PNO-I-89-044, on 890612,two Workers Received Exposures of 570 & 280 Millirem W/Total Quarterly Doses of 1,240 & 960 Millirem,Respectively,While Working Around Refueling Pool. Caused by Hot Particle.Licensee Trying to Capture Source

PNO-I-89-044:on 890612,two Workers Received Exposures of 570 & 280 Millirem W/Total Quarterly Doses of 1,240 & 960 Millirem,Respectively,While Working Around Refueling Pool. Caused by Hot Particle.Licensee Trying to Capture Source

ML20245A112
Person / Time
Site:	FitzPatrick
Issue date:	06/13/1989
From:	Jerrica Johnson, Nimitz R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
References
PNO-I-89-044, PNO-I-89-44, NUDOCS 8906210093
Download: ML20245A112 (2)

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DCS No: 50333890612 Date: June 13, 1989

. P_RELIMINIRY

_ - NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-I-89-44 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:

James A. Fitzpatrick Notification of Unusual Event New York Power Authority Alert Oswego, New York Site Area Emergency Docket No. 50-333 General Emergency --

X Not Applicable

Subject:

UNPLANNED RADIATION EXPOSURE OF TWO WORKERS Two contractor workers received unplanned exposures while working around the refueling pool on the second shift on June 12, 1989. The unplanned exposures for the workers, based on official record dosimetry, were 570 and 280 millirem, with a total quarterly J dose of 1240 and 960 millirem, respectively. A routine radiation survey had been conducted in the work area at about 1730 hours0.02 days <br />0.481 hours <br />0.00286 weeks <br />6.58265e-4 months <br /> and the survey showed normal, expected radiation fields (1-2 mrem /hr). Soon after that, a tool was to be brought up from within the pool, and a health physics technician was asked to monitor the operation.

The technician found an exposure rate of about 300 mR/hr close to the surface of the pool. The tool was reinserted but the high reading remained. Further surveys --

identified a very localized radiation source at the edge of the pool near the surface that showed up to 600 R/hr as it was approached. Two area radiation monitors located in the general area around the pool but not near the surface did not show unusual readings and therefore did not alarm. The radiation monitor on the refueling bridge was malfunctioning at the time.

The licensee immediately suspended work and secured access to the refueling floor, and an investigation into the cause and corrective actions was initiated. The workers' dosimeters were read to assess the dose received. The licensee is currently trying to decide on a method to capture the radiation source, believed to be a " hot particle",

and to determine what additional corrective actions are appropriate. A Region I based radiation specialist has been sent to the site to evaluate licensee actions.

Region I was made aware of this event by the resident inspector following his notification by the plant manager.

This information is current as of 8:30 a.m., June 13, 1989. The licensee does not plan issuing a press release. The State of New York has been informed.

CONTACT: R. Nimitz J. Johnson 337-5267 337-5234 89062.10093 090613 PDR ' 0 I&E PNO-I-89-oqq PNU -

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SECY NMSS NSAC----

CA NRR OGC OIA Regional Offices GPA 01 RI Resident Office PA SLITP EDO DE Licensee:

(Reactor Licensees)

Region I Form 83 (Rev. April 1988) j 1

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