PNO-I-87-068, on 870727,contractor Worker Found to Be Radioactively Contaminated W/Radium.Caused by Worker Attempt to Remove Radium from Watch Dial.Licensee Decontaminated Worker & Furnished Other Health Physics Assistance

PNO-I-87-068:on 870727,contractor Worker Found to Be Radioactively Contaminated W/Radium.Caused by Worker Attempt to Remove Radium from Watch Dial.Licensee Decontaminated Worker & Furnished Other Health Physics Assistance

ML20236F022
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	07/28/1987
From:	Doerflein L, Mcbride M NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
References
PNO-I-87-068, PNO-I-87-68, NUDOCS 8708030182
Download: ML20236F022 (1)

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DCS No: 50293870727 Date: July 28, 1987 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-I-87-68 This preliminary notification 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: Licensee Emergency Classification:

Boston Edison Company _ Notification of Unusual Event Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station Alert Plymouth, Massachusetts Site Area Emergency Docket No. 50-293

_ General Emergency X Not Applicable

Subject:

WORKER CONTAMINATED WITH RADIUM (NON NRC LICENSED MATERIAL)

On July 27,1987 at 9:40 p.m. , a contractor worker at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station was found to be radioactively contaminated with radium. The individual stated that he probably became contaminated when he tried to remove radium from a watch dial at his home in. Wayne, Maine earlier in the day. He indicated that he had removed radium from watches before, Up to 27,000 disintegrations per minute (dpm) of radioactivity was detected on the worker's skin, including 16,000 dpm on his face.

Radioactive material was also found on the worker's clothing. The licensee, although not responsible for the material, has decontaminated the worker and has furnished other health physics assistance.

The worker stated that he slept in his truck while working at the plant and did not have a residence in Massachusetts. The truck was surveyed on July 28, and some contamination was detected on pillows that were in the truck.

The State of Maine and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have been notified and are

-conducting investigations. Radium possession and use is not controlled by the NRC; however, the NRC has offered technical assistance to the State of Maine. Personnel from the State of Maine's Division of Health Engineering plan to survey the individual's residence later today.

1 CONTACT: M. McBride L. Doerflein (Comm) 617-747-0565 (FTS) 488-1132 l DISTRIBUTION:

H. St. MNBB Phillips E/W Willste Mail: ADM:DMB Chairman Zech EDO NRR NMSS DOT:Trans only Comm. Bernthal PA DIA RES Comm. Roberts OGC AEOD NRC Ops Crt Comm. Carr ACRS Air Rights INPD----

SECY SP NSAC----

CA L PDR Regional Offices TMI Resident Section {

RI Resident Office  !

l 8708030.182 870728 PDR I&E PNO-1-87-068 PDR cens m )

(Reactor Licensees) o l

Region I Form 83 (Rev. July 1987) h ]

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