that's

, 11 between the rail and the liner plater is that right?

< 12 , A. That's' correct.

13 Q. What safety apparatus .is attached to the

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14 scaffold from which you work?. ,

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15 A. There.is a rope binder. You unhook'your '

16 lanyard. land rebook it in the rope. binder before 17 entering the basket.

10 0.' So that's the process an inspector would 19 have to do --

4 20 A. Yes.

2 21 0.= -- to-get to his assigned work, this 22 particular-work that was heing requested?

23 A. .Yes, sir.

124 Q. so at-any time does the inspector work off

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25 the rail?

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Q. The rai1'is 'aimply used to get.to.the. place p-s i .. .'.. >

i- 3 'of works is!that right?

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' Q .1 3 2 n th's backfit program that'you'.had been

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6 supervising,jhad you worked off,the CARP rail?

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Q. And have your inspectors worked off the-

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C 10- A.4 'Yes. '

-11 . Q. 'I say'" worked off." They used it to get.to 3 -

.12 the work; area; id that;right?

  • v Ti 13 A".' Yes. -

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', 14 04 So you;were famidiar.w'ith this. area?

15 1A. Yes, I'was.~ , ,, ,

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t, .Yes. '

18- wo. You te s tified, :! -

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. 19- .from Mr.iDrackin.ors Mr.'Oxley reporting to you ,

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20. exactly where the inspection was." What-did you say,

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21' . L'o Mr. Drackin.-or Hr'..Oxley in response to,their

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f22- ireport to you?-

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~Tha't_e would chehk.-into thetsituation and'

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1 about this situation?

() 2 A. I called the safety Department.

3 O. Do you.rocall who you spoke with in the 4 Safety Department?

5 A. sam lioggard. I asked Mr. lioggard whether 6 the CARP rail wau safe to walk.

7 0 What did Mr. Iloggard say to you?

b A. liis response was yes, it was safe.

'9 G. What did you do after your conversation 10 with fi r . Iloggard?

11 A. I got up with Hr. Williams.

12 Q. Who is Mr. Williams?

13 A. It o was my supervisor.

14 O. What did you say to him?

15 A. I told him of the phone call I had just 10 received from the Paint Department, and of uy 17 conversation with Mr. Iloggard.

lu Q. Did you report to him what the Safety 19 Department had told you?

20 A. Yec, I did.

21 Q. What did Mr. Williams say to you?

22 A. kie said to get up with Mr. Ilamilton and noe 23 what the problem was.

24 c. I!a d you known Mr. Ifamilton before this time?

O 25 A. Yos. I worked with him back in '76 and '79.

FEDERAL COURT REPORTERS

lu 1 Q. After your convarantion with Mr. Williams --

( 2 was this still the morning of the 9th?

3 A. Yes.

4 Q. Did you go see Mr. Hamilton?

5 A. Yeo, I did.

6 Q. Where was Mr. Hamilton physically located 7 at this time?

O A. In the QC coatings shack on the south 9 island.

10 Q. Did you go down there to see him?

11 A. Yes, I did.

12 Q. khat was the substance of your conversation 13 with hin?

14 A. I told him that we needed to perform the 15 inspection, that I had talked to the Safety 16 Dopartment and they had assured me that there were 17 no safety violations or unnafe working conditions at 18 the sito of the inspection.

19 Q. Did you ask him to make the inspection?

20 A. Yes, I did.

21 Q. What did he say to you?

22 A. He refused.

23 Q. Did you have any further conversation with 24 him at this time?

25 A. Yea. I told him refusing to perform the

________ _ FEDERAL COURT REPORTERS

19 1 inspection was a serious matter. And his response 1

() 2 was, quote, they're bluffing, close quote.

3 Q. What did you -- was that the end of your 4 conversation with Mr. llamil ton ?

5 A. That was the end of the conversation.

6 Q. Did you discuss this matter with Mr. Krolak 7 or Hr. Shelton at this timo?

8 A. They were present but they didn't say _

9 anything. They just agreed with Mr. 11a milt o n .

10 Q. What did you do next? --

11 A. I went back to Mr. Williams and told him  ;

12 what had just taken place. Ile said he would talk to 13 Hr. Brandt and get back to me.

14 Q. Who was Mr. Brandt?

15 A. Hr. Brandt was Mr. H1111ams' supervisor.

16 Q. Did you accompany Mr. Williams when he 17 spoke with Mr.~Brandt?

le A. No, I did not.

19 Q. Did Mr. Williams subsequently ~ report to you 20 the substance of his conversation with Mr. Brandt?

21 A. You, he did. He said that Mr. Brandt had  ;

22 asked Mike Foote and him to inspect the rail.

23 Q. Did Mr. Williams and Mr. Foote go up to the 24 rail?

O 25 A. Y es , they-did.

FEDERAL COURT REPORTERS _

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6. iWhat did. you ' find Ewhen' you far rived there?i s ~ ,.

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7: ~ m- The. life. lines were-up. LThere was"no e x ,

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81 . debris .or ' oil or grease:o'n the : rail. :The rai1

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. 9l provided adequate' footing','iand.that the' inspection'

- C10 was.accessib'le. - '

e. , ., . .
- silf* . Q. Mr. Britton, did_you walk around the rail-3, ..

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. 12, to tlie . po i n tf o f the Inspection?- . _. .

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A. Yes, I' did.'

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Did y'u o h o o n', ' y o u r -.l a n y a r d 't o .i t h w' safety.

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F 2"20 A.~' 1Approximately;four feet. ,

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23; , -Q. ;Iffone.'were to fal14while walking ?along. 'the '

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rail / howdfar' cob 1dlyou fallLbelow the ra il 'i tsel f'i!

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L 1- botton'of1your fall would be six feet,' approximately-p_(

. (.) 2 at'your. waist.

-3, O. And how far above the rail is the safety

,4 line? ,

51 A. Four. feet.

6 0 So you would have fallen no more:than two 7 feet bel'ow the-rail ~itself? ,

l 8 .' A . 'That's correct.

9 Q. To what part of your body is the lanyard

10 attached?. ,

~11 A. To your mid section.

12 Q. So how far could you physically fall from I

i T 33 the rail?

l {..J

14 A. Physically fall from the rail?.

15 Approximately two feet.

t

[ 16 Q. Mr. Britton, did you seeTany safety 17 problems with the CARP rail when you were up there la that day?

19 A.. No, 1 did not.

20- Q. Did=you see any oil or grease on the rail?

=21 'A. -No, sir, I did ~ not.

22 Q. How long.wcre you up there?

23. A. -Approximately five to ten minutes.

24 Q. Did you or Hr. Williams or Mr. Foote report L25 back to Mr. .Drandt about what you had" learned on J

FEDERAL COURT REPORTERS

^ '

- 22 s

.y (1; 'your tripLup;to:the rail?

,b_ ~2 'A. .Mr. Williams'did. -

3' O. Did;you go with him?

.4 A. No, I don't believe I did.':

51 'Q.' .M r . Britton, d i d l y o u p r e p a r e a ' m e m o'r a n d u m 6' summa rizing _.'you'r obs'ervations on the CARP. rail thate

, . -. 4

. 7 day *C. .

S A.- Yes.

JL 0. Mr. Britton, I'd~ like; you -to r'eview ;a l' O do c unna n t that's been marked for identi'fication'as.N.

4 1~1 "Britton-Exhibiti11and'ask you, after having reviewed =

~

L 12- that. document, whether you can identify it.

13 A. Yes.

t /'a, h ' .

14 .Q. .What is t h e ,;.d o c u m e n t ?

15 :A. . :It-is'a, copy;of the memorandum-that I

'16 prepared'about myfobservations.on,Harch 9, 1992. +

17; O. Does Britton; Exhibit 1 correctly-reflect

18 ; your observations on that day? ,

-:19 A. . Y e s ^, it does.

20 MR. DOWNEY: Applicant' moves 'that 21' Britton Exhibitol be received Lin evidence-in this 22 ^ ,

proceeding'.

23- Q. What was the next
thing you heard about j ~24 .this natter after Hr. Williams went to Mr. Brandt's ,

V L25 office to report ont his-trip'to the. rail?

FEDERAL l COURT REPORTERS?.. .

23-

~ '

'l A. Sometime after luncli I was instructeu to ~

/

2' bring Mr. Hamilton,- Mr. Krolak .and Hr. - Ghelton. to

.3 Mr. Drandt's office.

4 Q. And did'you;do that?-

'S A. Yes,'I did. ,

6. . Q. Did you have a. conversation with them at 7 that ~~ with Mr..llamilton, Mr. Krolak, Mr..Shelton --

8 .at that time?

.9 -

A. Ye s , ' 'I = did . I told them'again that the 10 failure to perform-the inspect' ion was a-serious 11 -problem, and asked them to reconsider their decision.

.12 Q. What did they say=to you?

A. They said it was all a bluff.

i'j'."- 13- -

\ .

14 Q.- 'Did you then go with them to Hr. Brandt'm

+

15 . office?

. 16 A. Yes, I did.- ,

17 Q. Who was present.in'$ tis office?>

L

. 18- A. Mr. Brandt, Mr. Purdy,_ Hr., Williams and

'19' myself.

20 ~Q. And the.three inspectorst is that right?

21 A. Yes, and.the three inspectors.

22' O. Was there a discussion at this t i m e~? =

20 A.- Yes. 'It wastbasically the same' discussion 24 that I had~with them before. Mr. Brandt said that O 25 .wechad. checked.with safet.y and there was.no safety

  • i FEDERALaCOURT' REPORTERS-

24 1 violation or unsafe working conditions, and.that Mr.

. 't-O. Williams and I had inspected the area and we thought-

- s l.

. 2-13 it;was s a f e_.

-4 Q. Did Hr. Drandt again ask them-to perform 5 . the inspection? ,

6 A. Yes, he did.

7' '(i. .Did Mr. Purdy join in that request?-

0 A. Yes.

9. Q. What was the.. response.to this request?

10 A.. They said they.wouldn't do it because it-11 wa s' _ u n's a f e ,

12 Q. And what happened at this point?

. <'T 13 A.. 'At this point :. the r e1 wa s no alternative.

- Q,1 14 Mr. Purdy-and Mr.'Brandt terminated the individuals.

- 15- O. Do.you know the basisifor the termination?

16 A. Yes. For, failure to perform assigned

'17 duties _and. failure to follow instructions.-

18 Q. Following the termination of Mr. Hamilton 19' and'Hr. Krolak and Mr. Shelton, did you1 continue'to 20 be ' supervisor of the coatings group?

21 A. .Yes, I did.

Based or, your observations,.did the-

~

'22 Q.

23 termination of those three: gentlemen in any way.

24 . deter the remaining inspectors _from writing up

\'

25 - non-conforming conditions?

1 DEDERAL COURT REPORTERS... . _ - _ -- .. .

7' .

. 25

/

L1 A. No. <

f r

() 2. .

,Q. 'Do'you-have any reason'to believer that.

3 non-conforming conditions-were-not reported as a 4 z consequence of their termination?

5 1 A. No.

'6 ~ 0 Did anyone other than these threo 7 . i n s'p e c t o r s refuse to make this inspection?

8- A'. No.

9 Q. When was the-inspection actually performed?

and ~ I beliave'it 10- 'A. I-believe it was March 9, 11 was. performed on the night sh'ift.

12 , 'Q. _ Who was working the night shift at'that

.- 13 t i m e ?-'-

14 A. Joe.Fazi and' Bill Dunham.~ ,

J 15 , 0. -Did $either of-those gent'lemen:rofuse to 16 make-this inspection? -

17 A.- No. ~The' inspection was performed that 18 night.- _

19- '

Q. Was Mr. Gunn'at any time asked.to.: perform

[I . 20 this" inspection?

4 21 1A . + lio , he was not.- ,

22 .Q. D'o.you know why?'.

4 .

23 A'. -Yes.

24 -Q. Why didzyou not ask him to do it?

O 25 -A. His, work area was in-the paint shop and he-FEDERAL COURTEREPORTERS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

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26 g c -

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, . . 3 .

~1' ~had been' assigned.to.the paint shop because.he~was fm, ^

$l ~2' acrophobic.;

3 Q.. Did you ask:any of the:backfit[-inspectors 4 to make this inspection?

5 A.: No,JI did not. [

, t.

' 'd? Why not?

!7. A. Because-those individuals were - assigned to 8 'backfit duties. ,

9' ~ O ~. Were-all of these backfit inspectors 11 0. qualified to do ongoing inspections?

~

11 A." some werer sono weren't.

~

12 - .O. Do you. recall whether the ones working at

_13 the time were qualifiwd.to perform ongoing g

. s(>7 - ,

a 14~ inspections? o il5 A. -I ' don't recali.

. 16- .Q. A f t e r . the s e .- th r e'e - in sp e c tor's w e r e terminated,'were there any ongoing inspectors left

~

17

~

18- on yourostaff?

'19 ; A.- only-Houston Gunn in7 the paint shop and.the

+

-20 two inspectors on.. night shift.

' 21 ' x Q.. Later were you forced to reassign some of 4

122 your f back fit 'in' spec tors' to. ongoing activities?-

_ 23c :A .1 Yes. I believe 1 assigned th'e ones<who

' ._ 2 4 ' .were certified to perform ongoing inspectionsito 0, ,s . .

25' thatl activity ~.

LF3DERAL COURT' REPORTERS 4 H

27 1 Q. Do you know when you made that reassignment?

) 2 A. hate on the afternoon of the 9th or in the 3 morning of the' loth.

4 0 To your knowledge, did any inspectors 5 refuse to perform this inspection other than Mr.

6 11a mil to n , Hr. Krolak and tir . Shelton?

7 A. No.

O Q. lInd any of the other inspectore refused to 9 perform the incpection, would you have Icarned of 10 their refusal to do so?

11 'A. Yes. As a OC supervisor, I would have-12 known if any other inspectors-had refused to perform 13 the inspection.

14 O. In your judgment, did Mr. Purdy and Mr.

15 Brandt follow the proper course of action in this 16 matter?

17 A. If I would have been in Mr. Purdy's _.

18 position, I would have made the same assessment of 19 the situation.

20 Q. Ilhy do you concur with Mr. Purdy's' judgment 21 in this matter?

22 A. Because these employees were given several 23 opportunities to reconsider. The Safety Department 24 was called and confirmed that the area was safe.

O 25 Mr. Hilliams, Mr. Foote and myself inspected the  :

FEDERAL COURT REPORTERfi

20

. ?. ,

1 area and

't i was< safe.

Dozens of craftsmen-and other pd -

- 2 :

inspectors repeatedly. walked the rail t o .~: th e'i r .w o r k 3 area without incident. On.the basis of these facts, 4 I'believe Hr. .Purdy*and Mr..Brandt made the right

' 15 ' idacision_on the basis of these facts.

.6 ,

HR. DOWHEY: No raore . ques tions . -

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  • _F.E D E RAL , CO._U..RT. - ,R.E P O R_T E_ R S

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1: CORRECTIONS AND SIGNATURE 3.

(__/ -2 'PAGE/LINE CORRECTION REASON-FOR CHANGE,

.3, 4

-5

^

G 1

7 6^

9 10' 11

-12. -

/ '{ - ~ 13-U 14' 15' 16 17

'I ,. N E I L L' A U S T I N . B'R I T T O N , 'have read the' 18- foregoing. deposition, and hereby affix.my signature that same is -true and correct, :excep.t : as .. noted 19- herein.

20 NEILL-AUSTIN'BRITTON 21 SUBSCRIBED and sworn to before me this the day of , 1984.

- 22:

23 NOTARY PUBLIC'for the State-of Texas 24 'My Commission Expires

\J' 25 FEDERAL COURT REPORTERS

<_ m- .

3,

.- 30' 2 , .

J l

. 1 STATE' OF! . TEXAS ~ )

1 i

I f~f

% 2 '

'3 1,, David B. Jackson, RPR, Certified Shortl$and.

b, 4 .ReporterVin and for the State of Texas, do hereby

~

5- certify.that there came before me on the 18th day of 1984, at the Glen Rose Motor Inn, 6' August,'A. D.,

3 7 Clen Rose, Texas, the following named person,.to-wit:

_8 Neill Austin'Britton, who was by me duly sworn to 9 testify the truth and nothing but the truth of his 10 knowledge,touching and concern'ing the matterN11n 11 -; controversy in this causer and that he'was ~~hereupon-t 12 examined upon.his oath and his examination reduced 13 to' . wri ting r same to be sworn,and subscribed'to by 14 said witness before any notary public.'

~

15

16. I further-certify that Ilam neither attorney or 17 counsol for, nor-related to-or employed by, any of
18- the' parties to the' action in which this deposition 19 i~s'taken, and further that I ~am not a' relative-or L

20  ? employee.of any attorney or counsel employed by the.

> 21 partius heretoi,'or financially interested in the l

. -22< action.

-23

.24 In witnces whereof, I.have hereunto set.my hand y,Ci

-25' and, affixed my seal this day of August , A.D.,

TEDERAL COURT REPORTERS

~. , ,. . . . . . . . . . -

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DAVID B .'. J A C K S O N ,, 6 7 2 ,. RPR, CSR

- - 4 'IN'AND FOR'THE. STATE OF' TEXAS ,:

i '- '

1226. Commerce, Guite: 411

~

.5 Dal1as, Texas' 75202: ~

^

(214).742-3035- . ,

.,. 7

-7 My1 commission expires December'-31, 1985, t ,

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S N E;i: Eo:ating Platforn. L P. ail 1 Elenbly ? El.100?'; : Lie:) L5pects

%:  !.eill Britton, C954
'li: fiarch 17, 1982 Tr  :
w.ent c istet.s ir g cotJ. ions f or it :-pection 6: tivities on the

. 2:  ; r.le:1orn i.e an and rail M?..bly. An inssectior. .n mce of the above 1 observed ine follo< ting:

im! t.. i.arry Williams, Mike foe:e and myself.

A: El. N5' a scaff old leads to ths ,100 of the elevator 5,haf t v.ith a sign

the <
sifolc potte d i t-quiring notification of :ne rigger bef ore asc encin, wi'b s.cirs and handrails at the top of the elevator shaft ahich is en.:Ic<.ed yith ha.drails. A ladder leads to the polar crane rail at unich there is nn entn ladder with a vertical safety line with a rope binder which is used to ci:end this ladder up to a rest pletform. from this point, the ladder is i2;ec to the next rest platform. At this point, the rest platform is evend t.i'.n the relatine platf orm rail and beam assembly, a person must be hooke ty saf sty belt lanyard before stepping on to the rail and beam assembly uJch is 2' wide. The safety line is 3/8" cable running horizontal around i
' e reactor containment ho. 2 @ approxin.ately 5' above elevation of beam s.

v c rail a!*,embly. When I was observing all items above, also, I~found the rail and i cat. at:.embly to be free of debris, furthermore, I scuffed my fcet At

e check if beam v.as dry and clean, this producing favorable results.

this ooint, I walted apprc>imately 60 f t. on the rail to the point the in-sDection would tale place. At this point, a hanging scaffold had been placed with handrails, Lickrails, etc. I saw no unsafe conditions. The above items are correct to the best of r.y i:nowledge, also, these conditions observed on 3/9/62.

YGd!/YLb d7k heifi Britton QC Supervisor r;E/ls

DEPOSITION '

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