ML20133E423
| ML20133E423 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Erwin, 07001549, 07001764 |
| Issue date: | 06/13/1985 |
| From: | Stohr J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | Guinn F NUCLEAR FUEL SERVICES, INC. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8508070689 | |
| Download: ML20133E423 (2) | |
Text
r-y
. d6/U Nuclear Fuel Service, Inc. JUN 131985 ~
ATTN: Mr. F. K. Guinn Plant Manager Erwin, TN 37650 Gentlemen:
SUBJECT:
INVESTIGATION OF HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS We recently received a copy of a letter dated May 3, 1985, from the Oil, Chemical
& Atomic Workers International Union (OCAW) which was addressed to Mr. Elliot Ross Buckley, Chairman of the Occupational Safety and Health Reveiw Commission.
This letter stated several concerns involving activities at your facility. In add _ition, we have received a copy of a similar letter dated May 9,1985, which was addressed to Mr. Alan S. Rosenthal, Chairman of the NRC Atomic Safety &
Licensing Appeal Panel. Copies of both letters are enclosed for your review and action.
You are requested to investigate the concerns identified in the OCAW correspon-dence and advise us of your findings and any actions you take or propose regard-ing these matters. If you substantiate these concerns, please inform us of a:tions you initiate to correct the situation.
We intend to conduct a review of your investigation into these concerns including a review of corrective actions, if applicable. The -potential seriousness of these matters warrants your immediate attention and we request a reply to this letter in writing within 10 days stating your proposed course of investigative action. Also, we request that your final investigative report and conclusions be submitted to us by July 31, 1985.
Should you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Mr. K. P. Barr, Chief, Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Branch, at 404/221-5612. Mr. Barr will coordinate your questions and/or requests with the appropriate members of Region II Technical Staff.
Your assistance and cooperation in this matter is appreciated.
D J. Philip Stohr, Director Division of Radiation Safety and Safeguards
Enclosures:
As Stated
! cc: J. Williams, OCAW l
bcc: (See page 2) l l
\
\
.V i 8508070689 850613 I PDR ADOCK 07000143 I i C PDR I
y
.s. 2 JUN 131985
- bec
- Document Control Desk M. Bridges, EDO L. Cobb, IE W. Crow, NMSS T. Lee, RI G. Jenkins State of Tennessee d
e t
4 f
RI R RII '
RI T
Khr:les r e ns Bsles 6/(V/85 gy/85 6/f /85 6/ /85 O
,, we 4 r - v , - - - -e -~nn.---- , ,- , , - , -. . ..-
1 1- e =s W@
min w o~
.m 1900 me.s.ea mass w sme o m ,e m s on,chamanet a As mis wwtwo May 9., 1985 ininneuener uma. AFa,co l
\
Mr. Alan S. Rosenthal, Chairman Atomic Safety & Licensing Appeal Panel Nuclear Regulatory Cotzunission Macomic Bu:.lding 1717 H Street, N. W. Re: Nuclear Fuel Services Washington, D. C. 20555 Erwin, Tennessee
Dear Mr. Rosenthal:
~
As the certified exclusive collective bargaining representative of the amployees at Nuclear Fuel Services , the 011. Chemical and A: etic Workers International Union files this for=al complaint with your agency and urgently reques:s an i= mediate investiention of health and safety practices a: NFS. We believe that life-endangering conditions exist at this f acility, where our constituents work with highly enriched radioactive materials. -
The Union learned a few days ago, through the attached news-paper article, that the facility has been fined for overexposing e:-
ployees and other violations. Through the same article we learned
' of a previous large fine assessed las July. The Company has not fu nished us with infor=ation about the incidents leading to the over-expcsures, the number of employees involved, or the corrective measures taken, if any.
Moreover, our ov-. preliminary investigation aneng the employees revelas further evidence the: the Co=pany is act? sg in u:cer disregard for the health and safety of 1:s personnel. For exa=ple:
- 1. The vending machines in the break area of the navy fuel building register ever four ti=es MFC (1. e. over 2,000
! DPM) inside the machines , indicating serious conta=ine-tion of the eating area fro a source as yet unidentified.
i.. .. ,2. The Cc=pany has instituted a new fuel processing method .
without adequate training of employees and is requiring
! employees to sign statenents attached to Company Standard l- Operatin5' Procedures indicating that they understand the procedures. When the e=ployees protest that they do nec
[ understand the procedures because of lack of training, the Company requires the= to sign on threat of dischar58-Resident NRC Inspector To= :.,ee has been present on at least one occasion when e=ployees have been forced to sign.
- 3. Recently a UF6 cylinder was emptied of its contents in the
-cetals building, irradia:ing an weptcyee and discharging the contents of the cylindert into the atme=phere. The Cocpany m
ss%&c opi' Ap3pe-
~
', '7sge Two May 9, 1985 opened the windows and doors to let the meterial escape, decontaminated the worker and sent him back to work with-out ascertaining the extent of his exposure. No high volume air samples were taken. The amissions were simply released into the environment.
- 4. An employee was exposed to radioactive contaminants in the high-enriched scrap building. The Company tock a nasal swab and a urine sa=ple. One health and safety officer told the a=ployee to work in a cold area such as the laundry, room until his urine sample could be evaluated, but Andy Maxin, another health and safety officer, ordered the e=-
ployee back to work in the area in which he had been exposed.
The e=ployee's urine count was in fact unacceptably high when read. .
- 5. Continuous air monitors are placed outside the three-foot
. limit in several areas of the facility.
- 6. Supervisors and nonunit salaried-employees have been observed working in roped-off conta=ina:ed areas without respira cry p c:ection in violation of NRC. regulations and plant rules.
- 7. In the eating areas, heal h and safe:y menitors have been instrue:ed to confine their s= ear testing to spots known to present a low probability of contamination instead of allowed to sample freely and at randon throughout the area.
These are only a few examples of the manner in which the Cetpany is presently operating its plant. We consider these incidents con-ple:ely ince=patible with the Co:pany's obligation to maintain a healthy and safe working environ =ent. The conditions we describe in a facility using highly enriched radioactive caterials in a=cu=es that pese a genuine nuclear hazard of mishandled =a erials are creating an abner-
= ally dangerous verking environ =en: and a sericus threat to the ca--"*4 ty Your premp: response is urgently requested.
Sincerely, I
T '
h ohn Willia =s, Director -
JW:ref ~
cc: Senator Alber: Core, Jr.
Sena;or James Sasser Nunzio J. Palladino, Chair =an NRC James K. Assels ine, Commission ~er NRC Frederick M. Bernthal, commissioner NRC Thomas M. Robert. Commissioner NRC Landow W. Zech, Jr., Commissioner NRC Lonnie Tolley, Presiden: Local 3-677. ncayIn Robert Wa DCAWIU DanEdwarbes,VicePresident)birector,OCAWIU s, Health & Safety
. j
< .- , . \
, J t :
Enoxville Journal gnoxville , Tenne s see May 3. 1985 i i UwS. Navy's fuel supplier fined I The aanseassoa *was of Inspeeuen and Enforcement irt
- washmston'etermed the company !.
.ERWIN = Nuclear Fusi Ser- that e July 19M Ane of $100,000 had <
vices lat 8uPyhee of M to the been reduced to 450.000 New TayW enid the decision was 814,fs nuclear Tae for fleet. has safety vietations. been ibed ,,,,
Incted- ,g,, NRC emeuls viewed
- IngmisasseW h vemo h cor made by Nuclear Fiest
. Into the workplace. %
.The penalty, which Netaar Fuel -
l Sesvices has 30 days to appeal re '
suned from four inspectaons by the Nuclear Regulatory Commemon's l AtJanta stan. NRC spokesman Ken .
Clark amid Thursday.
He other violatzens etted were:
S failure te prepare and adhere to radiation work permits rotated to men routine work activitaes; 5 failure to peform adequate g evaluations et employes expost.res and to condem serveys for aartnorne ;
redanacuvity.
la a letter to Nuclear Fuet ser-vices, NRC Region 2 Adamastrator '
Dr. J. Nelson Grace, ased his stan was "coecomed that violatsons may I
have reeutted in the exposure of an employee to concentratsens of air-borne redtometive material in en . l
.c cens of federal kmna." ,
The number of violations "and the time period ever wtuch they were observed drMhcate program-snatic . weaknesses is the plant's
- health and safety progrues." Gener f ,
wrote. r i The inspetuont more enadmetedI
' frans Octater 3984 through Jaouary IMB.Dert ont In a separate actsen. James M.
l
' Taykpr. darsetor of the NRC Ofree 6
e
- as
. . - . ._ _ _ _____ "f _
a * . ;
., John WNhons. Onecw o.eenc 3 I
- Sw't3 308 l
~,
- 1900 maston noes Kaoswisse. Tennessee 37sig eism9oesis Oil. Chemisel & Atomic Workers iones union. An.oo May 3, 1985 N
h r '
f " E
$ p Mr. Elliott Ross Buckley, Chairman m e
Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission --
_j g 1825 K Street, N. W. r, l c3 Washington, D. C. 20006 :; ?.c !
a= 5m le: Nuclear Fuel Servicea5 '"
2 Erwin, Tennessec
Dear Mr. Buckley:
As the certified exclusive collective bargaining representative of the employees at Nuclear Fuel Services, the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union files this formal complaint with f
your agency and urgently requests an immediate investigation of health and safety practices at NFS.
We believe that life-endangering
/ conditions exist at this facility, where our constituents work with highly enriched radioactive materials.
The Union learned late yesterday, through the attached news-paper article, that the facility has been fined for overexposing em-playees and other violations. Through the same article we learned of a previous large fine assessed last July. The Company has not furnished us with infor=ation about the incidents leading to the over-exposures, the number of employecs involved, or the corrective measures taken, if any.
- Moreover, our own preliminary investigation among the employees reveals further evidence that the Company is acting in utter disregard for the health and safety of its personnel. For example:
- 1. The vending machines in the break area of the navy fuel building register over four times MPC (i. e. over 2,000 DFM) inside the machines, indicating serious contamina-tion of the eating area from a source as yet unidentified.
- 2. The Company has instituted a new fuel processing method without adequate training of emplcyees and is requiring employees to sign statements attached to Company Standard Operating Procedures indicating that they understand the procedures. When the employeen prnrest rhnr they an not understand the procedures because of lack of training, the Company requires the= to sign on threat of discharge.
Resident NRC Inspector Tom Lee has been present on at least one occasion when employees have been forced to sign.
- 3. .Recently a UF6 cylinder emptied its contents in the metals
' building, irradiating an employee and discharging the con-tents of the cylinfer into the atmosphere. The Co=pany EM.-
5
Pags Two
,.- May 3, 1985 opened the windows and doors to let the material escape, out ascertainingthe decontaminated theworker extentand sent of his him back to work with-exposure. No high volume air samples were taken. The emissions were simply released into the environment.
- 4. An employee was exposed to radioactive contaminants in the high-enriched scrap building. The Company took a nasal swab and a urine sample. One health and safety officer told the employee to work in a cold area such as the laundry until his urine sample could be evaluated, but Andy Maxin, another health and safety officer, ordered the employee back to work in the area in which he had been exposed. The employee's urine count was in fact unacceptably high when read.
L
- 5. Continuous air monitors are placed outside the three-foot limit in several areas of the facility.
- 6.
- Supervisors and nonunit salaried-employees have been observed:
working in roped-off contaminated areas without respiratory protection in violation of NRC regulations and plant rules.
7.
In the eating areas, health and safety monitors have been instructed present to confine their smear testing to spots known to a low probability of contamination instead of allowed' to sample freely and at random throughout the area.
These are is presently only a fewits operating examples plant. of the manner in which the Company We consider these incidents com-pletely and safeincompatible with the Company's obligation to maintain a healt working environment.
The conditions we describe in a facilit using highly enriched radioactive materials in amounts that pose a genuine ous workingnuclear hazard ofand environment mishandled a seriousare creating an abnormally dangero threat pro =pt response is urgently requested. to the community. Your Sincerely.,
a J John Willia =s, Director JW:rmf l cc: Senator Albert Gore, Jr.
l Senator James Sesser Nunzio J. Palladino, Chairman NRC L James K. Asselstine, Com=issioner NRC l
' Frederick M. Bernthal, Commissioner NRC Thomas M. Robert, Commissioner NRC Landow W. Zech, Jr., Commissioner NRC Londie Tolley, President Local 3-677, OCAWIU t
Robert Wages, Vice President, OCAWIU l Dan Edwards, Ilealth & Safety Director, OCAWIU I
4
(
- Knoxville Journal '
\
Knoxville, Tannessee May 3, 1985 1
l
- U.S. Navy's fuel supplier fined M assacesee Mess of Inspection and Enforcement in ERWIN - Nuclear Fuel Ser- Washington mformed the company v,ees Inc., supplier of fuel to the that n' July 1984 fine of 5100.000 had Navy's nuclear fleet, has been fined Mn rMW to MW
$18.750 for safety violations. melud- Taylor said toe decision was ing the mio releases of radioactive matertals made after NRC officials viewed workplace.
correcuons made by Nuclear Fuel The penalty, which Nuclear Fuel 9 *"
Services has 30 days to appeal, re- r g
sutted from four inspections by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's !
Atlanta staff. NRC spokesman Ken Clark said Thursday. ,
t The other violations cited were:
5 failure to prepare and adhere to radiation work permits related to non routine work activities-5 failure to peform adequate evaluations of employee exposures and to conduct surveys for airborne radioactavity.
In a letter to Nuclear Fuel Ser-vices, NRC Region 2 Administrator Dr. J. Nelson Grace. said his staff was " concerned that violations may have resulted m the exposure of an employee to concentrations of air-bome radioactive material in en-cess of federallimits."
The number of violations "and the time period ove* which they were observec indicate program.
mat c weaknesses m the
- health and safety program." plant's Grace ;
i
' " ~ ^ wroti. _ .
The mspections were conducted -
1 .
from Ostober 1984 through January 1985. Cis k said.
- In a separate action. James M.
_ Taylor. dar.*ctor of the NRC Office .
-w O
,,#v-
_.