PNO-III-97-086, on 971015,contract Worker Alarmed Radiation Monitor Upon Exiting Plant Radiologically Controlled Area. Identified Source of Contamination on Inside of Workers Shoe.Contamination Occurred Prior to Arrival on Site
| ML17335A477 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Cook  |
| Issue date: | 10/17/1997 |
| From: | Steven Orth, Shear G NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-III-97-086, PNO-III-97-86, NUDOCS 9901190239 | |
| Download: ML17335A477 (5) | |
~
CATEGORY 1~
REGULATORY INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (RIDS)
ACCESSION NBR:9901190239 DOC.DATE: 97/10/17 NOTARIZED: NO DOCKET ¹ FACIL:50-315 Donald C.
Cook Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 1, Indiana M
05000315 50-316 Donald C.
Cook Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 2, Indiana M
05000316 AUTH.NAME AUTHOR AFFILIATION ORTH, S.
Region 3
(Post 820201)
SHEAR,G.
Region 3
(Post 820201)
RECIP. NAME RECIPIENT AFFILIATION r
SUBJECT:
PNO-III-97-086:on 971015,contract worker alarmed radiation monitor upon exiting plant radiologically controlled area.
Identified source of contamination on inside of workers shoe. Contamination occurred prior to arrival on site.
DISTRIBUTION CODE: IE34F COPIES RECEIVED:LTR 0 ENCL
(
SIZE:
TITLE: 50 Docket E Vendors PNO/Non-Routine Event/Safeguards Event (PN)
NOTES:
INTERNAL:
RECIPIENT ID CODE/NAME E
ENTER L TXT RES/DET/EIB RES/DST RES/RPHEB COPIES LTTR ENCL 1
1 1
1 1
RECIPIENT ID CODE/NAME NRR/DRPM/PERB OE DIR RES/DRA/DEPY RES/DST DEPY RGN3 FILE 01 COPIES LTTR ENCL 1
1 1
1 1
EXTERNAL: LITCO BRYCE,J H NRC PDR NOAC D
N NOTE TO ALL NRZDSN RECIPZENTS:
PLEASE HELP US TO REDUCE WASTE. TO HAVE YOUR NAME OR ORGANIZATION REMOVED FROM DISTRIBUTION LISTS OR REDUCE THE NUMBER OF COPIES RECEIVED BY YOU OR YOUR ORGANIZATION, CONTACT THE DOCUMENT CONTROL DESK (DCD)
ON EXTENSION 415-2083 6
TOTAL NUMBER OF COPIES REQUIRED:
LTTR ES ENCL 13
October 17, 1997 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-III-97-086 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 Region III staff (Lisle, Illinois) on this date.
Facility Indiana Michigan Electric Co.
Cook 1
2 Bridgman, Michigan Dockets:
50-315,50-316 Licensee Emergency Classification Notification of Unusual Event Alert Site Area Emergency General Emergency X
Not Applicable
Subject:
RADIATION EXPOSURE FROM SHOE CONTAMINATION On October 15,
- 1997, a contract worker alarmed a radiation monitor as he exited from the plant's radiologically controlled area.
Further surveys by the licensee identified the radiation source as contamination on the inside of one of the worker's shoes.
The licensee has identified five discreet radioactive particles inside the shoe.
The individual has worked at several nuclear plants, most recently including a foreign reactor facility in August. At the conclusion of his work there, a whole body count identified an apparent uptake of radioactive material.
A whole body count performed at the D.C.
Cook facility earlier this month, prior to the individual beginning work, showed similar deposition of radioactive material.
The licensee's investigation has determined, however, that the source of the radioactivity measured in the whole body count was contamination in the worker's shoe rather than from internal deposition.
A subsequent whole body count, without the individual wearing his shoes, showed minimal internal deposition of radioactive material.
I Since the whole body count detected the radiation prior to any work at the D.C.
Cook facility, the licensee has concluded that the shoe contamination occurred prior to the individual arriving at the site.
Since the foreign reactor was the individual's most recent job site, it is a possible source of the contamination.
Prior to working at the foreign reactor, the individual had worked at other U.S. reactor licensees, including one where he had also been contaminated.
That licensee indicated to the D.C.
Cook facility that the contamination had been removed prior to the worker leaving the site.
The D.C.
Cook radiation protection staff continue their review of the potential source of this radioactivity.
p
'PVOi i'F023'F 97i0i7 PDR XhE PNO-III-97-086 PDR ofl
Assuming the contamination originated at the individual's most recent job site,'he foreign facility, was promptly transferred to the individual's
- shoe, and based on the time the individual has worn the shoe since working at the foreign facility, he received a radiation dose of about 83 rem to the skin of his foot.
(The NRC occupational dose'limit to the skin is 50 rem per year.) If the contamination occurred earlier or remained on his skin longer, the dose may have been higher. Although the contamination does not appear to have occurred at the D.C.
Cook facility, the licensee has made a courtesy report to the NRC Operations Center.
On October 16,
- 1997, the licensee conducted radiological surveys of the individual's clothing, automobile, and local residence.
No contamination was present.
The State of Michigan and the Environmental Protection Agency, Region V
Office, have been notified. The NRC Office of International Programs has also been informed.
The information in this preliminary notification has been reviewed with licensee management.
This information is current as of 7:30 am (CDT) on October 17, 1997.
Contact:
(630)630-8297 GARY SHEAR (630)829-9876
I