PNO-I-86-055, on 860723,worker Accumulated High Quarterly Radiation Exposure While Changing Video Camera Position for Witnessing Hydrostatic Test in Steam Generator.Caused by Health Physics Technician Monitoring Error

PNO-I-86-055:on 860723,worker Accumulated High Quarterly Radiation Exposure While Changing Video Camera Position for Witnessing Hydrostatic Test in Steam Generator.Caused by Health Physics Technician Monitoring Error

ML20212A437
Person / Time
Site:	Haddam Neck File:Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co icon.png
Issue date:	07/23/1986
From:	Mccabe E, Nimitz R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
References
PNO-I-86-055, PNO-I-86-55, NUDOCS 8607280182
Download: ML20212A437 (1)

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DCS No: 50213860723 Date: July 23, 1986 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-I-86-55 l

This preliminary notif.ication constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the Region I staff on this date.

Facility: Connecticut Yank 6e Atomic Licensee Emergency Classification:

Power Company- Notification of Unusual Event Haddam Neck Plant Alert East Haddam, Connecticut Site Area Emergency DN 50-213 General Emergency X Not Applicable

Subject:

HIGH QUARTERLY RADIATION EXPOSURE On 7/23/86, from 3 a.m. to 5:50 a.m., a worker was inserting the top portion of his body into the number 4 steam generator to change video camera position for hydrostatic test witnessing. The work was being covered by a senior health physics technician. Prior to the worker's last entry, the technician noticed that the worker's self-reading dost-meter was missing from outside his respirator bubble-hood. Based on rate of dose accumu-lation for previous entries, the technician allowed the worker to enter the generator.

Subsequent read-out of his 1.5 rem head self-reading dosimeter (located inside the bubble hood) found it to be off-scale while the 0-5 rem dosimeter (also located inside the hood) indicated 1.7 rem. The head thermo-luminescent dosimeter was processed and showed 1.67 rem. This exposure, plus the worker's previous quarterly exposure, resulted in a total quarterly exposure of about 3.29 rem as compared to the 3 rem limit. The worker apparently accumulated additional exposure while waiting in a high-radiation area prior to entering the steam generator. The preliminary review' indicates that the health physics technician did not know the amount of exposure received by the worker while waiting.

The licensee briefed personnel on the event, instituted requirements to read dosimeters prior to steam generator entry, and has taken action to minimize waiting in high radia-tion areas.

Two Region I radiation specialists are onsite this week to inspect steam generator work and are reviewing the event.

The licensee made a press release. The state of Connecticut has been notified. Region I has responded to media inquiries.

CONTACT: R. Nimitz E. McCabe '

488-1267 488-1231 OfSTRIBUTION:

H. St. MNBB E/W W111ste Mail: ADM:DMB Chairman Zech ED0 fiRR- Phillips Il!~ NMSS DOT:Trans only PA OIA RES Comm. Bernthal ELD AE00 Comm. Roberts Comm. Asselstine ACRS Air Rights INP00-SECY SP NSACU-CA PDR Regional Offices TMI Resident Section less RI Resident Office _ l .m Licensee:

( eactor Ucensees) 8607280182 860723 h-I -055 PDR O