ML20199C953
| ML20199C953 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/06/1997 |
| From: | Costello F NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20199C911 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-QA-99990001-971106 99990001-97-20, EA-97-496, NUDOCS 9711200207 | |
| Download: ML20199C953 (4) | |
Text
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i U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY.' COMMISSION REGION I -
? EA No ~ 97-496 Docket No.:
99990001 General Licensee Report No.:
99990001/97-020 Licensee:-
A.L.P. Lighting & Ceiling Products, Inc.
Facility:--
6965 Airport Highway Lane v
Pennsauken, New Jersey 08109 Location:
Pennsauken, New Jersey 1
Date:
October 8,1997 inspectors:
7I'%
M Steven R. Courtemanche Health Physicist Approved by:
>~k
/
F fincis M. Costello, Chief f
7& % clear Materials Safety Branch 3 BETUml ONGUM r,EG, Oil l 9711200207 971106 RE01 GA999 EMV*****
99990001 PDR
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~
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
A.L.P. Lighting and Celling Products, Inc.
NRC Inspection Report 99990001/97-020 This safety _ inspection included response to a lost source incident.
Reoort of Lost Soymg On September 23,1997, the licensee notified the NRC via letter of a lost 10 millicurie
- (mCl) nominal sealed source of polonium 210 (Po 210) in an NRD, Inc. Model P-2501 hand-held static eliminator from their Pennsauken, New Jersey facility. -The licensee stated in the letter that the loss had been discovered on August 4,1997, when the licensee was preparing to ship old static eliminators back to the manufacturer.
c
REPORT DETAILS
- 1. R9Dort of lost Source a.
Insoection Scooe On September 23,1997, the licensee notified the NRC of a lost sealed source from their Pennsauken, New Jersey facility. The source was a nominal 10 mci Po-210 sealed source distributed by the manufacturer with an activity of about 1 mCl on October 8,1997. The source was used in an NRD, Inc. Model P 2051 hand-held static eliminator device. The loss was discovered by the licensee on i
August 4,1997.
b.
Observations and Findinas The inspector discussed the incident with the licensee on September 29,1997, to obtain additional information. The licensee representative stated that a search of the premises had been conducted and that personnel had been interviewed in an attempt to determine when and how the device had been lost. A Preliminary Notification (PN) was issued on September 29,1997, describing the event and the missing oevice.
On October 8,1997, the NRC sent an inspector to the site. The licensee determined through further interviews with personnel and by showing them a new device that the device had last been seen in September of 1996. Records indicated that the device had been distributed by the manufacturer to the licensee in July of 1996. The licensee stated that it has two hand-held, portable Model P-2051 devices and five fixed static eliminators bolted to conveyor systems in use at the facility at any one time. The inspector determined that the devices are returned to the manufacturer for replacements each year and there is no on/off mechanism to be tested, therefore no testing is required in accordance with 10 CFR 31.5(c)(2). The inspector made a radiation level measurement with a Ludlum Model 19 survey meter which indicated that the radiation level at the surface of a new device was approximately 20 microroentgens per hour. Interview of personnel, radiation level measurements of the facility, and an inspection of the facility by the inspector did not locate the device. Licensee personnel questioned by the inspector did not remember ever having to use a hand-held static eliminator. Radiation level measurements made by the inspector did not exceed 13 microroentgen per hour. The licensee representative informed the :nspector that the area where the device had been used had undergone extensive renovations involving the removal of all of the equipment and later reinstallation, c.
Conclusions The licensee concluded that the device had been lost through disposal to the trash by personnel, either as trash or inadvertantly with trash, sometime after September of 1996. The inspector agrees with the above licensee's conclusion,
Th:: finding that s:mitime betw::n Sipt:mber of 1996 cnd August 4,1997, the licensee did not maintain control of licensed material resulting in its loss or -
abandonment is a violation of 10 CFR 31.5(c)(6).
The finding that the licensee did not contact the NRC by telephone within 30 days of the discovery of the loss of licensed material which exceeded 10 times the quantity specified in Appendix C to 10 CFR Part 20 (i.e.,1 microcurie of polonium-210) is a violation of 10 CFR 20.2201(a)(1)(ii).
II. Secur.hy a.
Inspection Scoce During the October'8,1997 inspection, the inspector examin3d the licensee's
- methods for securing licensed material.
- b.
Observations and Findinas The inspector interviewed the licensee's representative and determined that prict to mid 1995, one individual took respcnsibility for the hand-heid devices which attached to air hoses on the production floor. At the end of each workday, the employee would remove the devices from the air hoses and pitce them in his locker to be put back on the air hoses at the beginning of the next day. There was no replacement for the employee when the employee left the company in mid-1995. The devices were then left on the air hoses on the production floor until the air hoses were needed for another purpose. The fixed static eliminators were determined to be bolted to the conveyor belts and could not easily be removed.
c.
Conclusions The failure of the licensee to assign someone the responsibility for taking care of the hand held devices was a contributory cause to the loss of the device.
Ill. Licensee's Corrective and Preventive Actions The licensee examined its licensed program involving hand-held static eliminators and determined that it no longer required their use. Hand-held devices will be returned to the manufacturer and no more will be acquired.
PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED Matthew J. Gojmerac, Manufacturing Engineer Thomas Less, Plant Manager Various floor personnel