ML22007A359

Framatome, Inc., 30-Day Report to December 8, 2021 Incident Reported Under 10 CFR 70.50(b)(3) (NRC Event No. 55634)

ML22007A359
Person / Time
Site:	Framatome ANP Richland
Issue date:	01/07/2022
From:	Carl Weber Framatome
To:	Document Control Desk, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
References
55634, CJW:22:001
Download: ML22007A359 (3)

Text

framatome January 7, 2022 CJW:22:001 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards 11555 Rockville Pike Washington, D.C. 20555

Subject:

30-Day Report to December 8, 2021 Incident Reported Under 10 CFR 70.50(b)(3) (NRC Event No. 55634); Framatome Richland Facility; License No. SNM-1227; Docket No. 70-1257 On December 9, 2021, the Framatome Richland facility reported to NRC a contaminated individual reporting to a medical facility for evaluation which required a 24-hour report per 10 CFR 70.50(b)(3).

The initial report was made because the event required an unplanned visit to a medical facility by an individual with radioactive contamination on their hands.

This 30-day report is submitted to comply with 10 CFR 70.50(c)(2).

Caller Identification The condition was reported to the NRC Operations Center by Calvin Manning, Framatome Manager of Licensing and Compliance, on December 9, 2021 at 1000 ET.

Mr. Mannings telephone number is (509) 375-8237.

Date, Time, and Exact Location of Incident The reportable condition was created on December 8, 2021 at approximately 0745 PT.

The location was the Scrap Uranium Recovery Facility (SURF) building of Framatomes Richland facility at 2101 Horn Rapids Road, Richland WA 99354.

Incident Description On December 8, 2021 at approximately 0745 an instrument technician was contaminated with uranyl nitrate solution while calibrating process instrumentation. The individual followed safety protocol by utilizing the emergency wash station and as a precaution was sent for medical evaluation due to skin exposure to nitric acid.

Framatome Inc.

2101 Horn Rapids Road Richland, WA 99354 Tel: (509) 375-8100 www.framatome.com 22709WA_P-1 (01/11/2018)

US NRC CJW:22:001 January 7, 2022 Page 2 Prior to leaving the site, Framatome Health and Safety Technicians decontaminated the individual to below release limits with the exception of their hands. The individual's hands were placed inside gloves which were secured to their wrists prior to being transported. The worker was transported to an offsite medical facility accompanied by plant health and safety personnel.

After being evaluated, the individual returned to Framatome where their hands were decontaminated to below release limits and returned to work. The process area where this work was being performed was cleaned and the equipment was secured.

Health and Safety Consequences No medical treatment for skin contamination by acid was necessary. The technician was put on 24 hour2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> urine bioassay and was sent for a whole body scan on December

16. Urine bioassay indicated an intake of less than 10.8 microgram and a dose of less than 18.5 mrem. The whole-body scan did not detect any quantity of uranium above background.

External Conditions No significant external conditions were identified.

Status of the Event The event is over and all needed remedial actions are complete.

Notifications to Other Agencies The Washington Department of Health was also notified of the event.

Inclusion in Integrated Safety Analysis The event was identified and evaluated in the Integrated Safety Analysis. Evaluations for exposure to UN solution from a leak or spray are included in E15-01-2.23, Accident Sequence 008-6.

Probable Causes of Event Inadvertent opening of a valve was the cause of the event.

Corrective and Mitigating Actions Mitigating actions included the technicians immediate use of an emergency wash station and prompt medical evaluation.

Corrective actions included decontamination of the technicians skin and the contaminated area.

US NRC CJW:22:001 January 7, 2022 Page 3 Preventive Actions Framatome has undertaken an Apparent Cause Analysis. Preventive actions are in progress and include briefing craft personnel regarding this incident and reviewing required protocols when working on this type of equipment, forming a chemical safety review team to determine if changes to the chemical safety program and practices are warranted, and updating procedures associated with the incident.

If you have questions about this incident or Framatomes response, please contact me by phone at (509) 375-8146.

Sincerely, Colin J. Weber, Flealth Physicist Environmental, Health, Safety and Licensing Cc: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region II Attn: Eric Michel, Chief Fuel Facility Branch 2 Marquis One Tower, 23 T85 245 Peachtree Center Avenue N.E., Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30303-8931