ML20198Q075

Discusses 970731 Investigation Rept 4-97-028 Re Circumstances Associated w/970413 Incident at Facility Involving Lead Operator Who Intentionally Placed Latex Glove Over Air Sampler to Prevent Detection of Actions

ML20198Q075
Person / Time
Site:	Framatome ANP Richland
Issue date:	11/05/1997
From:	Scarano R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:	Femreite B SIEMENS POWER CORP. (FORMERLY SIEMENS NUCLEAR POWER
References
EA-97-389, NUDOCS 9711120099
Download: ML20198Q075 (3)

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November 5, 1997 EA97-389 B. N. Femreite, Vice President Manufacturing Siemens Power Corporation 2101 Horn Rapids Road P.O. Box 130 Richland, Washington 99352-0130

SUBJECT:

EXERCISE OF DISCRETION (INVESTIGATION REPORT NO 4-97 028)

Dear Mr. Femreite:

On July 31,1997, the NRC completed an investigation regarding activities at the Siemens Power Corporation (SPC) facility. The investigation was conducted to review circumstances associated with an incident which occurred on April 13,1997. SPC informed an NRC inspector of the incident at the onset of a routine inspection on April 14,1997, and subsequently provided NRC more information by letters dated May 6 and 28,1997, b incident involved a lead operator who intentionally placed a latex glove over an air sampler at his work station to prevent detection of his actions in combining the contents of two containers of uranium powder without knowing the quantities involved and without using a ventilated enclosure. A member of your safety department subsequently identified the glove, still placed over the sampler, and -

immediately reported the matter to the respective safety supervisor, who in turn informed SPC's -

upper management. SPC's letter dated May 6,1997, stated that SPC viewed this incident as a serious infraction in that it involved the intentional disabling of a safety-related system and noncompliance with formal safety procedures. With the May 6,1997, letter, SPC provided a private attachment detailing the disciplinary action taken against this individual.

The investigation found that the incident occurred while the individual was working alone pressing uranium fuel pellets in the gadolinium fuel production facility. The operator informed the investigator that he (the operator) was not feeling well, had decided to go home sick, and "just took a shortcut." However, the operator admitted that he knew when he covered the air sampler and transferred uranium powder he was violating procedures. Based on the information developed during the NRC's investigation and information provided in your May letters, the NRC has determined that the operator deliberately violated plant procedural requirements and SPC's NRC license by covering the air sampler and making an unauthorized transfer of uranium -

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4 Siemens Power Corporation November 5, 1997 While not resulting in any significant safety consequences, the operator's actions were in direct violation of SPC's procedures requiring continuous sampling for airborne particulate radioactivity, that contents of each container be known prior to transferring material, that such transfers take place only in a ventilated enclosure, and requiring tasks be performed with no shortcuts or work-arounds. SPC identified the violations caused by this individual and took immediate and comprehensive (,orrective actions that provided a clear message to your staff (Siemens Communications Bulletin- 4/17/97) that this conduct was not acceptable. These actions included counseling and other disciplinary action against the individual involved, and bioassay sampling to determine any potential uptake of uranium SPC also informed the NRC about the incident, even though there was no requirement to do so. .

Although the violations caused by this individual were willful, they were brought to the NRC's attention by Siemens, involved isolated acts of a low-level.(,non supervisory) individual, and were addressed by appropriate remedial action. Therefore, these non-repetitive, licensee-identified and corrected violations are being treated as Non-Cited Violations, consistent with Section Vll B.1 of the NRC Enforcement Policy.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter will be placed in the NRC Public Document Room.

Sincerely, .

W Ross A. Scarano, Director Division of Nuclear Materials Safety

. Docket No.: 70-1257 License No.: SNM-1227 cc:

L. J. Maas, Manager Regulatory Compliance Siemens Power Corporation 2101 Horn Rapids Road P.O. Box 130 Richland, Washington 99352-0130 Washington Radiation Control Program Director

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